MAN UTD 3, LIVERPOOL 2
Kobbie Mainoo celebrated signing a new five-year contract by hitting Manchester United’s matchwinner against Liverpool.
It was the 21-year-old’s first goal of the campaign and first-ever strike at Old Trafford, and what an important one as it guaranteed a return to Champions League football after a two-year absence.
The midfielder came up with the decisive moment to help United secure a first league double over their arch-rivals since 2015/16.
Mainoo also spared United’s blushes after they had blown a two-goal lead in a rollercoaster of a game.
United made the perfect start as they were 2-0 ahead inside 14 minutes with goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
But an error-strewn start to the second half saw Liverpool level by the 56th minute after mistakes by Amad Diallo and keeper Senne Lammens gifted goals to Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo.
But there would be a final twist as Mainoo had the final word as interim head coach Michael Carrick celebrated a 10th win from his 14 games in charge on an electric afternoon at Old Trafford.
“Happy to turn it [the season] around, it’s a credit to all our players and the manager as well. We still need to finish the season strong – this is not enough for us,” said Mainoo.
Of his return to becoming a key member of the team under Carrick, Mainoo said: “It was difficult of course, anytime you’re not playing football. I just tried to look forward as much as possible and to keep my head down.
“He’s [Carrick] played a huge part in it, all the confidence he gives all the players. You want to follow him and fight for him and die for him on the pitch.”
And on scoring his first senior goal at Old Trafford, Mainoo added: “I saw a couple of my family members, it’s a blessing to play and a blessing to score. I used to sit in that corner.
“I’m just so blessed to be in this position. I used to dream of times like these. I’m glad to be here with the club.”
Carrick, asked whether he was proud of the performance, said: “Yes, in some ways the work that has been done, the way the players have played, we can take a lot from it.
“Qualifying for the Champions League felt off in the distance at one point, it’s not something we celebrate really, we just want to finish high up in the league.
“To get back to Europe with three games to spare is a good achievement. It is a huge step – I am not overplaying it.
“We’re just trying to do the right things and players have taken everything on so well, we want to finish the season strong.
“We scored a lot of goals. We have scored in the past five games. Our focus has been out of possession work. We try to put our strength in the game. We started the game well. I’m just as pleased with the way we finished the game. Two setbacks could have knocked us, but the players were quality, and we came out on top.”
On refocusing after being pegged back, Carrick added: “We go back to belief, which is tested in those moments, players want to work hard for each other. The tactics is one side and mentality is another. It gets you through difficult times.
“In our league it is encouraging to see how we’ve done so well, we want to keep improving and we can’t underestimate what the players have done.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was disappointed with his side’s start, saying: “It was not necessary to be 2-0 down and lose this game. United deserved to be 2-0 ahead, let’s be clear.
“We didn’t deserve the points on our first half showing. But, after getting it back to 2-2, we should have come away with something.
“The only difference in the second half was we crated more from the ball possession we had.”
Cunha returned to the United side as Carrick made one change from the victory over Brentford.
Amad dropped to the bench with teenager Shea Lacey missing out altogether as another youngster Ayden Heaven started alongside Harry Maguire with Lisandro Martinez completing his three-match suspension.
There was no Alexander Isak for Liverpool as the Swede was ruled out with a minor groin issue but is expected to play again before the end of the season.
Freddie Woodman started in goal again and it was a pretty young bench that features 18-year-old centre-back Mor Talla Ndiaye for the first time.
Embed from Getty ImagesCunha made an instant impact on his return, scoring in the sixth minute from Bryan Mbeumo’s corner.
The Brazilian, stood on the edge of the box, saw his initial effort blocked by Ryan Gravenberch. The rebound fell invitingly back to him and his second effort deflected off Alexis Mac Allister as it flew into the net low to the left of keeper Woodman for his ninth goal of the season.
And it got better when United doubled their lead in the 14th minute.
Sesko failed to connect properly with a Fernandes cross enabling Woodman to block his weak effort.
The ball was recycled with Luke Shaw crossing from the left, Fernandes heading back across goal and Woodman pushing the ball against Sesko and rebounding into the net.
There was a lengthy VAR check for a possible handball – replays showed that was not the case – before Sesko’s 11th goal of the season was confirmed.
It took until mid-half before Liverpool had their first sight at goal when Cody Gakpo bent a shot narrowly wide from 22 yards.
It ought to have been 3-0 before the half hour when Diogo Dalot made a fast break, fed Mbeumo whose cut back was met by Fernandes with a shot on the run which flew narrowly wide from 12 yards.
United were forced to make a change at the break, Amad replacing the injured Sesko.
And Amad was at fault for Liverpool halving the deficit within two minutes of the restart as his stray pass was intercepted in his own half by Szoboszlai who raced almost half the length of the pitch before slotting a shot low to the left of keeper Lammens for his 13th goal of the season..
United were unlucky not to restore their two-goal advantage when Fernandes produced a sublime touch to control the ball before crossing and seeing Mbeumo’s cheeky near post back heel hit the far upright.
Liverpool were also gifted their 56th minute equaliser as United were punished for playing the ball out from a goal kick.
Lammens’ pass was intercepted by Alexis Mac Allister who fed Szoboszlai who in turn released Gakpo who slotted the ball into an empty net.
United were lucky not to fall behind when Virgil van Dijk got a touch to Szoboszlai’s free kick and Lammens kicked the ball off the line.
Carrick made a second change with 17 minutes left as Mbeumo made way for Patrick Dorgu.
United weathered the storm and regained the lead in the 77th minute.
Shaw’s cross was headed across the face of goal by Amad and Mac Allister’s poor clearance found Mainoo who found the bottom corner with a low drive from the edge of the box.
There was another change with three minutes left, Joshua Zirkzee for Cunha and towards the end of added time Leny Yoro replaced Fernandes.
United ought to have added a fourth goal with almost the last kick of the match when Amad broke and released Dalot who, clean through, blazed over when he ought to have found the net.