Kobbie Mainoo has credited Michael Carrick for the confidence he has given to Manchester United’s players after they qualified for the Champions League with a 3-2 win over Liverpool.
Mainoo was the hero as United won a five-goal thriller against their rivals at Old Trafford on Sunday, after taking an early two-goal lead before being drawn level.
Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko scored in the first 14 minutes, but at the beginning of the second half, goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo (the latter after a terrible error by Senne Lammens) brought Liverpool level.
However, Mainoo ended his 718-day wait for a Premier League goal, having last scored against Newcastle United in May 2024, with a precise shot into the bottom left corner.
The result means United are assured of a top-five finish and a place in UEFA’s premier club competition, while Liverpool still need a maximum of four points to join them.
The victory capped a remarkable transformation for United under Carrick, who returned for his second spell as interim head coach after the departure of Ruben Amorim in January.
Across his two spells in charge of United, Carrick has won eight of his nine home games as a Premier League (L1) manager, becoming the first English manager to do so and the first overall since Antonio Conte (also 8/9 with Chelsea in 2016-17).
Asked if Carrick had been the driving force, Mainoo told Sky Sports: “It’s clearly a very important part. The confidence he has, not just in me, but in all the players.”
“You want to follow it and fight for it. That’s what we showed.
“To turn things around like we have, it is a credit to the players and the manager. We are looking forward and we still have to finish the season strong.
“We want to keep winning and winning.
8 – Michael Carrick is only the sixth manager (and the first English manager) to win more than 8 of his first 9 home games in the @premierleagueand first since Antonio Conte in 2016-17 (also 8/9). Irresistible. pic.twitter.com/O5fRyUxj9E
-OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 3, 2026
United have completed their first Premier League double over Liverpool since 2015-16, and it is only the second time the Reds have lost home and away to both Manchester clubs in the same league season, after doing so in 1912-13.
Liverpool are the first club Mainoo has scored more than once for United, having also scored against the Reds in a 2-2 Premier League draw in April 2024.
The England international was shut out by Carrick’s predecessor Amorim, but throughout that challenging period, he remained convinced an opportunity would present itself.
“Of course, it was difficult when you weren’t playing football,” Mainoo reflects.
“I just tried to look forward as much as possible, keep working hard and keep my head down to take advantage of it.
“I haven’t been close to the goals much, but I’m happy to be close to them in this game! It’s a very special occasion and a special match.”
