Man United beat Liverpool 3-2 to secure Champions League | Football News

Kobbie Mainoo’s late strike secured a thrilling victory after rivals Liverpool had battled back from two goals down.

Manchester United secured the Champions League next season when Kobbie Mainoo’s strike won the title a thrilling 3-2 win on former Liverpool players.

United were 2-0 up inside 15 minutes on Sunday through Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, but put on stoppage time to allow Arne Slot’s men to score goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo Mainoo before the winner.

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Returning to Europe’s top competition after a two-year absence and winning another big game furthers Michael Carrick’s case to continue as United boss next season.

Mainoo has highlighted the rise in United’s fortunes since Carrick took over in January.

After being dumped by Ruben Amorim, the England midfielder secured a new five-year contract this week and celebrated in style with a cool finish on the edge of the box to end the tension.

Third-placed United have opened up a six-point lead over Liverpool and are guaranteed a top-five finish.

Despite losing 11 times in the league, Liverpool need just three points from their remaining three games to regain a place in the Champions League.

Slot’s team arrived at Old Trafford without the trio of Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak due to injury.

United felt blood and deserved their early two-goal lead.

Cunha was given two chances to find his form from the edge of the box to open the scoring.

Brazilian striker Alexis Mac Allister’s strike left no room for Liverpool’s Freddie Woodman to score a third.

United’s attacking wave continued, with Sesko calling for a penalty after failing to beat Woodman from Bruno Fernandes’ accurate pass.

Seconds later, the Slovenian headed the ball on the line from Fernandes’ head back.

Fernandes was away from the third when he blasted Bryan Mbeumo’s ball.

But there was a warning of what was to come in United’s second half before the break.

Gakpo curled in one of many chances for Liverpool to get inside the Red Devils.

Sesko was replaced by Amad Diallo at half-time, and the Ivorian immediately gave Liverpool a way back into the game.

Szoboszlai pounced on Amad’s pass and ran into the middle of his own half unopposed before slotting into the bottom corner.

United were self-inflicted to fall back into the equation.

This time, goalkeeper Senne Lammens’ pass was cleared by Mac Allister, who fed Szoboszlai, and the Hungarian encouraged Gakpo to tap in.

The great decline in the game between these clubs showed that both cautioned to find a winner.

The home side scored when a poor pass from Mac Allister was broken well for Mainoo to slot into the bottom corner.

United’s first league double over Liverpool since the 2015-16 season has completed a remarkable turnaround for the two sides from a year ago.

Liverpool finished 14th place and 42 points ahead of their rivals on course to match United’s record 20th title for the fastest time in England last season.

Carrick has also beaten Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea in his short reign and has now delivered his first goal and Champions League fortune to make his case hard to ignore.

Mainoo, who was named man of the match, said Carrick had played a “huge part” in his and the team’s transformation.

“Confidence not only in me, but in all the players. You want to follow him and fight,” Mainoo told Sky Sports after the match. “That’s what we showed today.”

In the form of Bournemouth tounce Palace

In Sunday’s opening game, Bournemouth boosted their European hopes with a 3-0 Premier League win against Crystal Palace.

Goals from former Cherries midfielder Jefferson Lerma and Junior Kroupi’s 32nd-minute penalty saw the hosts move up to sixth in the table.

Brazilian winger Rayan completed the scoring after 13 minutes to send Andoni Iraola’s side into the top 15.

Palace’s visit to the Vitality Stadium was in the middle of a two-legged Conference League semifinal against Shakhtar Donetsk, which they led 3-1 on aggregate.