18 across
Liking
the
present,
love?
It’s
a
starter
(9)
Liking the present, love? It’s a starter (9)
hints
0
checks
0
hints
The definition is at the end of the clue.
How the clue works
Look at It's a starter at the end — that's your definition, an Italian first course. For the wordplay, liking the present is doing something clever: ANTI means against (so, not liking), and PAST is the opposite of present, giving you ANTI + PAST. Then love tacks on O, as in the tennis score, to finish things off.