The energetic and youthful duo were key to the Red Devils' classy performance against Liverpool, and now there can be no going back
To paraphrase UK indie landfill greats The Automatic, 'What's that coming over the hill, is it a midfield?' Manchester United's lack of a proper presence in the middle of the park has been a concern for around a decade, but when up against a Liverpool team that have made huge strides in that area this season, it was the Red Devils who ruled the centre of the pitch.
Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte struck up a fine partnership in the 2-2 draw at Anfield, with help from Bruno Fernandes dropping deep to help them out of possession, and they managed to prevent Liverpool from ever getting comfortable while also building sustained attacks. It was a radical transformation from the shambolic defeat at home to Newcastle six days earlier, when United's midfield was staffed by Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, with Joshua Zirkzee in front of them before he was hauled off in the 33rd minute for Mainoo.
The return of the suspended Ugarte and Fernandes as well as Mainoo playing from the start made a world of difference, and it is now crystal clear that Mainoo and Ugarte should start every game together when possible. They can be the foundation upon which Ruben Amorim can rebuild his team from the rubble and make performances like Anfield the norm, not the exception.
GettyMore energy, more understanding
Starting Mainoo and Ugarte over Casemiro and Eriksen lowered the average age of United's midfield duo from 32 to 21, and the change in personnel not only significantly raised the energy levels, it also led to a better understanding between the two players. Whereas Casemiro was in his own world against Newcastle, shanking hopeless shots over the bar and passing the ball out of play, Mainoo and Ugarte worked together to disrupt Liverpool's flow.
The Uruguayan helped Mainoo rob Curtis Jones in the first half, leading to a sustained period of possession from United which led to Rasmus Hojlund finding himself one-on-one with Alisson. Ugarte won three out of four tackles, more than anyone else on the pitch, and he often turned defence into attack in an instant. In the second half, for example, he stuck out a foot to prevent Trent Alexander-Arnold finding Mohamed Salah, prodding the ball in the direction of Matthijs de Ligt who started a United counter.
Ugarte also began the move for Harry Maguire's last-gasp chance with a raking cross-field ball out to Fernandes having previously robbed Alexis Mac Allister to help United see out the first half with another long period of possession.
AdvertisementGettyOozing calm
Mainoo played a more subtle role in the impressive team performance, giving United control and purpose when in possession, gliding around in tight spaces and often dribbling his way out of trouble. His calmness was pivotal to the times when the visitors serenely rolled the ball around the pitch, preventing Liverpool from dictating the play.
Mainoo and Ugarte's teamwork meant Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool's most influential midfielders this season, had poor games, and subsequently Salah was unable to torment United as he has done so often in this fixture, not withstanding the penalty he scored to give Liverpool the lead.
Mainoo and Ugarte had been paired together on four previous occasions and it has to be said that Anfield was the only time it really worked. They started alongside each other in the terrible 3-0 defeat by Tottenham in September, the only such time during Erik ten Hag's tenure, as Mainoo picked up an injury in the next league outing at Aston Villa that would sideline him for two months. Some slack can also be cut towards Ugarte as that was his full Premier League debut and United played the whole of the second half with 10 men due to Fernandes' sending off.
GettyThe No.1 partnership
The combination did not work well in the defeats by Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Wolves, although it did have success during the derby win at Manchester City, when Mainoo began on the bench but was forced to come on in the 14th minute to replace the injured Mason Mount. It is clear, though, that it has to be Amorim's top choice from now on.
Ugarte has the advantage of having played under the Portuguese for two seasons at Sporting CP in the same 3-4-2-1 system, and his ball-winning ability is crucial to the system working. Paul Scholes described Ugarte as "untouchable" while analysing the game for , saying: "Ugarte is quality on the ball, he’s surprised me a little bit and he’s done better than I thought he would do when I watched him at Paris Saint-Germain. He’s really grown in confidence. He helped defensively as well as in the attack, and played with composure. At this point, the United midfield has to be him plus another."
Scholes named Mainoo as the best option alongside Ugarte, and that was no surprise given how good he has been since breaking into the United first team last season amid a dearth of quality elsewhere in midfield.
GettyRecipe for disaster
While Mainoo and Ugarte are only at the start of their promising careers, Casemiro and Eriksen are at the end of theirs. The Brazilian and the Dane have had fantastic careers, but can no longer cope with the intensity of the Premier League. Eriksen was routinely substituted in the 60th minute in his first season at Old Trafford and, understandably, he is even slower two years on.
Casemiro initially transmitted his winning appetite to United when he joined from Real Madrid in 2022, but he had a dismal second campaign and there has been little sign of improvement. He remained on the bench at Anfield and that was a relief to many United fans after his cumbersome performance in the 3-0 defeat by Liverpool at Old Trafford in September.
The main concern for United is that they will inevitably have to fall back upon at least one of their veterans in the second half of the season as Mainoo and Ugarte cannot play every minute of every game. Against a top-eight side, that is a recipe for disaster.