Late goal by Kobbie Mainoo lifts Manchester United to 3-2 win over rivals Liverpool

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo struck late to seal a dramatic 3-2 Premier League victory over rivals Liverpool on Sunday as the home side secured their return to the Champions League next season after a two-year absence.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo had hauled Liverpool level in the second half after costly United errors, but Mainoo had the final say with a strike from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 77th minute to send Old Trafford into raptures.

The win moved third-placed United onto 64 points with three games remaining.

"It was a huge goal for us to get Champions League, but the season isn't over yet, we're not letting our foot off the gas," Mainoo said. "Never an easy game against Liverpool, glad to come out with a win."

Fourth-placed Liverpool still have work to do to clinch a place among Europe's elite next season and are level on 58 points with fifth-placed Aston Villa, who host Tottenham Hotspur later on Sunday.

GREAT START

United got off to a great start, with Matheus Cunha scoring in the sixth minute and Benjamin Sesko doubling their lead eight minutes later.

Cunha's goal came after a clearance fell at his feet, and the Brazilian scored with a hard shot that glanced off Alexis Mac Allister.

Sesko scored after Liverpool's stand-in goalkeeper Freddie Woodman pushed Bruno Fernandes' header off Sesko's body.

The goal was awarded after VAR determined there was no conclusive evidence of a handball by Sesko, with the ball appearing to brush his fingers on the way into the net.

While Fernandes, who is one assist away from equalling the Premier League season record, was heavily involved in the goal, he was denied the assist as his header was parried by Woodman.

The two goals inside 14 minutes marked the earliest Liverpool had gone 2-0 down in a Premier League game since February 2023 against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Szoboszlai pulled one back in the 47th minute after Amad Diallo gave the ball away on the halfway line. Szoboszlai ran unchallenged, sprinting past Harry Maguire before slotting the ball home through defender Diogo Dalot's legs.

Gakpo levelled nine minutes later when Senne Lammens passed the ball straight to Mac Allister, and Gakpo slotted into the open net, setting up a nervy ending punctuated by Mainoo's heroics.

Mainoo's winner came three days after the 21-year-old United academy graduate signed a new five-year deal with the club after being marginalised earlier in the season under former manager Ruben Amorim.

The midfielder has started 13 ​of 14 league matches since interim boss Michael Carrick took charge, missing one game due to injury.

"I’ve not been around the goals too much but I’m happy to be around it on such a massive occasion," Mainoo said.

United had almost gone 3-0 up late in the first half when Fernandes latched onto a ball from Mbeumo, but the Portuguese fired his finish just wide.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot acknowledged he is annoyed his team has yet to secure Champions League qualification.

"I wouldn't say concern is the right word, but I'm completely aware of the fact that we need three points," he said.

"That's why I was so annoyed that we didn't pick them up today, although we didn't deserve to get these points ... If you are coming back after 2-0 down, you should at least go away from here with a result, which we didn't do.

"We knew before the game we had four chances to pick up three points to qualify for Champions League, and now there are three chances left."

(Reporting by Lori Ewing Editing by Toby Davis)