Man Utd 3 – 2 Liverpool

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 past Freddie Woodman to give United an early lead and when Benjamin Sesko forced home after Bruno Fernandes’ cross was pushed into his path by Woodman, it was two.

But United squandered the advantage in the second half. Amad Diallo, only on as a substitute, gifted the ball to Dominik Szoboszlai who scored a fine solo goal before Senne Lammens’ poor kick was latched onto with Cody Gakpo leveling the game.

It was anyone’s game at that point, but when the ball fell to Mainoo on the edge of the box, he fired hard and low past Woodman to win it for United. The youngster, who was frozen out of the squad by Ruben Amorim, stole the show under Michael Carrick.

The win confirms that United will play in the Champions League next season as they tighten their grip on third place in the standings. 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.

Sesko aims for controversy

Slow-motion replays later indicated that Sesko got a feathery 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 and the goal was allowed to stand.

Conclusion: Every decision went against us

Liverpool head coach Arne Lock was asked at the press conference whether Sesko’s goal should have been disallowed:

“If it was a touch, which I think it is, because if you know a little bit about a ball sport, you know if a ball has a certain curve and the curve changes, there should have been contact. But it always is.

“We have to have a debate in football. Is it enough to disallow a goal? But I think the rule is that if there was a touch, it should have been disallowed.

“But I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone this season that if there’s a VAR intervention or if there’s something you can look at or be left out or be right, then that decision is against us.

“It’s been the same all season, every time. I remember Paris Saint-Germain at home getting a penalty for a soft touch on Mac Allister. But of course the VAR intervenes and says, no, no, no, it’s not a penalty.

“One week later, when I saw Paris Saint-Germain play against Bayern Munich, that same soft touch, the penalty remains. I saw my goalkeeper on the floor last week with an injury and the referee does not stop the game. Today I see a United player off the field and the referee stops the game when we try to play on.

“That was our whole season.

“But the second goal we didn’t concede because of the handball. We conceded it because we lost the ball in a stupid position and we lost some big moments after that in duels.

“So we have to look at ourselves first. That will be completely clear and obvious. But that decisions went against us every game, that is also completely clear and obvious.

“Because when we came against United in the first game of the season, I had one of my players on the floor with five stitches and the referee didn’t stop the game and we conceded. It’s been a complete pattern all season.

“But there’s also a pattern of us conceding ridiculous goals when we’re the better team. One or two switch off and then we concede a goal.

“And what we have more influence on, so I have to focus a lot more on that than on these refereeing decisions that go against us. But obviously the whole season is the same.”

Mainoo: We want to fight for Carrick

Man Utd match winner Kobbie Mainoo talk to air sports:

“To turn it around like we did is a credit to the players and the manager. We’re just looking ahead and still need to finish the season strong.

“We just want to keep winning and winning… The confidence in not only me, but all the players. You want to follow him and fight for him. That’s what we showed today.”

Carrick hopes that win gives Sir Alex a boost

Man Utd boss Michael Carrick when asked about the news that Sir Alex Ferguson was taken to hospital before the game after feeling unwell at Old Trafford:

“Well I don’t have any update so I don’t know the latest as we stand now. I did hear about it before the game so I was aware of it before the game.

“All I can say is I wish him the best. I’m very touched by this, the news, and I just hope he’s OK. I just don’t know the latest, but we hope he’ll be in good shape and we wish him all the best.

“We definitely think that the result, when he hears about it, will hopefully give him a boost.”

Teams going in different directions?

For the majority of the fans at Old Trafford it was a game to enjoy. Roy Keane, former captain, said air sports beforehand that the result would “have a big bearing on whether Michael Carrick gets the job” – perhaps that was his irritation.

News of Sir Alex Ferguson falling ill and being taken to hospital before kick-off made the occasion poignant. That Carrick makes this United play with the peace and purpose of old is a fitting tribute to his old boss and offers hope for the team’s future.

For Slot, talk of a 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 isn’t the transfer itself – it’s where the Dutchman is switching to this Liverpool.

They want to see a side that pushes and that was what sparked their brief comeback. Fans will embrace a Liverpool who have adapted the model created by Jurgen Klopp. A sterile possession game seems too far. The questions for him will continue.

Analysis: Liverpool’s away form is a pattern

Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:

Liverpool’s lackluster away day is becoming less of a blip and more of a pattern that Slot cannot ignore. There is a passivity to their first-half approach on the road that feels at odds with the club’s identity that has been so exciting under Klopp. A team built on intensity, front-foot football and early statements now drift through opening periods as if waiting for the game to come to them.

Another blank before half-time against Manchester United only heightened the concern. It is now just four goals in their last 19 first halves. A stunning discount for a team full of attacking quality and expectation. It’s not just a botched finish, it’s a collective lack of urgency. The pace is slow, the pressing disjointed and too often Liverpool are reactive rather than proactive.

For a club that should be chasing major honours, this is an embarrassing addition to what has been a miserable season.

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