Man Utd 3-2 Liverpool (Cunha 6′, Sesko 14′, Mainoo 77′ | Szoboszlai 47′, Gakpo 56′)

OLD TRAFFORD — “Manchester born and bred” is how stadium announcer Alan Keegan chose to reveal the identity of Manchester United’s match-winner against bitter rivals Liverpool, pandering to a crowd who love nothing more than a local hero inspiring them to glory.

What a moment. What a finish. What a player. Kobbie Mainoo finished off the week of his life after penning a five-year deal at his boyhood club, with his first Premier League goal in two years to earn United a first league double over Liverpool in a decade.

It was anything but simple, as United almost became masters of their own downfall once more, but the rejuvenated giants snuck over the line, Michael Carrick punching the air throughout a full lap of honour upon the final whistle.

With every victory, Carrick knows he makes the United hierarchy’s managerial decision all the more straightforward. Especially as we continue to see the beginnings of a side being formed who can finally restore this global footballing behemoth to its former glories.

Carrick was soon thinking way beyond the end of this season as United raced into a two-goal lead inside 14 minutes – the earliest they have held such an advantage over Liverpool in top-flight history.

Matheus Cunha’s scuffed opener from the edge of the penalty area set the ball rolling, before Benjamin Sesko thought he had earned Bruno Fernandes that Premier League record-equalling assist, only for it to be taken away from the captain due to Freddie Woodman’s parry.

In an act of self-sabotage, something they have made their calling card in recent times, United gifted Liverpool a route back into the contest, as Amad Diallo, only just introduced as a half-time substitute, was guilty of a tepid crossfield pass that Dominik Szoboszlai cut out, sashayed past two, before slotting home a fine finish.

One of the few United records still standing – their unbeaten home run when winning at half-time, which stretches back until 1984 – was under major threat after an even more generous gift, from goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who has not put a foot wrong since arriving on our shores, set Cody Gakpo up for a chance he simply could not miss.

Step forward the man of the hour. In the week the red side of Manchester breathed a collective sigh of relief as Mainoo put pen to paper, the 21-year-old, against a team he has something of a penchant for a stunning strike against, settled the thrilling encounter.

Arriving right on cue as the ball rebounded out to him, Mainoo was under immense pressure from onrushing defenders, but instead of hitting and hoping, he expertly guided a side-footed winner into the net to fire his side to a victory that guarantees them a top five finish and a return to the European promised land next term. Something few thought possible as early as the turn of the year.

In Mainoo, Ayden Heaven, who was excellent again at centre-back and blame-free as United almost threw the game away, an ever-more-exciting Cunha, blossoming Benjamin Sesko and several others, built around their inspirational totem Fernandes, Carrick has plenty of young, exciting talent with which to work with.

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The board is divided. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is understood to be dubious over whether Carrick has the personality to front the Ineos revolution. Others, with more of a footballing track record than a man who plumped for Ruben Amorim and fought hard for Gareth Southgate, are convinced.

Supporters have seen enough, with Carrick’s name echoing around Old Trafford as he added to a points total no other manager has bettered since he took the United hotseat.

The tools are there for a sustained title tilt next season, nonetheless. Led by the kind of talent United supporters can pin their hopes and dreams on for years to come.

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