Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo struck late to seal a dramatic 3-2 Premier League victory over rival Liverpool on Sunday as the home side secured its return to the Champions League next season after a two-year absence.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo had hauled Liverpool level in the second half after costly United errors, but Mainoo had the final say with a strike from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 77th minute to send Old Trafford into raptures.
The win moved third-placed United onto 64 points with three games remaining, while fourth-placed Liverpool still has work to do to clinch a place among Europe’s elite next season, and is level on 58 points with fifth-placed Aston Villa, which has a game in hand.
United got off to a great start, with Matheus Cunha scoring in the sixth minute and Benjamin Sesko doubling the lead eight minutes later.
AS IT HAPPENED | Manchester United vs Liverpool highlights
Szoboszlai pulled one back in the 47th minute after Amad Diallo gave the ball away on the halfway line, and Gakpo levelled nine minutes later when Senne Lammens passed the ball straight to Alexis Mac Allister, and Gakpo slotted into the open net, setting up a nervy ending punctuated by Mainoo’s heroics.
When was the last time Manchester United played in the Champions League?
The last time United played in the UEFA Champions League was during the 2023-24 season when it finished fourth in the group stage. It notched up a single win, against Copenhagen, in a group which also had Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
Bournemouth too closes in
Bournemouth moved another step closer to a first European campaign in the club’s history with a 3-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace that stretched its unbeaten league run to 15 games and moved it back up to sixth in the table.
Andoni Iraola’s side climbed to 52 points, one ahead of Brentford, which beat West Ham United by the same scoreline on Saturday.
Crystal Palace made a poor start when Jefferson Lerma headed into his own goal in the 10th minute, and goalkeeper Dean Henderson conceded a penalty by felling Marcos Senesi which 19-year-old Junior Kroupi converted.
Palace rang the changes at the break but it made little difference to the scoreboard, and Brazilian winger Rayan, also 19, added the third goal in the 77th minute.
Published on May 03, 2026
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