Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2 in an epic Premier League clash at Old Trafford, with Koby Mainoo scoring a dramatic winner.
Matheus Cunha’s left-footed shot hit Alexis Mac Allister’s back and went past Freddie Woodman to give them an early lead, and then Benjamin Sesco, who was pushed into Bruno Fernandes’ center by Woodman, made it a two-goal lead.
However, United squandered that advantage in the second half. Substitute Amad Diallo passed the ball to Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored a great solo goal before Kodi Gakpo leveled the score after a poor kick from Senne Lamence.
It was a game that could have been anyone’s guess at that point, but the ball fell to Maynou on the edge of the box and he fired a hard, low shot past Woodman to give United the win. The youngster, who had been frozen out of the squad by Ruben Amorim, came to prominence under Michael Carrick.
With this victory, United will qualify for next season’s Champions League and further solidify their position in third place in the table. Liverpool remain fourth and have a job to do, but Arne Slott has a job to do to convince fans that he is the one to lead the team next season.
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Koby Mainu puts Man United ahead against Liverpool as Old Trafford explodes!
Sesco goal controversy
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Will Benjamin Sesco be able to handle the ball before Manchester United’s second goal? VAR said footage was ‘inconclusive’
Slow-motion replays later showed that Sesco had touched the ball with his hands in a feathery manner, much to Liverpool’s outrage. There did not appear to be any such close-up footage in the initial replay shown during the VAR process, and the goal was allowed to stand.
Slots: Every decision is against us
Asked in a press conference whether Sesco’s goal should have been canceled, Liverpool manager Arne Slott said: “Yes.
“If it was a touch, I think it is, because anyone who knows anything about ballgames knows that if the ball has a certain curve and that curve changes, there must have been contact. But that’s always the case.
“There should be a discussion in the football world. Is that enough to disallow a goal? But I think the rule is that if there is a touch, it is disallowed.”
“But I don’t think it will be a surprise to anyone that this season, if there is a VAR intervention, or if there is something to consider, or something that could be left, or could be right, that decision will go against us.
“It’s been like that all season, it’s been the same every time. I remember Paris Saint-Germain getting a penalty at home for a soft touch on Mac Allister. But of course VAR stepped in and said, ‘No, no, this is not a penalty.’
“A week later we watch Paris Saint-Germain play Bayern Munich and it’s the same soft touch and the penalty remains. Last week we saw the goalkeeper go to the floor injured and the referee didn’t stop the game. Today we saw United players leave the pitch and the referee stopped the game when we tried to continue playing.”
“That was our whole season.
“But we didn’t concede the second goal because of the handball. We conceded the goal because we lost the ball in a stupid position and we lost some big moments in the subsequent duel.”
“So we have to look at ourselves first. That would be completely clear and obvious. But that decision is being made against us every game and that is also completely clear and obvious.”
“Because in the first game of the season, against United, one of our players had a serious injury on the floor that required five stitches and the referee didn’t stop the game and we lost. It’s been a perfect pattern all season.”
“But we also have a pattern of conceding ridiculous goals when we are the better team. One or two players switch off and then we concede a goal.
“Also, we have more influence so we should focus more on that rather than the referee’s decision against us. But obviously the whole season is the same.”
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Check out some of Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher’s best reactions to the Manchester United vs Liverpool match.
Mainoo: We want to fight for Carrick.
Manchester United match-winner Koby Mainu told Sky Sports:
“It’s a credit to the players and the manager that we were able to turn things around. We’re just looking forward, but we still need to finish the season on a positive note.”
“We just want to keep winning and keep winning… There was confidence in all of our players, not just me. Everyone wants to follow him and fight for him, and that’s what we showed today.”
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Daniel Sturridge believes Reuben Amorim has been a nightmare for Mainu, but Michael Carrick is a dream for him, while Roy Keane feels the last six months have been good for the midfielder.
Are the teams going in separate directions?
For the majority of Old Trafford supporters, it was a memorable game. Former skipper Roy Keane told Sky Sports ahead of time that the result “will have a huge impact on whether Michael Carrick gets the job or not.” Perhaps this was his anointing.
The news that Sir Alex Ferguson was taken to hospital after falling ill before kick-off added further poignancy to the scene. That Carrick has this United team playing with their old pace and purpose is a fitting tribute to his former manager and gives him hope for the team’s future.
For Slott, the story of being in a period of transition remains true, with Liverpool lacking a forward trio that he felt could make a difference. But it’s not the transition itself that’s causing concern among fans. It’s about what kind of situation the Dutchman is trying to move Liverpool into.
They wanted to see the pressing side, and this sparked their short-lived comeback. Fans will back Liverpool for tweaking the model established by Jurgen Klopp. The barren possession game seems too disconnected. Questions will continue to be asked of him.
Analysis: Liverpool’s away form follows a pattern
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones said:
Liverpool’s poor performance on away days is not just a temporary thing, but is becoming a pattern that cannot be ignored by Slott. There was a certain reluctance to the approach in the first half of the away trip, which felt at odds with the club’s identity, which had been so exciting under Klopp. A team built on intensity, front-footed football and early decision-making is now drifting through the early stages as if waiting for the game to come.
Concerns were further heightened by another blank before the break against Manchester United. This brings them to just four goals in their last 19 games in the first half. It’s a surprising relegation for a team full of attacking quality and promise. It’s not just the failure to finish, it’s the overall lack of urgency. The tempo is slow, the pressing is disjointed and Liverpool are too often passive rather than proactive.
This is an embarrassing anomaly that has resulted in a miserable season for a club that should be chasing big accolades.
