Mainoo Scores Winner as Manchester United Defeat Liverpool 3-2 in Old Trafford Thriller
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Report and free match highlights as Kobbie Mainoo’s winner earned Manchester United a 3-2 victory over rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford; Arne Slot’s side had come from two down to level; Three points secure Champions League football for Michael Carrick’s side
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The Guardian SportUnited’s central midfield provided the platform for Michael Carrick’s team to dominate their fierce rivals in the first half and re-establish control having given Liverpool an unlikely reprieve early in the second. Liverpool’s recovery from two goals down may have restored some credibility to their performance, and showed there is some fight in them after all, but the unvarnished truth for Slot is that the comeback owed everything to United errors and not his team’s quality. Once Cody Gakpo equalised after Senne Lammens’ mistake, it seemed a question of when not if United would regain the advantage, long before Mainoo supplied the answer.
Yahoo SportsNervy spells aside, this was an ultimately joyous afternoon at Old Trafford, and one that encapsulates everything about where this side currently stands: talented, occasionally fragile, but ultimately capable of rising to the occasion. With Champions League football secured and the likes of Bruno and Mainoo in this kind of form, Michael Carrick and co might finally have banished Amorim’s groaning ghost.
ESPNYet typically for their season, Liverpool failed to close the game out. Despite Liverpool canceling out United's early 2-0 lead, they lost the match by conceding late with Mainoo winning the game for Carrick's team.
BBC SportKobbie Mainoo's assessment of manager Michael Carrick on Sky Sports after Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2 in the Premier League resonated.
NDTV SportsManchester United beat Liverpool in Premier League match
SMH SportKobbie Mainoo settled a thrilling Premier League clash at Old Trafford with his first-time strike from the edge of the area.
Fox SportsManchester United vs. Liverpool - Final Score - May 03, 2026 FOX Sports
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Arne Slot was seething as he lamented the decision to allow Manchester United’s second goal to stand despite claims of handball by Benjamin Sesko. “The curve on the ball changed so there must have been a contact,” argued the Liverpool head coach. “But it’s no surprise to anyone that if there is a VAR intervention then the decision goes against us. It’s happened to us all season.” As PGMO confirmed at the time, however, there “was no conclusive evidence that Sesko handled the ball before scoring”. Slot was stretching it to pin Liverpool’s latest defeat on poor refereeing.
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ESPNSlot hit a familiar theme postmatch. He noted that this season it seems every Liverpool mistake gets punished and every contentious refereeing decision goes against him. He could have, frankly, avoided the officiating point. Did the ball glance off Benjamin Sesko's hand before going into the back of the net to make it 2-0? Probably. I've watched the stupid super slow-motion replay a zillion times trying to figure out if the spin changes, indicating contact with Sesko's fingertips. I guess maybe it does? I don't know. What I do know is that it's not what you should be thinking about at this stage of the season.
BBC SportPublished Arne Slot claimed it was no surprise a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention went against Liverpool in their 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.
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Aston Villa made seven changes from the side that lost 1-0 at relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Thursday night and lost 2-1 against relegation Tottenham on Sunday night. Unai Emery’s team had not completed an arduous journey post-match, it’s about an hour’s drive back from Nottingham, but only Emi Martínez, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers remained in the starting lineup. This was clearly a gamble based on keeping his big guns fresh for the second leg. It backfired, Villa were outfought and managed one shot on target all game; Emiliano Buendía’s late consolation.
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ESPNAs for Villa, it feels as if Emery was too clever for his own good in making so many changes (seven, not all of them enforced) after the Europa League semifinal first leg against Nottingham Forest, which they lost 1-0. Yes, they're competing on two fronts, and no doubt players are worn down and tired. And maybe he thought the top five finish was in the bag domestically. (It's not: AFC Bournemouth are six points back, Brentford seven and Chelsea could also be seven back if they beat Forest at home on Monday. Villa's next game against Burnley feels like a "gimme" but it's Liverpool -- who may also need the points -- and Manchester City away after that.
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"I love doing what I am doing," he said. "It feels pretty natural. To be sat in this position is a good position to be in."
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BBC Sport"I love doing what I am doing," he said. "It feels pretty natural. To be sat in this position is a good position to be in."
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As referenced in the original source, Carrick must weigh whether to “hand an immediate recall” to Cunha, a decision that could tilt the attacking structure. That single call encapsulates the broader narrative of this fixture, where marginal gains could determine the outcome.
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BBC Sport'A decision that could have gone either way' - analysis Slot and Carrick have both had reason to complain about VAR decisions recently.
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- Sources: Ferguson leaves Old Trafford after receiving medical attention Could Fernandes break long-standing Premier League assist record? Salah on Liverpool exit: 'Time to go' amid tough season
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Sky SportsAs it happened | Teams | StatsSir Alex Ferguson taken to hospital after feeling unwellLive Premier League table | Watch FREE PL highlightsGot Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 More to follow...
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Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 ESPN Elsewhere in England, Arsenal romped to a big win over Fulham, which was their best performance in months, and it's no coincidence that it came with Bukayo Saka back in the lineup after weeks of minor injuries. In Italy, Inter Milan clinched the Serie A title and have much to celebrate considering how much was in flux last summer. Give credit where it's due, to Christian Chivu.
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02 BBC Sport It is an achievement few felt United were capable of, even though football director Jason Wilcox said a return to Europe's elite club competition was the aim in the wake of Ruben Amorim's dismissal in January.
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03 Yahoo Sports Liverpool boss Arne Slot has named a Manchester United star whom his players simply had no answer for during Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford.
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04 The Guardian Sport What took you so long, Mikel Arteta? “Because probably I don’t have a clue,” the Arsenal manager joked. The home game against Fulham on Saturday was the first time he had started Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield. Given the stakes, it was a big risk. Never mind the 19-year-old played in midfield for Arsenal’s academy teams; this felt like a sink or swim moment. Lewis-Skelly, who broke through in such dazzling style as a left-back last season but has dropped off this time out, rose to the challenge, delivering a fine all-round performance defined by the security of his passing and the energy that he brought. He helped to set a blistering tempo and maintain it. There has been no little muttering about how Arsenal might look to sell him in the summer, the words “pure” and “profit” bandied about.
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05 Sky Sports Gary Neville believes Michael Carrick is in pole position for Man Utd job but doesn't believe he is the right profile for the role
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