A remarkable match at Old Trafford, and a precious win for Manchester United.
This 3-2 triumph not only ensured United claimed a first league double over Liverpool for the first time since the 2015-16 season but sealed qualification for next season’s Champions League, after two campaigns away.
First-half goals from Matheus Cunha and, more controversially, Benjamin Sesko put United in control against a depleted Liverpool side who looked timid and disjointed for long spells.
But it all changed after the break, when quick-fire goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo levelled matters after poor United errors. Either side could have nicked it from there but it was Kobbie Mainoo who had the final word, sparking euphoric scenes at Old Trafford and more questions for Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Here, The Athletic’s experts analyse the big talking points.
Should Carrick be United’s permanent head coach?
When Michael Carrick was parachuted into the Old Trafford dugout in January, it was tempting to wonder whether anyone had been more welcome in any place in the whole sweep of human history. Ruben Amorim had spent the previous year slowly folding in on himself, making his own neuroses institutional. Carrick, a deeply reassuring figure as a player, was a salve.
It only took him a few days to shift the mood. United weren’t just a better team in those memorable January wins against Manchester City and Arsenal; they were lighter, happier. The clouds overhead finally parted.
There was then a readjustment. United produced a string of stodgy displays in February and March. They rode their luck in wins against Chelsea and Brentford. The long-term-manager dial seemed to move away from Carrick and towards more established names.
Michael Carrick is making a strong case to be United’s permanent head coach (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Should this match shift it back in his favour? United’s first-half performance was magnificent, a mini festival of movement and verve. Those 15 minutes of disorder after the interval provided a chilling reminder of the before times, but also allowed Carrick’s men to show their grit. Under Amorim, they may well have disintegrated, but no longer.
The balance sheet now reads 10 wins from 14 games. That is a solid body of work, a decent argument in itself. Consider that United have now beaten Liverpool, City, Chelsea and Arsenal under Carrick, and it looks even stronger.
Time will tell whether it will be enough. What it has done, though, is raise the bar if United do want to replace Carrick. Anything less than an elite coach and Carrick, surely, must be given the chance to carry this momentum into next season.
Jack Lang
How damaging was this for Slot?
For a moment it looked like Liverpool could pull off a memorable comeback at Old Trafford. Instead, Arne Slot was left confronting another painful defeat.
Any loss to Manchester United is damaging, but it looked like it could have been much worse when the home side raced into a 2-0 lead. Injuries to Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike made Slot’s job much more difficult but questions will be asked about Liverpool’s setup which played into the counter attacking qualities.
The half time tweaks made by the head coach worked – although, as has often been the case this season, he saw his side fade in the latter stages of the game with few options from the bench.
While recent results have put Liverpool in a good spot to secure Champions League qualification, it is still not secured and there is work to do.
Andy Jones
Should United’s second goal have stood?
Manchester United’s second goal was another example of how the laws of football and the use of VAR are incompatible.
The ball certainly appeared to brush the fingertips of Benjamin Sesko before going directly into the goal, but it was a complete accident and made no difference as he would have scored anyway. However, the current rule states that a goal cannot stand if the ball touches the hand or arm of the scorer in the act of scoring or just beforehand.
No on-field official would ever detect such a touch in this instance, and the goal would stand at every other level of football without controversy. Liverpool lined up for the kick-off.
But in the age of VAR, the video official is told to check every aspect of the goal forensically, hence a long delay that killed the United fans’ celebrations.
In this case, Stuart Attwell appears to have concluded that the ball may well have touched Sesko’s finger, but that the evidence was inconclusive. He needed to be sure beyond reasonable doubt, not on the balance of probabilities.
Graham Scott, former Premier League referee and Athletic columnist
Who was to blame for United’s concessions?
United’s good work across the first half came undone due to two big mistakes across a funky 15-minute spell in the second.
The first error came from half-time substitute Amad Diallo. The Ivorian has been in indifferent form for much of the season and was caught making a careless pass into central midfield in the 47th minute. Dominik Szoboszlai was first to pounce upon the ball, carrying it upfield before steering a cool shot low and past Senne Lammens in the far corner.
The goal knocked United out of their comfortable playing rhythm, and they were caught cold again in the 56th minute. What should have been a simple short goal-kick routine started with Ayden Heaven playing the ball to Lammens…
Lammens attempted to pass into central midfield but the ball was too close to Alexis Mac Allister, who regained possession for Liverpool before knocking it into Szoboszlai.
Szoboszlai then teed up Cody Gapko, who scored one of his easiest goals of the season.
It was a rare mistake for Lammens, ruthlessly punished, and summed up United’s sloppiness at the start of the second period.
Carl Anka
What happened to Liverpool at half-time?
Liverpool’s opening 20 minutes were arguably their worst of the Premier League season; but they came out for the second half a different team.
Manchester United have thrived on the counter-attack, especially since Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim, and Liverpool played right into their hands, leaving huge spaces for Bruno Fernandes to feed Bryan Mbuemo and Benjamin Sesko.
Already on the back foot after conceding from Mateus Cunha’s deflected effort after six minutes, their set-up was exposed. Slot set up in a 4-2-2-2 with Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai operating as two No.10’s. They were exposed down the left with Cody Gakpo, Mac Allister and Andy Robertson constantly being caught out of position when Liverpool turned the ball over carelessly. That was what led to Manchester United’s second goal when Mac Allister gave the ball away with a misplaced pass.
Arne Slot changed Liverpool’s system at half-time (Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
Slot had to make changes at the break and he switched Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz with Liverpool operating in more a 4-2-3-1 shape. They instantly looked a more cohesive unit, but it was their pressing, which has been an issue all season, that got them back into the game, with Szoboszlai seizing on a slack Amad Diallo pass and then Mac Allister reacting quickest to a loose ball from Lammens.
There was more energy and intent in Liverpool’s play, everything that had been lacking in the first half, even if they ultimately fell short.
Andy Jones
How good were United in that first half?
If United needed further encouragement to take the attack to Liverpool here, a glance at their visitors’ teamsheet provided it.
An injury to Alexander Isak further depleted an already uneven playing squad for Liverpool, and Carrick’s men wasted little time stamping their authority on the game.
The first five minutes saw them funnel several attacks down their right-hand side, with Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko looking to progress the ball quickly with quick passing triangles. Matheus Cunha nudged United in front in the sixth minute; seven minutes later, and Sesko bundled the ball in for United’s second.
United had not dominated possession (38-62 in percentage terms), but they outshot (8-4), out-thought, and outran Liverpool across 45 minutes. It was their most assertive half over Liverpool for many seasons, with Fernandes once again serving as the catalyst as they broke at pace and with precision.
The quality of that first period made United’s loss of control in the second half all the more bewildering
Carl Anka
What next for United?
Saturday, May 9: Sunderland (Away), Premier League, 3pm UK, 10am ET
What next for Liverpool?
Saturday, May 9: Chelsea (Home), Premier League, 12.30pm UK, 7.30am ET
