Hannibal Mejbri has already given Manchester United something they lack

Search 'Liverpool vs Manchester United 1988' on YouTube and a highlight to rival Steve McMahon's rasper and Gordon Strachan's smoking cigar celebration is Norman Whiteside's crunching cameo.

Whiteside was sent on with United 3-1 down and they were soon a man down following Colin Gibson's expulsion. Whiteside once scored the winner at Anfield but elbowing John Barnes and maiming McMahon are arguably more celebrated.

"All it seems to be doing is galvanising the Liverpool supporters," remarked the commentator John Motson, oblivious to the cries of 'United' from the Anfield Road End. United recovered to draw 3-3.

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Whiteside was four years older than Hannibal Mejbri, the most recent United player to be sent into the Anfield bear pit on Tuesday night. Seasoned observers of the United junior teams would have known there was ample time for the 18-year-old to collect his first professional booking when he emerged in the 84th minute.

Jordan Henderson was Mejbri's first victim and Naby Keita his second. Two fouls, one yellow card and one lucky boy. Mejbri was charitably spared a red card because of the scoreline.

Mejbri was fouled 86 times in 22 games that WyScout gathered data from last season and he is so querulous with officials he would make Bruno Fernandes blush. Mejbri is more than capable of giving some back and his tribute to Whiteside predictably earned approval from United supporters.

"Honestly, it takes a young kid to come on and show the rest of them how to sprint to the ball and put a challenge in. I'm actually proud of him," Gary Neville said on co-commentary.

"Maybe he doesn't like the idea of Liverpool passing around him, I wish the others were the same." Neville admitted his