Manchester United confirmed their return to the Champions League after a dramatic victory over Liverpool in the Premier League with goals from Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Kobbie Mainoo securing their place
Manchester United have sealed Champions League football following their win over Liverpool. That means the Red Devils have landed a £15.7million payday after a year without European football.
Michael Carrick has completed the task he was set upon being appointed as the club's boss following Ruben Amorim's exit, with three matches to spare. United cannot drop any lower than fifth in the Premier League, and currently sit in third position with 64 points.
Brighton's defeat to Newcastle meant that a draw would be enough against Liverpool to cement their place in Europe's top competition. Carrick's side went out with the intent to win, however, and soon found themselves ahead against their rivals.
Matheus Cunha opened the scoring at Old Trafford after just six minutes, before Benjamin Sesko doubled their lead in controversial circumstances after 15 minutes. The Red Devils produced a dominant opening half against Arne Slot's men.
But Carrick may have found a few nerves as Liverpool hit back in the second period, as Dominik Szoboszlai scored soon after the restart before Cody Gakpo capitalised on sloppy United play to level the scores.
It was a figure well-trusted under Carrick that stepped up to push United closer to their European spot. Kobbie Mainoo coolly placed the ball into the corner from distance with his instep to put his side back ahead.
Speaking after moving close to earning a place in the Champions League, Carrick noted that he did not want his team to overcelebrate the moment when it arrived. "The Champions League is one thing, but it's not something that we should be over-celebrating either," he said.
"We want to be finishing high up the league really and we want to be challenging high up in the league and trying to get more points so our season doesn't get to a close when that happens."
United last played in the Champions League in the 2023/24 season but did not make it out of the group stage on that occasion. They recorded just one win over Copenhagen, while tasting defeat in matches against the Danish side, Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
They finished eighth in the Premier League that season, meaning they only qualified for the Europa League after winning the FA Cup. They eventually reached the final of that competition under Amorim, where they lost to Tottenham.
Their European performances were not matched domestically as they finished fifteenth in the league, which saw them outside of Europe this season.