Kobbie Mainoo scored the winner as Manchester United clinched qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League in a stunning 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford.
In doing so, the Red Devils completed their first Premier League double over Liverpool in a decade and opened up a six-point gap to their bitter rivals.
Matheus Cunha, back from injury, got United off to a flying start as he netted the opening goal just eight minutes in. It took a wicked deflection off Alexis Mac Allister, but Cunha didn’t care, scoring his ninth of the season.
Benjamin Sesko then doubled Man Utd’s lead on 14 minutes, bundling the ball into the net after Freddie Woodman flapped at a low Bruno Fernandes cross.
United captain Fernandes wanted that to be his 20th Premier League assist of the campaign to equal Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s record, however the touch from Woodman stripped that away.
It looked like there was no way back for Liverpool, but Arne Slot’s half-time team talk seemingly had a huge impact, as the Reds struck a quickfire double to turn the game on its head after the interval.
Dominik Szoboszlai made it 2-1 on 47 minutes as he intercepted an Amad Diallo pass on halfway and powered forward, dribbling all the way into the United box and nutmegging Diogo Dalot to find the bottom corner.
Cody Gakpo then levelled the scoring at 2-2 nine minutes later, making the most of an awful Senne Lammens giveaway. Mac Allister pounced on Lammens’ poor pass out and Szoboszlai then squared to Gakpo for an open goal.
United hadn’t lost a home top-flight match when leading at half time since May 1984 and that long-standing run looked at threat as Liverpool pushed for a winner.
But the hosts had the last laugh as Mainoo fired in a dramatic winner on 78 minutes, cushioning into the bottom left with great composure when Mac Allister could only clear as far as the edge of the box.
The Stretford End went wild as Mainoo’s strike nestled. The midfielder’s future was uncertain under Ruben Amorim, but Michael Carrick has helped the 12-time England international turn it all around.
What better way for Mainoo to celebrate his new contract than to score the winner against Liverpool? It’s what dreams are made of.
