It’s safe to say that Mourinho did not find an existential tactical answer to the obvious problems posed by an essentially superior City 11. It’s also safe, and sad, to say that poor Lukaku exemplified a certain lucklessness and second-ratery abounding in our ranks. In recent weeks, I have revealed here some of Mourinho’s transfer market desiderata, and yesterday made the case for most of them.

I am starting to think, though, that it took a dodgy penalty decision and a wonderful double-save from the City keeper to deny us that desired, hand-snatching point.

Moreover, although the Blues clearly dominated and controlled the game to an almost embarrassing extent, they were certainly not carving us up at will in terms of chance-creation and defence-cracking.

The goals came from mistakes, and we were not left as awestruck by City as some had feared might be the case.

We can thus, if we want to, sit here and mutter the “Pogba, Pogba, Pogba” mantra, and think ahead to the spring return. Amidst all the weeping and wailing from Reds last night, only the most self-loathing omitted to note that this was not the full-strength United that had just had its bottom smacked.

The reproach does remain, though: United should not have allowed themselves to become so dependent on one player.

Are we the best of the rest, at least? Perhaps we may prove to be; Chelsea are no longer quite the team they were, for starters, a point underlined by their wretched defeat at West Ham. Back in August, I suggested that third place would be about right for this squad, so at the moment we’re actually ahead of the game. Not that it feels like it today, of course. This is a depressing morning; if only someone could cheer us up with the prospect of, say, a nice foreign mini-break in a few weeks time?

Yes, just in case you’d forgotten amidst all the breakfast gloom, there’s a European Cup draw to relish. Any excuse to forget the Premier League is welcome today. When winter turns to spring, Iberian delights such as Seville and Oporto would be ideal destinations, and many a Red’s fingers will be crossed for the former’s novelty value.

Then on Wednesday, Bournemouth visit, before we go to West Brom at the weekend. These are the kinds of routine glamour-free games we assume will be won, of course.

But you always wonder, after such a miserable day in the global spotlight, and after so much hype and hope, how fully disappointed players will bounce back to the required standards.

Take Lukaku, for example; would it be better to give the poor sod a rest, perhaps?

So, congratulations City; 14 straight wins is the best since Arsenal back in the day. Remind me, Gooners; who actually ended up winning the league that season? (Pauses for realisation. Then winks.)

A reminder that, even in the face of apparent Invincibles, Reds never give up hope...