Senior United officials were furious at how Jamie Carragher managed to get away with only a booking from Phil Dowd for his challenge on Nani that left the winger with a bad gash to his leg.

Carragher sent a message of apology into the United changing room immediately after the game, then waited for the player to emerge to reinforce his sorrow personally.

A picture of the open wound was posted on Twitter by a member of United’s staff and had Ferguson been asked about the matter, his volcanic temper may have erupted once more.

Instead, Ferguson kept his counsel, declining to speak with host broadcaster Sky Sports, either before or after his side’s third Premier League defeat of the season.

His assistant Mike Phelan did not carry out his usual post-match engagements with the BBC, arranged due to Ferguson’s long-standing feud with the organisation. Radio rights holders TalkSPORT were also left without any comment from the visitors.

Should any of these organisations complain to the Premier League, the governing body will be forced to act, escalating the problem between Ferguson and the BBC, the fines for his non-compliance still waiting to be made public.

For the first time, even United’s own television channel, MUTV, left a senior game without any reaction, which is an embarrassing situation in itself.

It is not yet known whether the media blackout will continue this week, ahead of United’s FA Cup quarter-final with Arsenal, although discussions are bound to take place behind the scenes.

The only comments came via a club spokesman, who confirmed Nani will be assessed tomorrow before the extent of his injury is known, although given the delicate manner in which he made his way out of the stadium, his chances of facing Arsenal on Sunday, and Marseille in the Champions League on March 15 do not look good.

There was also a view from Rio Ferdinand, who was not even at Anfield, but offered an opinion via Twitter.

“Bad result today no excuses,” stated the England skipper, currently sidelined with a calf problem.