Manchester United secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over fierce rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, booking their place in next season's Champions League in style. It was a first-half masterclass from the hosts, who dominated the visitors and took a commanding 2-0 lead into the break, thanks to goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

But football is never that simple, is it? A couple of costly errors from Amad and Senne Lammens allowed Liverpool to claw their way back into the match, equalizing and seizing momentum. Just when it looked like the Merseysiders might snatch all three points, up stepped Kobbie Mainoo with a winner that sent Old Trafford into raptures. The result also meant United completed their first Premier League double over Liverpool in a decade—a statement of intent.

This victory caps an incredible turnaround for the Red Devils. From languishing in sixth place in January, following Ruben Amorim's sacking, United now sit third in the table with three games left to play. Caretaker head coach Michael Carrick deserves immense credit for engineering this resurgence, and goalscorer Matheus Cunha was quick to heap praise on him after the match.

Drawing a bold comparison, Cunha likened Carrick's impact to that of legendary United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. "We're learning so much, of course. When Michael came, he came with magic! Alex Ferguson vibes," the Brazilian attacking midfielder told The Daily Mail. "He talks so much about his team, the conquering team. This feeling comes to us. We feel so happy with the information, we focus so hard to reach the objective. At the end of the day, this is just the start of the journey—it's the beginning, a beautiful beginning!"

Cunha highlighted the traits Carrick shares with Sir Alex: an unwavering belief in the team, meticulous preparation, and the ability to inspire players to dig deep. The former Wolves star was thrilled with United's first-half performance but acknowledged the team's resilience in the second half. "I think this week was very important. It's the biggest game in England and everybody is so motivated. When we started the game, I think we were there. We were so focused to do what we trained to do. First half we did that," he said.

For United fans, this win feels like more than just three points—it's a glimpse of a brighter future. And with Carrick at the helm, channeling the spirit of Sir Alex, the journey is just getting started.