**Team**
Liverpool made two changes as Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch moved into the starting line-up.
Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah were the two players to be ruled out by injury.
**Liverpool:** Woodman, Van Dijk, Konate (Chiesa, 87), Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson (Kerkez, 59), Frimpong (Ngumoha, 75), Gravenberch.
**Unused subs:** Pecsi, Gomez, Nyoni, Morrison, Ndiaye, Wright.
**First half**
The game was just six minutes old when the hosts earned an advantage, Cunha the player to score after Liverpool failed to clear a corner ball.
His first shot was blocked from the edge of the area after a defensive header but the rebound fell back to the attacker’s feet and his next low effort found the bottom corner via a deflection.
Liverpool responded with pressure and possession, though United doubled their lead in the 14th minute.
They broke quickly into the final third as Bruno Fernandes saw a ball across the box to Sesko saved by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
At the next delivery, Fernandes headed Luke Shaw’s deep cross back to Sesko and the striker was able to bundle the ball into the net from close range.
A VAR check for a possible handball by Sesko judged there was not conclusive evidence for a disallowance.
In response, Gakpo drove a shot inches past the post from outside the area, while Florian Wirtz did similar a little later.
Fernandes again threatened as he struck a half-volley wide of the post from a Bryan Mbeumo cross, but it was as close as either team would come to adding to the scoreline before the break.