Kobbie Mainoo reacts to 'unbelievable' first Old Trafford goal

Kobbie Mainoo has admitted he planned to catch Caoimhin Kelleher off-guard with the glorious goal that helped Manchester United secure a 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

Both sides were equal heading into the second half, but it was 18-year-old Mainoo who separated the pair and secured his first goal at the Theatre of Dreams in the 67th minute, finding some space and curling into the top corner in an eerily similar manner to a famous strike by another former wonderkid, Federico Macheda.

«Of course it's an unbelievable feeling, my first professional Old Trafford goal, and to do it in this fixture is amazing,» Mainoo reflected after the game.

«When Aaron Wan-Bissaka gave me the ball, I thought the goalkeeper wouldn't think I would shoot, so I laid it off and it felt good. Luckily, it went in.»

Mohamed Salah's late penalty ultimately took the excitement out of Mainoo's moment and the youngster admitted the United dressing room were frustrated not to get all three points.

«It left us disappointed,» he continued. «We worked hard to get into the game, after a tough first half.

»We have given it away. Ultimately, we wanted the three points and it is a big game for us coming to the end of the season. To not come away with three points is tough to take.

«Again penalties have cost us, but we have to keep on working ironing out these details that keep costing us and keep trying to get better.»

Mainoo went on to accept some blame for Luis Diaz's opening goal.

«With that one, I was supposed to be double-teaming Virgil van Dijk with Rasmus Hojlund, and leaving Luis Diaz,» he revealed. «We should clear it, it was a miscommunication, and details have cost us.»

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