Kobbie Mainoo's redemption under Carrick, Is Amorim seeing this?

Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko had given United an early advantage, which looked set to be the foundation of a revenge thrashing for the 5-0 and 7-0 beatings they have suffered at Liverpool's hands over the last half-decade. But instead of ruthlessly finishing the job, the hosts threw their lead away due to moments of madness from Amad Diallo and Senne Lammens, with the excellent Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo cashing in.

Luckily for United, they could rely on their only locally-born player Mainoo, who, amid the madness, calmly struck the winner from outside the box. Just a few months ago, Mainoo's very future at United was at stake due to Ruben Amorim's stubbornness. But now he looks to be the club's very future. So too does Michael Carrick, who has surely done enough to earn a permanent contract from Sir Jim Ratcliffe after guaranteeing the billionaire Champions League football in his third season as co-owner.

It was a different story for Liverpool though, as Andy Robertson was their worst performer in his last match at Old Trafford for the Reds and Arne Slot was left making excuses for another defeat to a big rival.

In a fixture where local pride plays such a factor, just two players out of the 22 starters could claim to be from Manchester or Liverpool. And if a certain Portuguese manager were still in charge, there might have been zero local representatives in the United side. Mainoo did not just make up the numbers, he played with the passion and pride that this fixture demands and when the game was there for the taking, he produced a moment of real quality to grab the victory.

The midfielder was the crucial link between defence and attack in the first half and although he sat off a bit in the second when Liverpool grew back into the game, he turned the screw in the late stages with some thrilling attacking play. So many players in his position would have shanked the ball into the stands but he instead had the presence of mind to imagine he was spraying a pass to a team-mate, side-footing into the bottom corner of the net.

Mainoo could have crowned the victory with a second goal in added time but selflessly played in Diogo Dalot, who duly missed the target. It mattered not. Mainoo had shown exactly why it was so crucial that United kept him at the club and convinced him to sign a new deal that means he will spend the next five years, at least, calling the shots in the middle of the pitch.