Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool can’t deny it, they have well and truly kicked themselves in the foot in the race to win the Premier League title.
Two games against Manchester United in the Premier League this season and only two points.
In normal circumstances, you don’t think too much about it, but when you consider that Erik ten Hag’s side have been so abject this season, then it’s certainly dropped points.
When Kobbie Mainoo curled in a sensational second goal for Manchester United on Sunday, the Old Trafford crowd couldn’t believe their eyes.
Yes, it would have been utterly disappointing that they conceded a late Mohamed Salah goal.
But what a performance from the home team and what a story this is turning out to be for their teenage sensation in the middle of the park.
Michael Owen noted that when Mainoo scored his goal, he left the Liverpool manager incensed on the sidelines, as he told Premier League Productions (07/04/24 at 5:40 pm).
The former striker stated that Jurgen Klopp was ‘screaming’ when that goal went in because he couldn’t believe his Liverpool players didn’t stop the 18-year-old from turning and shooting.
In a season where Mainoo made his Manchester United and England debut, you could argue that he has just topped it with that goal.
Kobbie Mainoo’s goal against Liverpool
“As soon as it left his foot as well, we were right behind it, the camera angle was great, he finds a lovely little pocket, he starts the move and finishes it as well,” said Owen.
“Aaron Wan-Bissaka making a move on his overlap, but that touch on his back foot to open himself up to curl it – he did play quite high today.
“Look at Jurgen Klopp, he knows it. He is screaming at his men. ’Someone has to go and pick him up’. After the goal goes in, Jurgen Klopp is absolutely fuming that he was allowed to turn and have that space. Brilliant!”
Kobbie Mainoo is a shining light for Manchester United
When looking back on the season as a whole, the team can’t shout about much and they are probably lucky that they are sitting in sixth.
Given how poor Man United have been, from a defensive aspect, then things could and probably should have been a lot worse.
But Mainoo is proving to be a shining light and it’s crazy to think that he might even win the club’s Player of the Year.
If it’s not him, then it will probably fall to Diogo Dalot because he has been Man United’s best player, according to Gary Neville, but Mainoo still deserves a mention.
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