- Manchester United star scores winner in Liverpool fixture
- How important Kobbie Mainoo has been under Michael Carrick
- Where does he go from here
As Kobbie Mainoo fulfilled his post-match media duties, the only player from either Liverpool or Manchester United to do so, he was serenaded in the latest offering from the Old Trafford faithful.
Whilst he spoke to Sky Sports, a section of the Stretford End broke into an adaptation of Billy Ocean’s 1976 hit ‘Love Really Hurts Without You’.
“Mainoo / United can’t play without you / United can’t play without you / And you’re breaking my heart, when you don’t start.”
It is, of course, not the first time the 21-year-old has been sung about by United fans, but rarely with a song that has truly stuck and been sung week after week.
As the players departed the pitch and the fans drifted towards a pint on the concourse, the chant still rang out. You would imagine that when United travel to the Stadium of Light on Saturday, 9 May, the song will resurface once more.
And that, in all likelihood, will not be the last you hear of it either.
For the hardcore, week-in, week-out matchgoing supporters, there has been a degree of frustration in recent months over the lack of innovation in new chants, with many of United’s songs often borrowed from other clubs or reduced to basic renditions of tunes from bygone eras.
But the godfather of the Manchester United music scene, Pete Boyle, has given it the thumbs up, signalling his approval.
Mainoo’s Resurgence under Carrick
It is almost baffling to think that Mainoo endured a 14-month period under former head coach Ruben Amorim, during which he struggled to get consistent game time, week after week.
Whilst Amorim was not entirely wrong in his assessment, the Portuguese coach argued that Mainoo lacked sharpness out of possession and needed to refine his tackling and passing.
“Kobbie is really good at controlling the game, but if he plays as an eight he has to reach the box and return. Sometimes he has to cover a lot of space with just two [players],” Amorim said in early September when it was revealed the Englishman had been blocked from going on loan.
“He could play as a six (defensive midfielder) but sometimes he passes the ball and goes away, which is not a reference as a six.
“We have to balance everything. He has the technical ability but he needs to understand the position better. He needs to play in different speeds – sometimes lower, sometimes faster; he can improve on that.”
Since returning to the first team on a regular basis, Mainoo has had to shake off the rust, but he is beginning to resemble a far more complete player again—and Amorim must take some credit for that development.
There were early signs of Mainoo’s quality as soon as he re-entered the side. In United’s 2-0 win against Manchester City in Carrick’s first game in charge, he delivered a high-level performance, and in the first half, he received the ball just before the halfway line with new signing Antoine Semenyo closing him down.
Receiving on his left, Mainoo opened his body, shifting the ball onto his right before gliding past a charging Semenyo, whom the young Englishman turned with ease.
Mainoo’s winner on Sunday was his first in over a year. His last came as the 120th-minute equaliser in that game against Lyon. His last Premier League goal arrived nearly two years ago on 15 May, 2024, when he opened the scoring against Newcastle.
In a round of quickfire questions with the Manchester United media team after signing his new, improved contract on 29 April, Mainoo was asked to name one aspect of his game he wanted to improve.
“Score more goals,” was his response.
United Really Can’t Play Without Kobbie
Eight goals in 99 appearances is by no means a poor return for a central midfielder. What elevates those numbers, however, is the manner of the finishes and the weight they carry.
He now boasts strikes against rivals Liverpool, the aforementioned 120th-minute equaliser against Lyon, the winner in the 2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City, and the 97th-minute winner at Molineux, where he scored his first Premier League goal.
The remaining three all came as well-taken efforts against Newport County, FCSB, and Newcastle. Sunday’s strike fits seamlessly into that catalogue—important, and executed with conviction.
Whilst the finish may appear simple, the ball spins and bounces awkwardly, forcing Mainoo to strike instinctively as Dominic Szoboszlai closes him down.
Mainoo has now led United back to the promised land of Champions League football, just months after it seemed he might depart the club on loan.
It was the crowning moment for both player and manager. The Englishman has achieved the objective set before him, whilst Mainoo has emerged as the symbol of resurgence, forcing his way back into the first team.
