Liverpool's first pre-season friendly of the summer was one to forget as Manchester United won 4-0 in Bangkok.
At the Rajamangala Stadium, Erik ten Hag's men were comfortable winners as a virtually full strength XI ran up a three-goal cushion before a fourth from Facundo Pellistri late on.
Liverpool made a raft of changes at the 30 and 60-minute marks but were unable to inspire a comeback of any kind in the Thai capital.
But you all knew that, of course. What you might have missed, however, were a series of intriguing subplots to the match itself out in Thailand. Here are some of the best 'moments missed'.
A whole new ball game...
Never let it be said that Bangkok Century Cup has no gravitas to it when it comes to world football.
Such is the prestige that those who organised this glamorous all-Premier League fixture between the two biggest clubs in England tried to bestow on it, that they even created their own bespoke match-ball for the one-off event.
Featuring printed images of the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag among players such as Virgil van Dijk, Bruno Fernandes and Thiago Alcantara, the official match ball for the game itself was a far cry from anything used across English football.
There was not an adidas Questa, Mitre Delta or Jabulani in sight; 'The Bangkok Century Cup: The Match 2022' has its own match ball, thank you very much.
A money-spinning pre-season friendly between two of the super-powers of world football could not simply be contested with any ordinary garden variety football after all. Those that came up with the idea have actually created something of a unique and quirky piece of football memorabilia.
The only issue from Liverpool's perspective was that Alisson Becker perhaps got the closest look of any player on the pitch when United ran riot in the first half.
Getting shirty
While pre-season tours offer the perfect opportunity to say a hearty 'thank you' to fans who make up a large portion of Liverpool's worldwide fanbase, there is little dispute that these trips are very much commercially driven.
So it came as no shock to see the Reds (or should that be the Hypnotic Swirls?) unveiling their brand new away strip for its debut against Manchester United.
“We’re excited for the fans to see the new away kit from Nike," captain Jordan Henderson said ahead of the game. "It’s not often we get to wear a jersey on the day of the reveal, so it will be a special moment for the squad to show off the new design in our first pre-season fixture.”
Previous brandings for away shirts of the Klopp era have seen Liverpool drape themselves in 'Toxic Thunder', 'Bold Citrus' and 'Deep Violet' but the 2022/23 edition is said to be "an iridescent, multi-coloured marbled pattern over a white base colour". Fetching.
The striking, eye-catching number is described by the club as a "dizzying design" but if their plan was to disorientate United, it was one that only served to work in the opposite direction.
It was inauspicious start for the brand new away strip.
Elliott's fanbase grows
READ MORE: Liverpool player 'ratings' as Fabio Carvalho good and Isaac Mabaya lively against Man United
READ MORE: Manchester United approach shows how far ahead Liverpool are - despite forgettable defeat
If Harvey Elliott was unclear as to how big Liverpool's fanbase was, he will have been left in no doubt these last few days.
Liverpool have been treated like royalty during their time out in Bangkok and despite his tender years and relative inexperience in the team itself, Elliott has been no different.
The youngster was the centre of attention in the post-match mixed zone as fans climbed over themselves to get their shirts signed by him.
Happy to oblige, Elliott got to work to make the day of the scores of Liverpool fans who were given a special memento of their evening out.
Ronaldo 'spotted' but conspicuous by absence
If commercial activity is one of the aims of the game out in Bangkok then the absence of United's most marketable player and biggest star, Cristiano Ronaldo, will have been a blow for the Red Devils.
Ronaldo has not travelled to the Far East - officially for 'family reasons' - and while United are insistent that he won't be sold, speculation over his future continues to rage as he seeks a move to a club in the Champions League.
But if Ronaldo was conspicuous only by his absence at the Rajamangala, there were still enough face masks of the Portuguese star to remind those at the stadium that he remains a United player, if only for now.
Some United supporters could be seen wearing paper cutouts of their hero across the stadium, despite him being situated thousands of miles away in Manchester.
While all of Liverpool's big hitters are in place in Thailand, the images of the wantaway Ronaldo were a subtle reminder of the biggest on-field issue that needs to be addressed by the Reds' great rivals this summer.
READ NEXT:
