Manchester United defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, May 3, 2026, a result that mathematically confirms the Red Devils’ return to the UEFA Champions League after a two-season absence.
With the win, interim manager Michael Carrick’s side moved to 64 points, guaranteeing a top-five finish in the Premier League with three games remaining. England’s strong UEFA coefficient performance has secured a fifth automatic Champions League place for the 2026/27 season, meaning United can no longer fall out of Europe’s elite competition.
Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring in the 54th minute when he chested down a free kick before firing into the far corner. Mason Mount added a second late on when a free kick was touched into his path and he unleashed a low shot through a sea of legs. Liverpool pulled one back through Alexander Isak, but United held on to seal the victory.
“It shows the improvements of the group, we are getting stronger,” Carrick said after the match. “We come into this game in such a good position off the back of good results and trying to achieve what we want. It’s a tough finish in a tough league. To get the amount of wins we have, we are delighted with that.”
United climbed to 61 points with the win, three clear of fourth-placed Liverpool on 58 points. A victory was all Carrick’s men needed to guarantee Champions League qualification. “Things are pretty straight forward for Manchester United entering the weekend: Win against Liverpool, and the Champions League will return to Old Trafford in 2026–27,” analysts noted ahead of the clash.
The result means United can no longer finish lower than fifth. “Victory will guarantee the Red Devils can’t fall lower than fifth in what remains of the campaign,” the club confirmed. Liverpool, meanwhile, remain in fourth but now face pressure from Aston Villa, who are level on 58 points with a weaker goal difference.
The win also extends United’s lead over their rivals and keeps alive their hopes of finishing third. United are looking to complete the league double over Liverpool for the first time since 2015-16. “It wasn’t a given, at certain stages we weren’t favourites,” Carrick said of their run to Champions League qualification. “Now we are in a good position and want to finish as high in the league as we want to keep pushing for that.”
However, the return to Europe’s top competition could come at a cost. According to The Times, some United players will receive a 25 per cent wage increase if the Red Devils qualify for the Champions League. Bruno Fernandes, who earns a reported £300k a week, could see his wages rise to around £375k if he stays at the club. “Over the course of the year the reported wage increase would see United spending extra millions on players’ salaries,” reports stated.
Carrick has overseen a remarkable turnaround since replacing Ruben Amorim in January. United sat sixth, just three points ahead of the bottom half of the table, when Amorim was sacked. Now, Carrick’s men are third after nine wins from 13 Premier League games. “We have an important game coming up against Liverpool, and we can look forward to that,” Carrick said before the match.
For Liverpool, the defeat dents their own Champions League hopes. Arne Slot’s side needed a win to leapfrog United into third and move within touching distance of a top-five finish. “If Liverpool wins at Old Trafford, that could be enough to guarantee a top-five finish,” analysts said before kickoff. Instead, the Reds remain fourth and must now rely on results elsewhere with four games left.
Despite the setback, Slot’s men can still secure Champions League qualification on their own terms. “It would take an almighty collapse now for Liverpool or Manchester United to miss out on Champions League qualification,” one report noted. Liverpool need five points from their final four games, though a win over United would have confirmed their status had Brighton and Bournemouth dropped points this weekend.
