Manchester United seal Champions League return as Mainoo ends Liverpool comeback

On 75 minutes up stepped Kobbie Mainoo with the coolest of winners before the Stretford End to cause bedlam among home fans and wrest the bragging rights Manchester United’s way.

After a raid down the left Alexis Mac Allister’s weak clearance rolled to the midfielder who beat Dominik Szoboszlai to punch home a finish that bested Freddie Woodman to the Liverpool goalkeeper’s right.

After ceding a 2-0 half-time lead this ensured a league double over the visitors for a first time in a decade. Yet zoom out, and as United and Liverpool are not in the title race this meeting of England’s heavyweights was akin to two follicly-challenged men fighting over a comb.

Michael Carrick and his men will, of course, be far happier – as victory also confirmed what was all but a (mathematical) certainty: United are back in the Champions League next season and the interim manager has every chance of being offered the No 1 job.

He will not be content, though, with how United folded after the interval, allowing Arne Slot’s visitors to respond to Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko’s first-half strikes with goals by Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo. Each derived from errant United passes, from Amad Diallo for Szoboszlai’s, Senne Lammens’ for Gakpo’s equaliser.

United were as lively as against Brentford on Monday at the start, launching several raids down the right. These involved Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Bryan Mbeumo, whose corner from the last of these presaged Cunha’s opener.

The right wingman delivered from his flank and the ball bounced to Cunha. A first effort came back via Ryan Gravenberch. This time, with his left boot, the shot caromed off Mac Allister and beat Woodman to the keeper’s left and home celebrations broke out.

Soon, there were more as United’s thrust shredded Liverpool. Again, from the right, Fernandes crossed for Sesko who was impeded and did not finish. Down to the turf went the No 9 who sprang back up as the attack continued. This time Luke Shaw, from the left, popped the ball over for the ever-threatening Fernandes. He flicked a header back, this was palmed by Woodman on to the centre-forward who, falling over once more, bundled in United’s second.

Two-nil up 14 minutes in was the visitors’ worst nightmare. Liverpool were unable to breach United territory. Slot’s 4-2-2-2 formation - fielded due to Alexander Isak’s absence – that positioned Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai as the (false-ish) 9s was near-toothless. When Gakpo found room by the home D and shot this went wide but at least space had been found by the division’s fourth-placed side.

Liverpool’s issue was allowing too much of this to United. Fernandes missed a simple opening - for him - from a Mbeumo cross, cannoning the attempt wide, as he and the winger were unmarked.

Liverpool were ragged. Szoboszlai, supposedly their totem, and Wirtz misplaced passes, and the pace was too fast for all in white. They were aided by Darren England whose eyes seemed awry, as the referee missed “fouls” by Szoboszlai, then Mac Allister when he pulled Mbeumo down.