Manchester United is back in the Champions League! The Red Devils won the head-to-head battle for third place 3-2 against their eternal rivals Liverpool, dealing the Reds yet another setback in what has been a disappointing season.
Under circumstances quite unusual in recent years, the two rivals from Manchester and Liverpool went into the match—and the trend of the past few weeks was confirmed early on: Man United played strongly from the start and were clearly more alert than the visitors from Liverpool.
The logical consequence: an early lead courtesy of Matheus Cunha, who, after an initial clearance of Mbeumo’s corner, saw his shot blocked but managed to put the ball in the net on his second attempt. Mac Allister had provided a decisive deflection (6th minute).
Liverpool—who had, after all, won three league games in a row recently—couldn’t get into the game at all and were caught off guard by the Red Devils time and again. Sesko was initially denied by Woodman from close range, but was in the right place moments later when the LFC keeper parried a header from Bruno Fernandes: the ball rebounded off the Slovenian striker’s shin and crossed the line (14th minute).
LFC coach Arne Slot faced the threat of another early setback in what has long been a disappointing season. The Dutchman had to do without Isak, who was sidelined with a groin injury. In the absence of Ekitiké and Isak, Slot thus had to make do without a natural striker; Liverpool’s only real threat in the first half came from a Gakpo shot that flew just wide of the far post (24′).
Although the Reds had more possession in the first half, they repeatedly gave the ball away easily, leading to counterattacks by the home side—and thus ensuring that Man United remained the more dangerous team: A first-time shot by Bruno Fernandes whizzed just wide to the right (27′), and after a chaotic sequence in the LFC penalty area, Woodman made a save (45).
Amad and Lammens slip up: Liverpool equalize with a quick double strike
At halftime, United coach Michael Carrick was forced to make a substitution: Goal scorer Sesko was unable to continue due to injury and was replaced by Amad. The Ivorian made his debut with a hair-raising misplaced pass at the halfway line, which Szoboszlai picked up and, after a brilliant solo run through the United half, cleverly slotted into the far corner to pull one back (47′).
Suddenly, the visitors were back in the game—and were served the Red Devils’ next gift on a silver platter: After a short goal kick, Manchester’s keeper Lammens played a sloppy, high-risk pass into the center; Mac Allister darted in—and the rest was a formality: Szoboszlai squared the ball to Gakpo, who confidently slotted home the equalizer (56′).
Mainoo scores the decisive goal
The game now bore very little resemblance to the first half, becoming almost completely open—with a slight edge for Liverpool, who nearly turned the game around entirely through van Dijk, but Lammens was in the right place (68′). Man United certainly wavered during this phase—but it spoke to the stability under Carrick that the team pulled themselves together and came back again: After Casemiro missed from a good position (72′), his midfield partner Mainoo scored the decisive goal. Following a poor clearance by Mac Allister, the 21-year-old struck from deep to make it 3-2 (77′).
Since Liverpool didn’t really pose a threat in the closing stages—apart from a shot by substitute Ngumoha (82nd)—Man United ultimately held on to the lead with confidence and had now mathematically secured their Champions League spot. Liverpool, on the other hand, still has work to do in the final three matchdays to follow their rivals into the Champions League.
