Man Utd Triumphs 3-2 Over Liverpool: Kobbie Mainoo Secures Champions League Berth Amid Heartfelt Cheers for Unwell Fergie at Old Trafford

IT HAD to be Kobbie Mainoo for Manchester United.

“Manchester born and bred” screamed the announcer before he named as the goalscorer at the Stretford End.

Man Utd looked to be cruising after a brutal opening salvo against Liverpool that put them 2-0 up inside 15 minutes Credit: Alamy But Liverpool made the most of two huge errors to level the scoring in 10 second-half minutes Credit: Reuters ‘Manchester born and bred’ Kobbie Mainoo scored the second-half winner in front of the Stretford End Credit: Getty Old Trafford hailed Sir Alex Ferguson after he was taken ill before the game Credit: Getty

The man this week said “epitomised” was on the scoresheet against again.

It was Mainoo’s first of the season and to cap one of the most memorable weeks of his young career.

With Mainoo’s future put to bed with a five-year contract announced on Thursday, Mainoo put United back in the on the Sunday.

For a game between these rivals that had little riding on it, they produced one of the most absorbing Premier League spectacles of the season.

United completed a first double over Liverpool in ten years, opening up a six-point gap.

Liverpool’s Champions League status is still not mathematically secured but their second-half response suggests can still get a tune out of his underachievers.

That will be of little consolation to their 3,000 supporters who were locked in and forced to endure heckles from United fans.

United went from running amok to being on the run against Liverpool.

Their two-goal lead was wiped out by two self-inflicted poor passes by substitute Amad and .

For Lammens, it was the first genuine howler as he attempted to play out from the back.

That has not been his forte and he was more suspect than some of Andre Onana’s riskiest plays.

Liverpool were so uncompetitive in the first 45 minutes that Bruno Fernandes was wondering how he had not made it 3-0 in the 27th minute.

That turned out to be pivotal as Liverpool levelled with two goals within 11 minutes of the restart.

Almost as a , United put their fans through the wringer and struck when they seemed least likely through Mainoo.

It would not have improved Ferguson’s health watching United in the second half. Or his mood.

Ferguson left Old Trafford in an ambulance on Sunday after feeling unwell upon his arrival, with eyewitnesses hopeful he could recover back at home.

Matheus Cunha fired United into the lead Credit: AFP Benjamin Sesko doubled the advantage minutes later Credit: PA

He missed the most madcap match of Carrick’s tenure.

, back in the United XI for Amad, vindicated his recall with a deflected opener.

Carrick has got the majority of his selections right over the past four months and a recall for Cunha, the matchwinner on his previous appearance at , was one of the more obvious.

With Ferguson absent from the directors’ box, director of Jason Wilcox was denied what would have been a well-deserved “well done” from the Scot.

All four summer signings lined up and , the most expensive of the quartet, also got in on the act again.

As fortuitous as Sesko was to bundle the ball over the line from goalkeeper Freddie Woodman’s fumble, it was a scrappy goal No.9s revel in.

Fernandes was influential again, spraying the ball across goal first time, only for Sesko to lose his balance.

Cunha collected the loose ball, laid it back to and Fernandes rose to meet his far-post cross and nod it back across goal.

Dominik Szoboszlai made the most of a United error to get the visitors back into the game Credit: PA Cody Gakpo was then ruthless after another United error Credit: Getty

There was a lengthy stoppage as a couple of tight offsides were checked before the validity of Sesko’s contact.

Liverpool captain hopefully chucked the ball back to Woodman, expecting a free kick. Woodman had to pelt it back to the centre circle when the goal was confirmed.

Fernandes’ contribution did not count as a record-equalling 20th assist in a Premier League season, so Kevin de Bruyne and remain one ahead.

Referee Darren England infuriated United players, staff and fans with some questionable calls. Sesko was shoved into the pitchside ditch by Ibrahima Konate and was denied a free kick while benefited from some leniency.

At one stage in the second half, England halted Fernandes with Liverpool on the attack near the United area.

Liverpool had enough problems in the attacking third without and but Konate’s attempted to rectify his penalty-box slip with a scooped back pass to Woodman, who hurriedly cushioned the ball with his chest before lashing the ball clear.

Amad, brought off at half-time against on Monday, was sent on at the same time for Sesko, presumably injured, and his impact was immediate. And damaging.

The winger’s careless pass was latched on to by for a quick breakaway and the midfielder coolly slotted the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

Mainoo grabbed the crucial winner in front of the Stretford End Credit: Reuters There was no record-equalling assist for United skipper Bruno Fernandes despite an impressive display Credit: Getty

outstretched his arms as he sought an explanation from Amad.

United fans had sarcastically applauded the Liverpool following for attempting a chant towards the end of the first half and they now struck a different tone, with their team attacking their end.

“Attack, attack, attack” was the cry from the away end.

Lammens invited them with an attempted pass to Casemiro that was never on. Mac Allister intervened and pinged it to Szoboszlai to tee up for the equaliser.

Lammens hacked a goalmouth scramble off the line and Liverpool looked the likelier.

Then Mainoo rammed the ball into the corner after Liverpool failed to clear their lines.