Paul Pogba watched from a distance as Manchester United secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, and the Red Devils' midfield was impeccable in his absence.

While a friendly handshake between Pogba and Jose Mourinho in the tunnel seemed to quell the rumours of disharmony, there was no shortage of fans and pundits doubting whether the Frenchman will have a clean passage back into the team.

Frank Lampard even went as far as suggesting Pogba's absence - caused by a training injury - actually 'fell into Jose Mourinho’s lap in terms of team selection.'

Given the reports and rumours around their relationship at the moment, Lampard is probably right with Mourinho receiving a massive reaction whether he selects the midfielder or not.

In his absence, though, the midfield duo of Scott McTominay and Nemja Matic held firm, helping to neutralise arguably the Premier League's most exciting attack.

Pogba's absence was little detriment to United's win

And while Pogba offers very different attributes to that partnership, you'd struggle to argue that Pogba would deliver the same defensive stability and discipline had he starred in place of one of them.

As a result, it seems a handshake will do little to brush the drama under the carpet and Robbie Fowler drew up a damning theory on Pogba and Mourinho in his column for the Mirror. 

In fact, not only does the Liverpool legend believe Pogba's future is in doubt but that he could suffer the fate that became of Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah at Chelsea.

Fowler warns of Salah-De Bruyne situation

He penned: "But would he have started if Paul Pogba had been fit? I can’t know for sure, but I’m not so sure.

"Mourinho is his own man. If there is any manager who is going to drop Pogba or Alexis Sanchez after spending so much on them, then it will be him. But even he knows he has to justify his transfer-market decisions.

"I reckon this summer Mourinho will take a hard look at the Pogba situation and think about moving him on.

"That would let him play the system that worked against Liverpool – and still leave him a formidable defensive platform.

"Classic Mourinho, in fact. He got rid of Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah. He can do it."

Stranger things have happened at the hands of Mourinho, let's be honest.

Whether the Special One would go as far as offloading Manchester United's record-signing after two seasons, though, is difficult to assess - and it's important to note that Salah and De Bruyne were embroiled in very different situations.

However, you get the feeling that something really has to change in the Pogba-Mourinho saga sooner, rather than later.

Do you think Pogba will be sold on this summer? Have your say in the comments section below.