- Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2
- Mathues Cunha stars in victory
- Champions League inbound for the Red Devils
Manchester United have secured qualification for the 2026/27 Champions League, with Mathues Cunha netting his ninth Premier League goal of the season as the Red Devils beat rivals Liverpool 3-2 in a dramatic five-goal thriller.
Cunha opened the scoring for United in the sixth minute, before Benjamin Sesko doubled the lead through a controversial finish where the ball may have grazed the Slovenian’s fingertips.
United seemed to be cruising heading into the second half, but two major defensive errors cost them dearly, as Dominic Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo struck twice within nine minutes to draw Liverpool level.
What followed was an extremely tense affair, with free-flowing football across the next 20 minutes.
It was academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo who found the decisive moment, however, with the 21-year-old striking from just outside the box to restore the lead, secure the victory, and confirm qualification for the Champions League.
Three goals, three points, third place—almost secured.
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Man Utd 3-2 Liverpool – Cunha ‘Lucky’
With his opening goal, Cunha moved level with Anderson as the fourth-highest scoring Brazilian Manchester United player of all time.
Only Antony, Fred, and Casemiro sit ahead of the talismanic forward.
“The guys come to me and joke so much inside of the locker room,” he said after the match. “I think I was lucky to finish the play there! I’m happy to strike it and be lucky. The ball is in the net, that’s the only thing that’s important.”
His strike in the opening minutes came via a deflection from Alexis McAllister. As the ball fell to Cunha just inside the box—after his initial effort was blocked—it struck the Argentine before diverting away from keeper Freddie Woodman and into the back of the net.
“I think it’s a journey we expected to come. The beginning was not very easy, we know how big the club is, we want to be here. It’s such a pleasure, such a privilege to be here. Between all the players coming, everyone knows that Manchester United are the only option.”
Double over Liverpool
For the first time in a decade, Manchester United have secured a league double over Liverpool, though this time in a far more dramatic fashion.
In a season which saw Liverpool finish 8th in the league table—behind the likes of West Ham United—United won 3-1 at home in September, before completing the double with a 1-0 away win at Anfield, courtesy of a Wayne Rooney goal.
Once again, it was a player from the north-west of England delivering the decisive blow, but this time it was Mainoo’s turn to be the match-winner.
For a player who has struggled over the past 18 months, this may well prove the turning point he needed.
Whilst his performance did not match the levels shown against Chelsea or Brentford, his goal renders everything else secondary, carrying United to victory.
Just five months ago, however, Mainoo looked set to depart with Ruben Amorim at the helm.
Now, it appears increasingly likely that he will not only start, but that the squad will be built around the midfielder for years to come.
He signed a contract on 29 April that keeps him at Old Trafford until 2031, by which time the Englishman will be 26 years of age.
Read: Two Man Utd Stars Shine Brightest in Champions League Qualifying Liverpool win
