Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2 at Old Trafford and officially secured a place in next season's Champions League. The match was dramatic, full of swings and tension - and was settled in the end by Kobbie Mainoo's winner in the 76th minute.

The hosts came out fast and aggressive. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a follow-up after a deflection, and Benjamin Šeško doubled it in the 14th - after Liverpool's defence failed to clear a Bruno Fernandes cross. Two goals in 14 minutes at Old Trafford - not the picture Liverpool had pencilled in.

But Liverpool aren't Liverpool without weapons. Dominik Szoboszlai pulled one back in the 43rd minute, and Cody Gakpo levelled it in the 56th, on an assist from the same Szoboszlai. You have it, you don't - the classic Old Trafford script.

Then Mainoo decided it. Kobbie Mainoo's strike from outside the area in the 76th left goalkeeper Woodman with no chance. 3-2 - three points, fourth place in the table, a ticket to the Champions League. Third place or higher - that is the line that decides everything in England.

For Manchester United this is an important statement after a season full of instability. That they reached the Champions League this way - beating Liverpool in a comeback - is exactly the kind of message a club takes into the summer with a different energy. Is this the start of something more serious? Or just a good day in a long job? We will see in the autumn.