Casemiro Man United reaction speaks volumes in Liverpool horror-show with unseen response
There was a moment, a brief second, hardly even that, after being shrugged off the ball in the build-up to Liverpool's second goal, that the reality of Casemiro's position at Manchester United was summed up. Having already strolled out from the back and into a wall of white shirts ahead of him, the Brazilian's world came tumbling down.
Luis Diaz nudged, he stuck his leg out, and before Casemiro could even hit the floor there were five Liverpool players waiting to pick up the loose ball. Expecting a foul, no, hoping for one, Casmeiro clambered twice in a fashion fitting in with United's struggles against superior opposition.
First, in the split moment that he could still see the ball before it was whisked away towards Andre Onana's goal, Casemiro appeared to claw away in an attempt to hold on. Like a player claiming a free kick before it's given, he grabbed with one hand to stop play.
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Then, as Alexis Mac Allister pushed on forward back to Diaz, only two passes before the second goal, Casemiro turned to the referee, who had also long overtaken him, asking for the impossible. As Mohamed Salah crossed towards Diaz, Casemiro was on one knee getting back to his feet, a good 15 yards away from play.
For those watching on TV, United's most defensive midfielder wasn't one of the six outfield players on screen as Liverpool score a goal from the edge of the box. His protests asking for a foul were drowned out by the away fans enjoying their day at Old Trafford again.
Just over 20 minutes later and United walked out for the second half without Casemiro. Instead, just like Kobbie Mainoo was