All Antony could do was sit and watch. First as he was overlooked for 19-year-old Omari Forson, who was making his first start in the Premier League. Then off came Forson and on came Scott McTominay, pushing Bruno Fernandes out to the right wing. Next to be called to the stage was Amad Diallo, on for only the second time in the league this season.
When Antony was finally summoned from his warm spot on the bench, a place that has become a home from home for him since defeat at Nottingham Forest on December 30, there were but 30 seconds remaining.