Daniel Sturridge tips Man Utd star to hit ‘next level’ after Liverpool victory

Kobbie Mainoo scored the winning goal as Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday, and former England striker Daniel Sturridge used the moment to outline exactly what the 21-year-old needs to do to fulfil his potential at the highest level.

Mainoo’s 77th-minute finish settled a match that had swung dramatically in both directions, and the goal came just days after the midfielder signed a contract extension with the club. It also served as a significant personal milestone for a player who spent much of the earlier part of this season frozen out under former manager Ruben Amorim.

United had made a fast start to the game, going two goals ahead through Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in what looked like it would be a comfortable afternoon at Old Trafford. Liverpool regrouped at half-time and came out with far more purpose in the second half, pulling the game level through Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo. With the score at 2-2 and momentum shifting toward the visitors, Mainoo stepped up to win it for United and, in doing so, confirmed their place in next season’s Champions League.

Sturridge, speaking on Sky Sports after the final whistle, was direct about what impressed him and what he believes Mainoo must still develop. “For Kobbie, it was a difficult time under former manager Ruben Amorim,” he said. “Mentally, hearing your manager say ‘you’re up against Bruno Fernandes.’ Now, for him to come back into the squad week in and week out, he’s building some momentum. I would love to see him go to the next level.”

The specifics of Sturridge’s assessment centred on physicality and consistency. He wants to see Mainoo add strength and improve his capacity to cover ground repeatedly throughout a game. “I’d like to see him work on his explosiveness, which he will get because he is only 21. And I want to see him bulk up. Then I think he will be strong and robust. He will be a guy in there who can run. I think he needs to work on his capacity to run.”

Sturridge acknowledged that the raw ability is not in question, but felt Mainoo has not yet shown those physical qualities on a consistent enough basis. “I think Kobbie does have the capability to do that, but he doesn’t show it consistently. If he bulks himself up and gets explosive, we’re talking about a guy that can go to the next level.”

Roy Keane, also speaking on Sky Sports, took a broader view of Mainoo’s journey through what has been a turbulent few months. The former United captain acknowledged that the difficult spell, while painful at the time, was part of a necessary learning curve for a young player at a big club. “He’s had his challenges over the last few months. That’s the journey of any young player. He’s taken his opportunity. To score the winning goal for any local kid, it’s fantastic.”

Keane recalled how Mainoo had arrived on the scene quickly, earned headlines and broken into the England setup, before finding himself back in a difficult situation where his place in the team was no longer assured. Loan moves had been discussed publicly, but Keane was among those who believed staying and working through the difficulty had value. “Sometimes you have to sit and learn, watch the game and the team. In football, there are good and bad experiences and I think he’ll learn more from these last few months than when he first got into the team.”

On the contract extension and what the season has meant for his development, Keane added: “He’s had to mature, he’s got his new deal, he’s had to learn his trade. He’s a young player, he’s still learning, he’s got years before he even peaks.”

Mainoo himself was measured in how he described the period he went through. Speaking after the match, he said it had been difficult not playing regularly but that he had tried to stay focused rather than dwell on the situation. “It was difficult of course, anytime you’re not playing football. I just tried to look forward as much as possible and to keep my head down.”

He was also keen to share credit for the turnaround in United’s season, pointing directly to the influence of interim manager Michael Carrick. “He’s played a huge part in it, all the confidence he gives all the players. You want to follow him and fight for him and die for him on the pitch.” The language was strong and deliberate — Mainoo was not speaking in vague terms about a manager’s tactical impact, but about something more personal and motivational that Carrick has clearly created within the squad.

Amorim had publicly compared Mainoo unfavourably with Bruno Fernandes during his tenure, a remark that Sturridge referenced as an example of the mental pressure the midfielder was operating under. That comparison, made at a time when United were struggling badly for results and confidence, placed additional scrutiny on Mainoo at a vulnerable point in his development. He has since re-established himself as a regular starter under Carrick and delivered one of his most important contributions in a United shirt against Liverpool.

United sit third in the Premier League table with three games remaining, having now secured their return to Champions League football. Liverpool remain fourth, level on points with Aston Villa in fifth, with their own top-four battle still unresolved heading into the final weeks of the season.