Dalot: This is the opportunity

The tone was perhaps set for the Reds in the pre-match build-up, with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo absent from the squad with small injury picked up in training the day before the game.

Concerns were added to during the first half when Bruno Fernandes appeared to be in some discomfort on the pitch and was then withdrawn during the interval, with Lisandro Martinez taking on a midfield role.

Amorim later revealed our no.8 is believed to have a "soft tissue injury" and could miss some games, but Dalot believes that misfortune in that aspect provides opportunity for others.

"Yeah [this is going to be a testing period], but this is the times where opportunities come for other players," the 26-year-old told Sky Sports after the game.

"That's the time where you have to step up and you show that you deserve to be in the team, that you deserve to play more minutes.

"I think that's how other players that are going to get opportunities should look at it."

Two such figures came in the form of Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey, who were introduced in the second half and became the 255th and 256th Academy graduates respectively.

"This is the moment, where we have so many players missing, this is the opportunity," Dalot later told MUTV of the pair.

"I'm very happy that they could make their debuts, and hopefully in the next games they are available and they can help us as well."

It remains to be seen how long Fernandes is sidelined for, but his fellow countryman was in no doubt about what a miss the captain will be.

"Yeah, it's massive," Dalot admitted to Sky. "I mean, we don't know how bad it is, but for him to come off [in] a game, we know how tough he is.

"Hopefully it's not too bad and we keep with him for the next games."

Dalot took the armband from Fernandes at half-time, an honour that he said is "always special", but being the ultimate professional that he is, his main focus was already on the next task ahead.

Speaking to broadcasters after the game, while acknowledging the magnitude of missing Fernandes for the likes of Newcastle United at home on Boxing Day, and the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers just a few days later, the wideman was keen to avoid any potential excuses.

"At the end, we're Man United," he said.

"We have to find a way to win."