Michael Carrick’s stock at Old Trafford has reached an all-time high after Manchester United secured a return to the Champions League with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Liverpool on Sunday.
The “Red Devils” raced into a two-goal lead through Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško, and despite a spirited Liverpool fightback, Kobbie Mainoo fired home a 77th-minute winner to seal the result.
The win guarantees United a top-five finish with three games to spare, marking a successful turnaround since Carrick took the reins from Ruben Amorim in January.
Addressing his future, Carrick admitted the role feels “natural,” stating that his understanding of the club’s unique pressure has helped him navigate the transition from Middlesbrough.
While United have been linked to Julian Nagelsmann, Fabrizio Romano reports the club is now ready to hand Carrick the permanent manager’s job ahead of the summer transfer window.
Conversely, the defeat leaves Arne Slot’s Liverpool in a precarious position, sitting six points behind United in third and facing intense scrutiny after a “turbulent” campaign.
Slot lamented a critical lapse in concentration for the winning goal, noting that “one moment of switching off” has been a recurring theme in a season shorn of key stars like Mohamed Salah.
With elite European football confirmed, Carrick insisted that United must now aim higher to end a 13-year Premier League title drought that has plagued the club since the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
