Man United beats Liverpool 3-2 and will be back in the Champions League after 2-year absence

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United is headed back to the Champions League.

A 3-2 win against Liverpool on Sunday confirmed United's return to European club soccer's top competition after a two-year absence.

Kobbie Mainoo settled a thrilling Premier League clash at Old Trafford with his first-time strike from the edge of the area after defending champion Liverpool had fought back from two goals down.

The victory saw head coach Michael Carrick achieve the target he was set in January when he was handed the job until the end of the season. Rescuing United's season from freefall, he has led the club to third in the standings and produced statement wins against Arsenal, Manchester City and now Liverpool.

Victory will strengthen calls for Carrick to be given the role on a permanent basis.

“When Michael comes, he came with magic. Alex Ferguson vibes," United forward Matheus Cunha said with reference to the club's iconic former manager. "At the end of the day, this is just the start of the journey. It’s the beginning, a beautiful beginning.”

Ferguson had planned to watch the match at Old Trafford but left the stadium and went to the hospital as a precaution when feeling unwell before kick off.

The fact United secured a Champions League return against its fiercest rival Liverpool only added to the scenes of celebration after the final whistle. It was the first time United has completed a league double of home-and-away wins against the Merseyside club since the 2015-16 campaign.

United is six points ahead of fourth-placed Liverpool with three rounds of the season to go. It marks a significant improvement on last term when it was 42 points behind Arne Slot's title-winning team.

Since Carrick was hired on Jan. 13, United has picked up 32 points from 14 games - more than any other team in the top flight.

“It’s been a good run. We’ve beaten some very, very good teams and it’s been challenging,” he said. “I love doing what I’m doing. It’s a great position for me to be in and it feels pretty natural if I’m totally honest.”

United only gave Carrick the job until the end of the season in order to give the club time to weigh up coaching candidates after Ruben Amorim was fired in January. The 20-time English champion has not won the title since Ferguson retired in 2013 and has had six permanent managers or head coaches since then.

Carrick has repeatedly shied away from discussing his future beyond the end of the campaign.

His team is doing the talking for him on the field and that continued with a flying start against Liverpool.

Cunha put United ahead after six minutes with a left-footed strike from inside the box and Benjamin Sesko doubled the lead in the 14th when bundling in from close range.

United's dominance should have produced more goals with Bruno Fernandes wasting a good chance to add a third.

But the game was turned on its head after the break as Dominik Szoboszlai pulled one back for Liverpool two minutes into the second half and then a mix-up in United's defense allowed Cody Gakpo to equalize in the 56th.

United regained its composure and Mainoo's strike saw Old Trafford erupt in celebration.

Liverpool knows what it needs to be back in the Champions League next season.

“I wouldn’t say concerned is the right word, but I’m completely aware of the fact that we need three points,” Slot said. “That’s why I was so annoyed that we didn’t pick them up today. Although we didn’t deserve to get these points in the first half, it's completely clear that if you are 2-2 coming back from 2-0 down, then you should at least go away here with the result, which we didn’t do.”

Bournemouth earlier strengthened its unlikely push for Champions League qualification with a 3-0 win against Crystal Palace.

Bournemouth is sixth in the standings, with the top five guaranteed to qualify for the Champions League. That could be extended to the top six if Aston Villa wins the Europa League and finishes fifth.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick celebrates after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United great Alex Ferguson was taken to the hospital after feeling unwell ahead of his former team's Premier League game against Liverpool on Sunday.

The iconic former United manager was at Old Trafford for the match, but left before kickoff.

A person with knowledge of the situation said the 84-year-old Ferguson was taken to the hospital as a precaution and was “OK.” The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

United coach Michael Carrick was unable to offer updates after the match, which his team won 3-2.

“I did hear about it before the game,” Carrick said. “I was very affected by it, the news. I just don’t know the latest, but we hope for him to be in good shape and we wish him all the best and certainly hope the result, when he hears about it, can give him a good boost.”

In 2018 Ferguson suffered a brain hemorrhage and underwent emergency surgery, before making a recovery.

Ferguson frequently attends home matches and was pictured on social media at the stadium earlier in the day.

Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles with United and two Champions Leagues during a trophy-laden 26-and-a-half years at the club. In total he won 28 major titles with United.

He retired in 2013 having won the last of his 13 league titles.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Former Manchester United soccer manager Alex Ferguson arrives on day four of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival in Cheltenham, England, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland, file)

FILE - Former Manchester United soccer manager Alex Ferguson arrives on day four of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival in Cheltenham, England, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland, file)

Manchester United fans cheer during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)