Kobbie Mainoo has called for the Manchester United fans to be the ’12th man’ ahead of this weekend’s showdown with Liverpool.
The North-West rivals meet in a blockbuster early-season clash at Old Trafford, as both teams look to lay down a marker for the campaign.
Last season saw two thrilling ties between the rivals at Old Trafford, as Manchester United won a dramatic FA Cup clash in March, before a 2-2 draw in the Premier League a month later.
Mainoo has said Manchester United are ‘ready’ for another ‘huge game’ against the Merseysiders.
“For both of us, it’s a huge game so early in the season,” Mainoo said in an interview for United Review, the club’s official matchday programme.
“I feel like it will have a big impact on how the start of the season will map out, because it’s such a big fixture, it will affect us. So yeah, we’ll have to prepare right and we’ll be ready for it.”
Mainoo calls for electric Old Trafford atmosphere
United’s win in the FA Cup was hailed as one of the all-time great cup ties, as Amad Diallo scored a 120th-minute winner to seal a 4-3 win for the Red Devils in extra-time. Mainoo also scored his first home goal for the club in the Premier League draw and admits he already has fond memories of clashes with Liverpool.
“That was a crazy game, probably one of the best games of last season,” he added.
“And then the other one, my first goal at Old Trafford. Unfortunately, we couldn’t win that, but I still have fond memories from it. Both games at Old Trafford, it was rocking. It was amazing. So that definitely helps us.
“It’s like a 12th man on the pitch for us when it’s like that, so we appreciate that.”
