Nine first-team players were ruled out of Sunday’s trip to the East Midlands, a number which soon grew when it became apparent Marcel Sabitzer had sustained a problem during the warm-ups.
But Erik ten Hag’s men ran out comfortable winners over the relegation strugglers in the end, with a goal in each half – the first finished by Antony, the second created by the Brazilian winger, for Diogo Dalot – settling proceedings.
The Reds could have added more to the final tally, while at the other end of the pitch David De Gea was untroubled in goal.