Man Utd 3-2 Liverpool: Kobbie Mainoo's winner secures Champions League qualification after Premier League epic

03.05.2026, 20:10 skysports.com

Kobbie Mainoo scored a dramatic winner for Manchester United as they beat Liverpool 3-2 in an epic Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.

Matheus Cunha's left-footed shot deflected off the back of Alexis Mac Allister and beyond Freddie Woodman to give United an early lead and when Benjamin Sesko forced home after Bruno Fernandes' centre was pushed his way by Woodman, it was two.

But United squandered the advantage in the second half. Amad Diallo, just on as a substitute, gifted the ball to Dominik Szoboszlai who scored a fine solo goal before Senne Lammens' poor kick was seized upon with Cody Gakpo levelling the game up.

It was anybody's game at that point but when the ball fell to Mainoo on the edge of the box he fired hard and low beyond Woodman to win it for United. The youngster, who had been frozen out of the team by Ruben Amorim, stealing the show under Michael Carrick.

The victory confirms that United will play in the Champions League next season as they tighten their grip on third spot in the table. Liverpool remain fourth with work to do - and with work for Arne Slot to do to persuade fans he is the man to lead them next season.

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Man Utd: Lammens (5), Dalot (7), Maguire (7), Heaven (7), Shaw (6), Casemiro (7), Mainoo (8), Fernandes (7), Cunha (8), Mbeumo (6), Sesko (7).Subs: Amad (5), Dorgu (5), Zirkzee (n/a), Yoro (n/a).Liverpool: Woodman (6), Jones (5), Van Dijk (5), Konate (5), Robertson (6), Gravenberch (6), Szoboszlai (8), Mac Allister (5), Frimpong (5), Wirtz (5), Gakpo (7).Subs: Kerkez (6), Ngumoha (6), Chiesa (n/a).Player of the Match: Kobbie Mainoo.

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Slow-motion replays later indicated that Sesko had got a feather-like touch on the ball with his hand, which will leave Liverpool aggrieved. The initial replays shown during the VAR process did not appear to have this close-up view and the goal was allowed to stand.

For the majority of the supporters at Old Trafford, it was a game to savour. Former skipper Roy Keane had told Sky Sports beforehand that the result would "have a big bearing on whether Michael Carrick will get the job" - maybe this was his anointment.

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News of Sir Alex Ferguson falling ill and being taken to hospital before kick-off added poignancy to the occasion. That Carrick has this United playing with the pace and purpose of old is a fitting tribute to his old boss and offers hope for the team's future.

For Slot, the talk of being in transition remains true and Liverpool were without a trio of forwards who he will feel could have made a difference. But the fear among fans is not the transition itself - it is what the Dutchman is transitioning this Liverpool into.

They want to see a side that presses and it was this that sparked their brief comeback. Fans would embrace a Liverpool that tweaked the model established by Jurgen Klopp. A sterile possession game looks a divergence too far. The questions for him will continue.

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