Did Manchester United Qualify for UEFA Champions League After Beating Liverpool?

(Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Did Manchester United Qualify for UEFA Champions League After Beating Liverpool?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Pragjyoti Singh | Last updated May 3, 2026 12:59 PM ET

Manchester United secured a crucial 3–2 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The match began with Manchester United taking an early lead. Matheus Cunha scored in the 6th minute, followed quickly by a goal from Benjamin Šeško in the 14th minute.

Although United controlled the first half, Liverpool fought back after the break. Dominik Szoboszlai scored shortly after halftime, and Cody Gakpo tied the game in the 56th minute.

The winning moment came in the 77th minute when Kobbie Mainoo scored to make it 3–2.

Despite late pressure from Liverpool and yellow cards for Bruno Fernandes and Cody Gakpo, United held on for the win.

Did Manchester United Qualify for the Champions League?

Before this game, Manchester United needed only two more points to guarantee a top-four finish and a spot in the Champions League.

By earning three points against Liverpool, they have now officially qualified for the tournament.

Under interim manager Michael Carrick, the team has moved from sixth place to third.

This victory ensures they cannot be overtaken by the teams outside the qualification spots, confirming their return to Europe's top competition next season.

Notably, Manchester United has won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League three times in their history. (1968, 1999, and 2008)

The last time the club competed in the Champions League was during the 2023–24 season. They were eliminated after finishing 4th in the group stage.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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