Liverpool players must have left the field at Old Trafford on Sunday wondering how they’d been beaten.
The Reds were completely in control of the game having turned around a 1-0 deficit to lead 2-1. Throughout most of the second-half it was almost too easy for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
But a one goal lead is rarely enough to sit back on against Manchester United, and so it proved this weekend. Despite the disappointing nature of the loss though, ESPN FC pundit Craig Burley had praise for Liverpool duo Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
“For the middle of that second-half, Szoboszlai and Mac Allister were causing United so many problems with the positions they were taking up, behind Kobbie Mainoo and McTominay. And they’re clever footballers,” Burley raved.
“United couldn’t lay a glove on them it seemed like for 15 or 20 minutes before they got that second wind.
“But there was no cutting edge or urgency to Liverpool. It was casual, it was half-hearted in the final third.”
Liverpool’s midfield earns praise
We like this little line from Burley. The reason we like it is because since Sunday, plenty has been spoken about United’s young prodigy Kobbie Mainoo.
Now, we don’t want to suggest that the praise Mainoo has earned is not deserved, because it’s clear that the 18-year-old is going to be some player.
However, in the days since their win over Liverpool the narrative has been that Mainoo dominated Liverpool’s midfield at Old Trafford. That simply isn’t true.
The teenager did extremely well in parts and had one or two stand-out moments. But in the second-half especially he was a passenger. Liverpool couldn’t have found it easier to cut through the United midfield. Looking a little ragged, Mainoo was taken off with ten minutes left to play.
Again, there’s no disgrace in that. As a young player up against much more experienced pros, Mainoo did well. But it’s good to see that at least one pundit could see through the hype on Sunday.
As for Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, well, we’d argue that Burley is right on only one of them.
Suggestions that Szoboszlai has been struggling recently may be overblown, but we don’t think he’s been great by any means. Sunday was another game where you’re simply left wanting more from the Hungarian.
In terms of Mac Allister though, he’s been one of Liverpool’s best players all season long. That continued at Old Trafford where he pushed through a tricky start to be a key man again. He didn’t deserve to be on the losing team. Unfortunately though, that’s exactly where he and Szoboszlai ended up.
