Manchester United achieved a double victory by beating their historic rivals Liverpool (3-2) on Sunday at Old Trafford, and securing their qualification for the next Champions League, after a two-year absence.

The Red Devils were leading 2-0 at half-time, they were pegged back to 2-2 but won with a last goal from Kobbie Mainoo, the player whom coach Michael Carrick brought back into the fold at the start of his interim spell.

With three matchdays remaining in the season, Manchester United (3rd, 64 pts) are guaranteed to finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League. Liverpool (4th, 58 pts) have a six-point lead over Bournemouth, currently in sixth place.

The visitors arrived at Old Trafford weakened by injuries to star winger Mohamed Salah, forwards Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké, starting goalkeeper Alisson Becker and his backup Giorgi Mamardachvili.

But that does not explain the great defensive fragility displayed in a completely failed first quarter of an hour, with two goals conceded.

The third goalkeeper, Freddie Woodman, conceded a shot from Matheus Cunha deflected by Alexis Mac Allister (6th, 1-0) and then he parried a header from Bruno Fernandes onto Benjamin Sesko's thigh (14th, 2-0).

Manchester United's game fell apart after a half in which the injured Slovenian striker was replaced by Amad Diallo.

The Ivorian winger was guilty of a very bad pass, intercepted in the center circle by Dominik Szoboszlai, and the Hungarian midfielder took over a too passive Manchester defense (47th, 2-1).

The Red Devils made a second, even worse, gift on Cody Gakpo's equalizer (56th, 2-2), completely missing a short six-meter kick.

However, they managed to regain the lead with a shot launched from outside the penalty area by Kobbie Mainoo (77th, 3-2), a 21-year-old central midfielder who was relegated under Ruben Amorim, the previous coach, and given a second chance by Carrick since the start of his interim role in January.