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Jose Mourinho made key mistake during Man United's draw with Liverpool - Ray Wilkins
MANCHESTER UNITED manager Jose Mourinho was wrong to start Wayne Rooney on the bench against Liverpool yesterday, according to Ray Wilkins.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho secured a late draw against Liverpool
Mourinho, 53, dropped Rooney from his starting XI despite their 2-0 midweek EFL Cup semi-final win over Hull.
The Portuguese tactician made four changes altogether with Zlatan Ibrahimovic back up front - supported on either flank by Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
I really think Wayne Rooney should have started
Trailing at half-time, Mourinho replaced holding midfielder Michael Carrick with striker Rooney in an attempt to put more pressure on Liverpool's defence.
And it eventually paid off when the club's joint record goalscorer provided a cross that lead to Ibrahimovic's equaliser.
But Wilkins, who won the FA Cup with Manchester United in 1982, thinks Rooney should have started.
Jose Mourinho sent Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini on for the final 15 minutes
Manchester United star Wayne Rooney started on the bench
He told Sky Sports News: "I think the team selection, in my humble opinion, might have been slightly wrong from Manchester United's point of view.
"I'd have thrown Wayne Rooney into this match - from the start.
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"You saw with the equaliser, he showed the one piece of quality they needed in the box with a wonderful chip to Marouane Fellaini, and I really think he should have started.
"Michael Carrick was slightly off yesterday, so he didn't have control of the game."
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