'Invaluable' - Rio Ferdinand hails Manchester United unsung heroes who didn't get enough credit vs Liverpool
There were so many positive performances as Man Utd defeated Liverpool FC in the Premier League.
Manchester United were so good against Liverpool at the weekend that it is actually quite difficult to pick out any player as a standout performer. There were excellent performances all across the pitch, as Ruben Amorim's side produced an impressive team display to record their first win at Anfield in almost a decade.
Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire made headlines for their goals at either end of the match, while Bruno Fernandes shone in his new central midfield role, Luke Shaw defended well at the back, and Senne Lammens set the tone with a composed display in the United goal.
Matheus Cunha produced his best performance in a United shirt, and Benjamin Sesko also made a positive contribution from the bench, though club great Rio Ferdinand believes two other players deserve huge credit for what they did at the weekend.
Ferdinand hails Casemiro and Mount
Manchester United might have ridden their luck at times against Liverpool, but they also executed their game plan perfectly as they sat back and frustrated the home side. A key aspect of their approach was the pressing play from Mason Mount in attack and the defensive cover provided by Casemiro in central midfield.
There was plenty of debate over those two selection decisions ahead of the match, though they were quickly put to bed thanks to their efforts on the pitch. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, the former United defender piled the praise on the two unsung heroes from the win.
“Mason Mount I think deserves a shout I think on and off the ball," he told viewers. "His intensity, his efficiency with the ball as well at times in the first half especially was great.
“And two other players I think it’s obvious Harry Maguire deserves all the plaudits and credit he is going to get. But Casemiro as well, he was another one on the scrappy. People rubbing their hands and going, I told you so. It’s a waste of money, etc.
“Yeah, he might have not lived up to what we he was doing at Real Madrid. And that’s time, it will always take that away from you when you get older, but he was outstanding in that first half yesterday. And I think his positional sense, his awareness in that midfield area yesterday in a big game like that was invaluable.”
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