Manchester United got the job done against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, claiming three points and Champions League football with a 3-2 win against Arne Slot’s side.
Early goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were cancelled out by second-half strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, before Kobbie Mainoo celebrated his new contract with a late winner.
For Michael Carrick, victory complements previous showings against top-four rivals, while extending his remarkable record to 10 wins, two draws and only two defeats from 14 fixtures.
Crucially, his side has confirmed its place amongst the elite of European football with three games to spare, signifying a superb shift in fortunes since his arrival.
Although there is much for Ineos to ponder this summer, it will take a very brave boardroom decision to part company with this talented 44-year-old tactician.
Manchester United seal European return with Liverpool win
After another dramatic weekend of Premier League football, anything but defeat would’ve ensured a Champions League return for United.
Additionally, the allure of a first league double over Liverpool in a decade supplied further motivation for a side chasing a third consecutive victory.
Despite Roy Keane’s suggestion of a PR machine in play for Carrick, three points would bolster his prospects for a permanent stay, adding to those collected against Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Still, the importance of this fixture, regardless of league position, cannot be overstated, as both bragging rights and history are forever on the line in English football’s most decorated rivalry.
Carrick’s men began confidently, buoyed by partisan support, and set an early framework of intent with a series of dangerous deliveries towards the ever-threatening Sesko.
But it was Cunha who opened the scoring inside six minutes with a deflected effort from the edge of the area, profiting from an electric start against a shellshocked Liverpool.
The visitors responded, as you’d expect. Regardless, United had the bit between their teeth, and superb transitional play led to a second goal inside the opening quarter.
Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes combined before the latter’s header was parried by Frederick Woodman into Sesko’s path, with the Slovenian supplying the finishing touches.
Fernandes came within millimetres of notching his ninth goal of the campaign moments later, but his effort from a pinpoint Mbeumo delivery crept agonisingly wide.
The nature of the fixture allowed United to sit comfortably in their structure. In contrast, their guests shifted possession without any form of penetration other than a couple of efforts from distance.
Kobbie Mainoo enjoyed himself thoroughly with an impressive showing at the heart of every transition, and Ayden Heaven commanded an air of authority behind him, much to the dismay of the travelling contingent.
Old Trafford applauded their side off the field at the break with a richly deserved lead and one foot in the Champions League.
| First-half statistics via sofascore.com | Manchester United | Liverpool |
| Possession | 38% | 62% |
| Completed passes | 187 | 308 |
| Total shots | 8 | 4 |
| Goalkeeper saves | 1 | 1 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.14 | 0.15 |
Amad was introduced at the restart as a visibly uncomfortable Sesko made his way to the dugout with his teammates.
Within minutes, his misplaced pass found Szoboszlai, before the Hungarian marched unchallenged into the box and slotted calmly past Senne Lammens to reduce the deficit.
Many of the early patterns reflected the first half of the Brentford display, with a back-and-forth spectacle leading to more than a couple of nervy moments for both sets of supporters.
But it was United’s turn to appear shellshocked, and a disjointed midfield pairing of Mainoo and Casemiro lost control of the affair.
Staggeringly, Liverpool were gifted a second before the hour mark when Lammens inexplicably sent a 10-yard pass to Szoboszlai, who laid off to Gakpo for the simplest of finishes.
Football will never cease to amaze, and the ramifications of one poor passage of play can alter any given fixture. It took nearly 20 minutes for this encounter to settle with an expectation of further drama to come.
Patrick Dorgu made his return from a prolonged injury layoff for the final quarter, and his side was ahead again within minutes.
Luke Shaw sent a lofted delivery to the back post before Alexis Mac Allister’s naive clearance was met by the onrushing Mainoo, who sidefooted an exquisite effort past Woodman in front of the Stretford End.
That proved to be the telling blow in another riveting encounter between these old foes, with a long-overdue domestic double adding to the feel-good factor inside the ground.
In many ways, this Jekyll and Hyde display resembles a squad that is crying out for tailored summer recruits. But this should come as no surprise.
When all is said and done, Champions League qualification and North Western bragging rights are all that matter today.
Well done, Mr Carrick.
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