Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool: Cunha 6, Sesko 14, Mainoo 77; Szoboszlai 47, Gakpo 56
Kobbie Mainoo’s stunning late finish allowed Manchester United to survive a monumental second-half collapse to beat Liverpool 3-2. Double joy here for United: not only have they sealed a return to the Champions League next season they have also completed a league double over their rivals for the first time in a decade.
The night began as a nightmare for Arne Slot’s side. United, keeping up their new-found inspiration to start matches on the front foot, blew Liverpool away inside 14 first-half minutes.
Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the 6th minute, his left-footed strike deflecting off Alexis Mac Allister and beyond Freddie Woodman after a partially cleared corner. Benjamin Sesko then bundled home from close range after Woodman could not get enough of a hand on Bruno Fernandes header to clear it from danger. A lengthy VAR check for a potential handball and Sesko was in the clear for his 11th league goal of the season.
Liverpool were disjointed. Without the injured Alexander Isak, their 4-2-2-2 formation offered little threat. Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai toiled as false nines. Jeremie Frimpong, in for Mohamed Salah as a right winger while Curtis Jones played at right-back was uninspiring.
But the second half unravelled for United inside two minutes. Amad Diallo came on after the break for the injured Sesko and soon lost possession near the centre circle. Szoboszlai galloped forward before slotting coolly into the left corner to make it 2-1.
Worse followed in the 56th minute. United goalkeeper Senne Lammens committed a howler when a poor pass he intended for Casemiro found Mac Allister instead. The Argentinian teed up Szoboszlai, who immediately laid the ball off for Gakpo to fire home the equaliser.
Liverpool nearly completed the turnaround when Szoboszlai’s free-kick forced a goal-line clearance from the beleaguered Lammens. But the final twist came when Mainoo pounced on a loose ball with 13 minutes left and passed the ball hard and low into the corner.
