Even at one of Manchester's United's lowest ebbs in the last decade, Ed Woodward still had a sunny outlook. United were 12th and had just been beaten at Newcastle, their third defeat in their first eight Premier League games in 2019-20.
Some wondered whether United's malaise would affect the club's revenue. Like a well-trained politician, Woodward had a stock answer: Liverpool last won the title in 1990 and were still the second-biggest football club for shirt sales in Asia.
How apposite Anfield on Tuesday night was the culmination of the Woodward era. Or error. Liverpool's championship drought ended two seasons ago and they are on their perch again.
