Kobbie Mainoo wins thriller for Man Utd as Liverpool fightback comes to nothing

Football
4 May 2026 • 12:32 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Kobbie Mainoo wins thriller for Man Utd as Liverpool fightback comes to nothing

Kobbie Mainoo celebrated his new deal in style as the homegrown Manchester United star sealed a helter-skelter 3-2 victory against arch-rivals Liverpool and Champions League qualification.

Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated Premier League encounter pitted third against fourth at Old Trafford, where the Red Devils roared out of the blocks as Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko struck inside the opening 14 minutes.

But United gifted Arne Slot’s stumbling side a way back just after half-time, with substitute Amad Diallo’s misplaced pass punished by Dominik Szoboszlai before Cody Gakpo levelled the scores following a Senne Lammens blunder.

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 3, 2026

Play continued at a frenetic pace before academy graduate Mainoo settled things in the 77th minute, slamming home in front of the Stretford End just days after committing his future to the club until 2031.

United’s victory ensured they did the league double over Liverpool for the first time since 2015-16 and secured Champions League football with three games to spare as boss Michael Carrick furthered his case for the long-term role.

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