Kobbie Mainoo's rehabilitation is complete. The Manchester United midfielder ended a week he will never forget — one that started with him signing a lucrative new contract and ended with him scoring the winner to sink bitter rivals Liverpool and secure United a place in next season's Champions League.
Not bad for someone who wasn't even in the United squad the last time these English giants met in the Premier League. In the space of five months, Mainoo has gone from zero to the hero United knew he was — but former boss Ruben Amorim chose to ignore.
So it felt ironic it was Mainoo who popped up at the Stretford End to settle this five-goal thriller at Old Trafford, killing off a stirring fightback from Arne Slot's men who threatened to become the ultimate party poopers after coming from two goals down.
Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko had pounced in the opening 15 minutes to leave United in dreamland. But quickfire strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo turned United's afternoon into a nightmare. Until Mainoo broke his season's duck — to leave Slot spitting feathers.
United had been looking to do the league double over their fierce rivals for the first time in a decade. The last time it happened, Michael Carrick was a United fan stood in the away end at Anfield when Wayne Rooney scored the winner. Now here he was looking to mastermind the same achievement as the manager.
While these two giants were not duelling for the title, there was still huge significance attached to the latest episode of one of football's greatest soap operas. Aside from the futures of both managers, United could book a return to the Champions League, while Liverpool could overtake them in third with a win themselves.
United ripped into the visitors from kick-off and took less than six minutes to go ahead. Alexis Mac Allister cleared a corner straight to Cunha, who then beat Freddie Woodman at the second attempt courtesy of a shot which deflected off the Argentine. Less than eight minutes later, Woodman was picking the ball out of his own net again when he failed to stop Sesko from bundling home from close range.
Slot dropped to the floor like he'd been knocked clean out. United had the bite to match their bark, while Liverpool had rolled over to have their tummies tickled. Carrick's rampant side were ripping Liverpool to pieces. Bruno Fernandes should have made it 3-0 when Bryan Mbeumo picked him out, but his instant shot flew inches wide.
Ibrahima Konate fell over his own feet to gift another chance to United, which wasn't taken. But then two mistakes from United in the space of 10 mad minutes at the start of the second half flipped the game on its head. Amad Diallo's woeful pass allowed Szoboszlai to run at the United defence before burying a low shot into the bottom corner. Then an even worse one from Senne Lammens from inside his own box gifted Gakpo the simplest of equalisers.
Moments later, Lammens hacked clear off his own line after Szoboszlai's free kick had caused more mayhem in the home defence. Casemiro headed straight at Woodman when he should have scored. But it was forgotten soon after when Mainoo charged onto a half-clearance with 13 minutes remaining to sweep home the winning goal.
