Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo did what Cristiano Ronaldo did at Liverpool

The inclusion of Kobbie Mainoo's name on the teamsheet at Anfield will have offered Manchester United supporters reassurance.

Mainoo is so green he was one day old when Wayne Rooney returned to Everton as a 19-year-old. Like Rooney, Mainoo has the character and quality to handle testing occasions.

The 18-year-old has started at a raucous Goodison Park, braved the deafening din at Galatasaray and an initially febrile Anfield. Mainoo passed all three tests.

He was as assured of starting against Liverpool as his more senior teammates. Though the timing of Mainoo's cameo against Bayern Munich was an admission of defeat, it was also a warm-up act for a second start on Merseyside in as many months.

Mainoo was one of the youngest on the pitch but also one of the wisest. His line-breaking ball to Alejandro Garnacho was the pass of the match. But for his academy teammate's failure to position his body in front of Trent Alexander-Arnold, he might have notched a first career assist.

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Figures at United say Mainoo might have been poached by Manchester City yesteryear when the academy was in a state of flux. Gary Neville said after Mainoo's man-of-the-match performance at Everton last month "he looked like a Manchester City player". If a United fan can swallow their pride, they will recognise that as a compliment.

Mainoo could be mistaken for a midfielder developed by Barcelona or Ajax. Where United once prided themselves on developing strapping and imposing midfielders ranging from Nicky Butt to Darron Gibson to Paul Pogba, they have adapted as the game has evolved. Mainoo to United is