Staff Takeaways: Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool

Vince Roseta: The formation was the key

Manchester United didn’t try to outplay Liverpool by dominating the ball, rather they sat in a compact shape, stayed organized. The 4-2-3-1 shape, got Liverpools fullbacks on an island and once possession was turned over, United quickly progressed upfield taking advantage of Liverpools island of fullbacks. Kobbie Mainoo proved he is worth the investment of the new contract from earlier this week. He wasn’t just solid in midfield but always seemed to make the right choice when things got chaotic, especially after Liverpool pulled it back to 2-2. Then when the game needed someone to step up, he delivered with that late winner, striking from the edge of the box and completely flipping the momentum back to United and getting us back into the Champions League.

Suwaid Fazal: Mainoo’s Goal was a perfect summation of Michael Carrick’s Stint

Michael Carrick’s tenure has been characterised by late goals that secure the team’s victory and the empowerment of players. Kobbie Mainoo’s 77th-minute winner, a placed finish from outside the box, was a fitting moment to capture just that. Although there was still some time before the final whistle, there was a sense that Mainoo’s goal was going to be the difference, and Liverpool didn’t really threaten in the final minutes to confirm this feeling. Kobbie Mainoo’s resurgence has been one of the stories of the season since Michael Carrick’s arrival as well, and it was only right that he scored the winner against rivals Liverpool to complete the job Michael Carrick was tasked with in January: Champions League qualification.