The tune from the away section half-an-hour in at Anfield was familiar: Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes. The name wasn't.
That six-syllable chorus had long been reserved for, 'Oh, Robin van Persie' among Manchester United supporters. Last month, a different Dutchman was serenaded to the song.
Joshua Zirkzee's warm-up in the first half at Liverpool marked a sea change. A week that had started with one of the most galling humiliations for a United player at Old Trafford ended with vocal support. It could have got better had Harry Maguire kept Zirkzee's bobbly square pass down in added time.
READ MORE: Manchester United have dream welcome gift ready for Paul Pogba after transfer agreement
READ MORE: FA Cup draw in full as Manchester United and Man City discover fifth round opponents
It did get better a week later in the FA Cup third round at Arsenal. After Leny Yoro converted in the shootout to put United 3-1 up, Bruno Fernandes prodded Zirkzee in the chest and offered him a few words. The message: be ready to win it.
Lisandro Martinez scored United's fourth spotkick, so Zirkzee stepped up for the fifth. United fans had promised, "If Zirkzee scores, we're on the pitch". Zirkzee held up his end of the bargain. United were in the velvet bag for the fourth round draw.
And the fifth. Their progress to the last 16 of the FA Cup is largely down to Zirkzee's impact against Leicester City on Friday night. He equalised and his general play ensured United rendered the memory of the stultifying first hour inconsequential.
The 23-year-old is becoming an unlikely cult figure at United. The loyalists among the matchgoers railed against the heckles and booing Zirkzee was subjected to when he was removed in the 33rd minute against Newcastle and now a match does not go by without an airing of Zirkzee's chant.
He has only got five goals in 36 appearances and Zirkzee has failed to score in 32 of those. But it is one more than Radamel Falcao and as many as Alexis Sanchez. One hopes for Zirkzee's sake this is the only time he is bracketed with those two duds.
Even before his career nadir against Newcastle, a well-placed figure at United stressed the club was intent on supporting Zirkzee and hopeful there was "a lot more to come". We are starting to see glimpses.
Zirkzee has been a contentious figure in a sorry season. He was the lightning rod that legislated for Dan Ashworth's defenestration as sporting director. Club figures claim Zirkzee was not an Erik ten Hag-led signing and Ashworth bristled when the deal was questioned during his sole interaction with the dedicated correspondents in September.
Ten Hag had no direct connection with Zirkzee but nor did he with Tyrell Malacia or Wout Weghorst. Nearly a quarter of the Dutchmen who have played for United were signed on Ten Hag's watch.
The Newcastle night could have been a career killer for Zirkzee. Interest from Italian clubs, seeking a cut-price move for a player proven in Serie A, soon emerged. Carrington sources say Zirkzee pushed back against the possibility of a mid-season move and was adamant he would stay.
Zirkzee is popular in the United dressing room and has an easy-going sense of humour, which helped in the aftermath of the Newcastle substitution. United insiders say he did not feel sorry for himself or cry in a corner.
He had to be coaxed back out to the dugout, having headed straight down the tunnel after he fetched a coat. Some supporters booed Zirkzee when he disappeared from view. After he re-emerged, there was encouraging applause as some sought to counter those who had audibly turned against him. Zirkzee was on the pitch at full-time to applaud supporters in defeat.
Zirkzee's presence helps. He is 6ft 4in and figures at United talk about him being seen, rather than heard. Zirkzee has been a laconic interviewee on his two stop-offs in the Old Trafford mixed zone. "He is not a demonstrative character," a club source said.
In the days after the Newcastle defeat, those at the United training complex noticed Zirkzee was affected by his substitution, as any player would be. But his calmness has been apparent since his first day in Manchester and he is regarded as a quietly determined character with an underrated steeliness. Zirkzee is never seen out and about in Cheshire.
There has been a willingness from United staff for Zirkzee to succeed. He has gritted his teeth and got on with it since the turn of the year, producing influential performances in vital triumphs against Arsenal, Southampton and Leicester City on Friday.
Nobody, least of all Zirkzee, is pretending he has cracked it. Ruben Amorim immediately substituted Zirkzee against Bournemouth in December after he lost an aerial duel and he has not started in United's past four games.
Of the two strikers, Zirkzee is more sellable than Hojlund. He cost roughly half the price and there is a market for him in Italy. He may yet be one (season) and done at United, who will target a goalscorer in the summer.
The Leicester goal ended a drought of 11 goalless games and Zirkzee went 17 without scoring between August and December. Whether he is a No.9, a 10 or whatever, he has got to pump his numbers up.
"The longer it takes before you get back on the scoresheet the more frustrating it gets," Zirkzee told us after his two goals against Everton in December. "But I have some great teammates who always keep my head up as well when I'm not keeping [it] up. They helped me a lot during that time as well. Today they were happy for me as well."
They will have been happier since the turn of the year. And so are the supporters. So much so they are singing Zirkzee's name.
