Mainoo's winner against Liverpool for the Champions League

At the beginning of 2026, he was on the exit door and Napoli was waiting. His brother protested against Bournemouth as United’s academy product was not getting chances with Ruben Amorim. But, on January 5th the Portuguese got the sack and Kobbie Mainoo was reinstated when interim boss Michael Carrick came in. Mainoo got the minutes on the field, Mainoo got a 650% pay rise and Mainoo delivered with a fantastic, match winning maiden goal in the Premier League against the hated rival. In a thrilling match between Manchester United and Liverpool, it was the young midfielder who decided the game after his team earned an early 2-0 lead which was nullified by the Reds. In the end, the Red Devils deserved a 3-2 win, which secured them a third place in the Premier League and Champions League return after two years of absence. So, the third place is solidified, Mainoo’s place in the starting 11 is solidified, only Michael Carrick needs to solidify his place as the permanent United manager.

It was a brilliant game which started with bad news about an hour from the start as it was reported that Sir Alex Ferguson felt unwell at Old Trafford and was taken to the hospital as a precaution. But as soon as the players hit the ground, they delivered a fierce performance and dominated Liverpool, scoring two (lucky) goals in just 15 minutes. The Red Devils were brimming with confidence as they showed that their best games this season came against the top 5 clubs on the table. It helped that Liverpool was without Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak and the Reds did score two goals today, but mainly due to United’s blunders and not their attacking power. United not only defeated their bitter rival, they outplayed them, they will finish above them and they have won both league games against Liverpool for the first time in 10 years!

The last people were still coming into the Old Trafford and United was already in the lead. It happened in the 6th minute when Cunha took a shot after a corner but was blocked. The ball came back to him and in his second attempt, the ball slightly hit Mac Allister, but enough to beat Woodman. A bit of luck for United, but who cares, it’s the goal that counts. Since Manchester really played better in the first half, it would probably be unfair to say that they scored both their goals luckily, but the replays showed exactly that. If the ball hit Mac Allister ahead of first goal, it was Sesko’s unplanned touch which lead to United’s second goal. In the 14th minute, Fernandes headed the ball into the goal area and Woodman managed to touch it, but it hit Sesko’s body and went into the net. VAR took a long shot as it looked that the Slovenian striker touched the ball with his hand, but the replay was not conclusive enough so the goal was given. Liverpool were on the ropes and managed only two shots in the first half. The first one was from Gakpo and it went past the post and the second one was Gravenberch’s long shot which went straight at Lammens and it was their first shot on target, in the 40th minute of the match. Manchester had many dangerous situations mainly due to Liverpool’s defense who gave them a lot of open space, but the score remained the same.

The second half started the same as the first one, but the roles changed. It was Liverpool who stunned the hosts with two quick goals in the space of just 11 minutes. In the 47th minute, Amad, who came in for injured Sesko, played an awful ball to Szoboszlai, who picked it up on halfway, dribbled into the area and scored. A total comeback happened in the 55th minute. If Amad was the culprit for the first goal, United’s keeper was the guilty party for the second one. Lammens tried to play out but his poor pass was intercepted by Mac Allister. Szoboszlai then set up Gakpo for a tap-in and suddenly it was all square. Both teams didn’t want the game to end up 2-2 and we saw a fierce battle in the next 20 minutes. The momentum was with Liverpool and then all of a sudden, United took the lead again. Amad’s header was poorly cleared after a cross from Shaw and Mainoo just ran into the ball from the edge of the box and there was no way Woodman was to defend that. Liverpool had to chase the equalizer again but this time they failed. The attack didn't create not chances and United players didn't make any defensive blunders until the end and it was a deserved victory.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 35

Friday

Leeds United - Burnley 3-1 (1-0)

/Stach 8, Okafor 52, Calvert-Lewin 56 - Tchaouna 71/

Saturday

Brentford - West Ham 3-0 (1-0)

/Mavropanos 12 og, Thiago 54 pen, Daamsgard 82/

Newcastle - Brighton 3-1 (2-0)

/Osula 12, Burn 24, Barnes 90+5 - Hinshelwood 61/

Wolves - Sunderland 1-1 (0-1)

/Bueno 54 - Mukiele 17/

Arsenal - Fulham 3-0 (3-0)

/Gyokeres 9, 45+4 Saka 40/

Sunday

Bournemouth - Crystal Palace 3-0 (2-0)

/Lerma 10(og), Kroupi 32(p), Rayan 77/

Man.Utd. - Liverpool 3-2 (2-0)

/Cunha 6, Sesko 14, Mainoo 77 - Szoboszlai 47, Gakpo 56/

21.00: (2.15) Aston Villa (3.60) Tottenham (3.60)

Monday

17.00: (1.75) Chelsea (4.20) Nott.Forest (4.60)

22.00: (6.50) Everton (4.80) Man.City (1.50)

***odds are subject to change***