Steve Nicol disappointed with Liverpool duo after Manchester United draw

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Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has revealed his disappointment with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, after the Reds drew 1-1 with Manchester United.

Jurgen Klopp’s team saw their winning Premier League run come to an end at Old Trafford, with Adam Lallana’s late strike saving them from defeat.

Liverpool were out of sorts during the first half with United deservedly leading at the break through Marcus Rashford – albeit in controversial fashion.

They improved in the second half, but didn’t do enough to win the game.

It was a particularly frustrating outing for Firmino and Mane, who both came in for stick from Nicol.

Speaking on ESPN FC about the absence of Mo Salah, he said: “Sometimes you can get away with it if you’ve got Firmino and Mane at their best but they were way, way short of their best.

“We all talk about Firmino the way he ties everything together, I tell you what, it fell apart every time the ball went near him. Not a good day, [they] absolutely missed Salah.”

TBR’s view

United dealt with Liverpool’s key threats quite well at Old Trafford.

Firmino and Mane cannot play well every single game and can be forgiven for having off days.

The Brazilian is a top-class talent and is usually extremely consistent so Liverpool fans will not be too concerned.

The Reds undoubtedly missed Salah on Sunday. He hasn’t hit top gear yet this season but remains a menace for defenders to keep tabs on.