A red, white and black tricolour surfer flag bearing a red devil clutching a pitchfork was unfurled by the Stretford End. Manchester United may yet clutch silverware this season.
A successful season for United is still achievable with a second successive FA Cup semi-final. They are only the third domestic side to inflict defeat on Liverpool all season. Jurgen Klopp's long goodbye will not be decorated with a quadruple or a domestic treble. Rashford buried his head in the turf. The emotional Alejandro Garnacho also collapsed. Once the groans had subsided, the referee blew to signal the end of full-time.
One goal was never going to be enough. United's crowdpleasing style was so open they had to go 2-0 up, as they did against Liverpool in Ten Hag's first victory 19 months ago. That uproarious evening was serene in comparison to this. Fernandes pleaded for retrospective action. As rumbustious as Gomez's challenge was, it was not an obvious foul. Another player who is not consistently in the referee's ear might have received a free-kick. Fernandes was booked for his protestations.
Mainoo's line-breaking passes repeatedly vexed the Liverpool analysts. Mainoo underpinned United's onslaughts before he lucklessly diverted Alexis Mac Allister's shot past Onana. That was the crushing blemish on his best performance at Old Trafford yet.