No striker and no goals. Once United had a striker on, they got their goal. Zirkzee's integration has now been vindicated with a goalscoring Old Trafford debut, just like the returning Dutchman in the dugout.
Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho started warming up within five minutes of the restart. Eight minutes later, Erik ten Hag hollered their names. Ruud van Nistelrooy was stood next to Ten Hag when the pair combined for the winner.
Zirkzee holidayed in Los Angeles when the Reds were based there yet reported for training at Carrington. He was unused against City in the Community Shield. The wait was worth it for the 70,000 optimistic United matchgoers.
Ten Hag summoned his compatriot on the hour. The £36.5m Zirkzee was thoroughly briefed by the new set-piece coach Andreas Georgson yet was rarely in sync with his new teammates until the moment it mattered.
Zirkzee is the fifth United Dutchman to score on his Old Trafford bow after Jordi Cruyff, Van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie, Alexander Buttner and Donny van de Beek.
Scoring without performing is an invaluable knack for a striker and Zirkzee deftly converted one of his side's more difficult chances on a night they created clear openings.
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