If self-justification is an outstanding feature in Jose Mourinho’s unique thought process, then his comments about Andy Robertson on Sunday probably related to something going on at Manchester United.

Luke Shaw, for example, had travelled to Anfield but was deemed not fit enough to be in the squad and he subsequently liked a Tweet which questioned Mourinho’s team selection before un-liking it – though that did not escape the attention of the internet warriors by that point.

Shaw, of course, is a left back and though his relationship with Mourinho supposedly improved over the summer, players tend not to forget when they have been targeted by managers for public criticism, just as managers tend not to change their views about players when they feel like they have been let down.

Shaw’s new contract changes nothing, really, because as a relatively young English footballer with Brexit coming, his value is likely to be maintained, particularly if a new manager – as expected – ends up leading United for most of the years included in the deal that was signed in October.

Football never seems to end in its search for symbolism and on Sunday the contrasts between Liverpool and United were displayed in so many different areas of selection, it was difficult to know where to start.

Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Show all 23 1 /23 Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Alisson - 4 out of 10 A very, very poor error to allow Lingard to equalise to allow Manchester United a foothold in the game. Untested otherwise, but fortunate it didn’t cost his side. Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Nathaniel Clyne - 6 Solid on his return to Premier League action, though lacking in the overall impact that Alexander-Arnold and Gomez have given. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Dejan Lovren - 6 Could perhaps have done better to cut out Lukaku’s cross for Manchester United’s goal, though the fault obviously lies ultimately with Alisson. One chance skewed wide. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Virgil van Dijk - 7 Totally controlled Lukaku. Another strong performance from a man who is surely front-runner for Player of the Year at this stage. Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Andy Robertson - 6 Seemingly every single one of his corners failed to beat the first man. Even afforded acres of room in the second half failed to produce a meaning delivery into the box. Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Sadio Mane - 8 Took his goal nicely, bringing Fabinho’s pass down from an uncomfortable height superbly. Menacing throughout, from the right in the first half and the left later on. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Georginio Wijnaldum - 7 Pass, move, break up play. His evolution into an all-around central midfielder has been superb to watch. Undroppable. Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Fabinho - 8 Excellent in tandem with Wijnaldum, controlling the game and finding constant pockets of space. A delightful pass for Mane’s opener. Emerging as a top Premier League defensive midfielder after initial struggles. Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Naby Keita - 6 A competent, if not especially influential, performance on the left of midfield. Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Roberto Firmino - 7 An assist for Shaqiri’s game sealing goal to cap a strong showing. Used the space created by Salah, Mane and Keita well to create chances in the first half. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Mohamed Salah - 7 Probably the least effective of Liverpool’s forward line but still a good performance. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings SUB: Xherdan Shaqiri - 9 Immense impact with his fortuitous deflected drive to give Liverpool the lead, and his second similarly diverted effort to extend it. AFP/Getty Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings David de Gea - 7 A string of excellent as Liverpool dominated throughout. Faultless for the three goals, and it would have been more without him. Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Matteo Darmian - 6 Surprisingly solid at both centre back and right back as others around him struggled. Man Utd via Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Eric Bailly - 5 A number of flying interventions that only served to highlight how disjointed the Manchester United defence was, particularly early on. Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Victor Lindelof - 4 Really struggled with Liverpool’s movement. Looked more comfortable when the defence went to a four. Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Ashley Young - 5 Should have tracked Mane’s run more effectively for the opener. He and Lindelof really struggled with Liverpool’s threat down the right early on. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Diogo Dalot - 5 While on the pitch ineffectual, though much of Liverpool’s play came down the other wing. A booking before being taken off at half time. Man Utd via Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Ander Herrera - 4 An ill-advised, ill-timed, ill-conceived lunge on Mane allowed the Senegalese attacker to get to the byline for Shaqiri’s first. Gave the ball away far too regularly, though he was not alone in that regard among the visitors. Liverpool FC via Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Nemanja Matic - 5 Failed to adequately shield a vulnerable defence. AFP Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Marcus Rashford - 5 Not his sort of game, and cut a frustrated figure at times, though he ran hard and tracked back when necessary. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Jesse Lingard - 5 On the spot to capitalise on Alisson’s blunder. Otherwise he struggled to get on the ball, and when he did struggled to keep it. AFP/Getty Images Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player ratings Romelu Lukaku - 4 Three touches in the first 20 minutes, two in his own box and none in Liverpool’s half. It didn’t improve much from there, and even his cross leading to the goal found a Liverpool player. Getty Images

There was the tale of the two Brazilian midfielders; one called Fabinho, who gave a man-of-the-match performance and the other called Fred who was not playing despite costing more.

There was the movement of those wearing number 9; with Roberto Firmino’s endless effort to make space for his teammates conflicting with the stationary presence of Romelu Lukaku, whose labour left you thinking of alternative names for heatmaps.

The opponent Mourinho mentioned first, though, had been Robertson, whose crusade from left back automatically made you wonder whether Shaw would have been able to do the same had Mourinho decided to unleash him.

Probably not. Few of Jurgen Klopp’s signings have been duds but if pound for pound there is a best one, it has to be Robertson who was effectively traded for Kevin Stewart in the summer of 2017 – the midfielder now playing regularly at Hull City but not in the Championship and rather at under-23 level.

That Robertson did not seem particularly interested in Mourinho’s observations about him, which concluded with the word “incredible” being used, maybe reflects where Robertson is at compared to Mourinho. Other than Marcelo at Real Madrid, is there a more exciting left back in Europe right now?

“It is just part and parcel of my game, I will keep on going until the end,” Robertson said about the number of sprints he was able to make. “I got a bit of space, particularly second half and the gaffer is always banging on to me and Trent, more so this season. Special mention goes to [Nathaniel Clyne] Clyney, being out for so long and my God, he did brilliant. He has had his struggles with injury but he put in a first-class performance and that just sums up our squad at the minute.”

Like Robertson, Xherdan Shaqiri came from a relegated club in Stoke and is now playing a key role in Liverpool’s campaign, scoring twice against United. Robertson believes it helps not to carry the burden of a big price tag.

Robertson hailed Xherdan Shaqiri who also joined Liverpool from a relegated club (EPA)

“He is seizing his chance and good on him. You might go under the radar a wee bit and there might not be as big a deal made about your signing but you can use that to your advantage because it gets time to get your feet under the table. Shaq has hit the ground running, quicker than I did, so credit to him. He has learned the way to play and he has been fantastic all season and a real threat for us; his stats this season are very good, so long may that continue.”

“It has been a huge few weeks for us,” Robertson continued. “People maybe looked at the fixtures and thought ‘Everton, it’s a derby, always tough, Bournemouth, always tough, Napoli was a must-win and Man Utd speaks for itself’ and we have come out unscathed. But we need to move on from that. We can’t just rest on that and say, four games we have played well and take our eye off the ball. We need to stay focused 100 per-cent and look forward to the challenge at Wolves who have done well this season.”

Should Liverpool win at Molineux, they will be top at Christmas. Robertson was asked whether he thinks Liverpool will be able to stay there. His instinctively attacked the question before calmly finishing his response.