Maturing Mainoo taking last lessons off Casemiro but ready to make position his own

Manchester United midfielder broke the lines and scored the winner, while Liverpool’s midfield was pedestrian

BOSSING THE MIDDLE: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai (left) and Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

‘You need someone like this.” So said Benjamin Sesko of Casemiro after the veteran’s commanding display against Brentford last Monday. Fast forward six days and the same sentiment applied to Kobbie Mainoo. Manchester United had two central midfielders like this – selfless, disciplined, destructive and creative – while Liverpool desperately need someone like this. Old Trafford revelled in the contrast, once it had recovered from a self-inflicted scare.

The redemption arc was strong at Old Trafford where United sealed their return to the Champions League by completing a Premier League double over Liverpool for the first time in 10 years. Mainoo savoured his own too. Cast aside earlier in the season under Ruben Amorim, his future with his boyhood club in serious doubt, the 21-year-old celebrated signing a five-year contract on Thursday by securing a deserved victory with his first Premier League goal since May 2024.