Key stats
- Manchester United have scored in their last 23 games in the Premier League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 23 games from 24th November 2012 to 28th April 2013.
- Kobbie Mainoo scored his first Premier League goal this season, netting for the first time since 15th May 2024 against Newcastle United.
- Liverpool have conceded 16 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Newcastle United (19) and Burnley (17) have conceded more in the Premier League this season.
Highlights
Match report
In a game that was always likely to have huge ramifications in the top-four race, a front-footed United start yielded an early goal.
There was an element of fortune to it as Matheus Cunha needed two bites and the cherry to see a deflected left-footed strike nestle in the corner, but it was exactly the reward the hosts’ start deserved.
Their endeavours bore yet more fruits before the first half was even 15 minutes old, as after first being denied by a save from Freddie Woodman from point-blank range, Benjamin Šeško was in the right place at the right time from the recycled cross which saw Woodman parry Bruno Fernandes’ header against him and the ball trickled over the line.
Cody Gakpo came close to halving the deficit when he curled an effort inches wide with Senne Lammens beaten, but United were undeterred by that Liverpool pot-shot and came close to adding a third when Fernandes’ half-volley whistled just the wrong side of the post.
Darren England’s HT whistle was well received by Liverpool, who will have appreciated the time to regroup and reset after a sub-standard half in which they were perhaps lucky to end just two goals down, even if Ryan Gravenberch did manage to at least test Lammens in the dying moments.
Arne Slot’s men couldn’t have been much worse in the second half, and they got off to the perfect start when HT substitute Amad Diallo gifted possession to Dominik Szoboszlai in the middle of the pitch and the Hungarian carried the ball half the length of the Old Trafford turf and cooly slotted into the bottom corner.
Liverpool completed a before unthinkable turnaround 10 minutes into the second half, although it was again down to an individual error from United as Lammens’ loose pass was pounced upon by Alexis Mac Allister before Szoboszlai teed up Gakpo to tap into an empty net.
United looked down and out at that point, but they rallied in the closing stages and managed to hit the front once more.
Liverpool could only half clear Luke Shaw’s cross and Kobbie Mainoo strode onto Mac Allister’s weak clearance on the edge of the area to sweep the ball into the bottom corner in front of a delirious Stretford End.
Gakpo tested Lammens as Liverpool pushed for a late equaliser, but they ultimately came up short in that quest, as United held on to secure a top-five finish in style - the ultimate way for Michael Carrick to stake his claim for the permanent job.
Defeat for Liverpool likely won’t be catastrophic to their top-five push given their six-point cushion with three games remaining.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Post-match comments
Manchester United's match-winner Kobbie Mainoo says he and his teammates are in no mood to let up despite securing that Champions League place.
"I've not been around the goals too much but happy to be around it in this game, such a special occasion and special fixture," he told Sky Sports.
"To turn it around the way we have done, it's a credit to the players and the manager. We are just looking forward and still need to finish the season strong.
"We want to just keep on winning and winning."
The midfielder said current boss Michael Carrick is someone the players want to "fight for".
"It's clearly a huge part," he said. "The confidence in not just me but all the players. You want to follow him and fight for him.
"That's what we showed today."
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai lamented how his side were unable to capitalise after drawing level with their hosts.
"Not good," he told Sky Sports. "We go home with zero points and after the first half we shouldn't be happy at all, we should be who we were at the start of the second half.
"You concede from a set piece, you talk about counter attacks and that's how the second goal happens, we have to focus more and look at the details."
Szoboszlai says Liverpool "belong" in the Champions League themselves.
"Firstly I don't focus on next season, I focus on these three games, we want Champions League next season because we belong there but we'll see what happens in the future," he said.