Manchester United
Olamilekan Abayomi
Manchester United sealed their UEFA Champions League spot for next season with a dramatic 3:2 victory over rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, May 3, 2026. The result also completed a rare Premier League double over Liverpool for the first time since the 2015/16 season.
United flew out of the blocks under Michael Carrick. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring early in the first half before Benjamin Sesko doubled the lead, putting the Red Devils 2-0 up. The goals capped a strong run of form at Old Trafford, where United have the third-best home record in the league this season.
Liverpool fought back through Dominik Szoboszlai, who pulled one back for Arne Slot’s side. A costly error from United keeper Senne Lammens then gifted Cody Gakpo the equaliser, making it 2-2 and silencing the home crowd. The Reds were without Mo Salah due to injury.
With 12 minutes to play, Kobbie Mainoo restored United’s lead with a strike from outside the box, sending Old Trafford into raptures. The 3:2 scoreline held despite late Liverpool pressure, giving United all three points and extending their lead over fourth-placed Liverpool.
The win puts United in third place with 61 points from 34 matches, three points ahead of Liverpool in fourth. Carrick’s side have now taken 29 points since he took charge earlier this term, the most in the league over that span.
For Liverpool, the defeat leaves them six points behind United. Arne Slot acknowledged United’s improvement, saying “we know that they are really good but now they are showing it in the league table”. It also means Slot misses the chance to become the first Liverpool manager to win his first two away games at United.
United’s lineup featured Lammens, Shaw, Maguire, Heaven, Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko. Liverpool started Woodman, Jones, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Frimpong, Wirtz, and Gakpo.
The result caps a roller-coaster derby that lived up to its billing. With the win, United need just two more points to guarantee Champions League football, while Liverpool must regroup quickly to secure a top-four finish.
