Mainoo says Man Utd want to 'keep on winning' after qualifying for Champions League

Kobbie Mainoo says Manchester United want to "keep on winning, winning, winning" after qualifying for the Champions League.

The youth product scored the decisive goal as United beat arch-rivals Liverpool 3-2 at Old Trafford.

United had squandered a two-goal lead with mistakes but Mainoo appeared to slot home from the edge of the box to ensure a huge win.

After the game, he admitted it would have been hard to imagine him playing such an important role in the side only a few months ago.

He had been frozen out of the side under former manager Ruben Amorim but he has been given a new lease of life under Michael Carrick.

Mainoo said: "Yes 100% to be able to turnaround the way we have done is a credit to all the players and the manager as well. We are still looking forward, we need to finish the season strong, we want to keep on winning, winning, winning.

"It was difficult of course, any time that you are not playing football but I just tried to keep looking forward as much as possible, keep my head down and work hard - and I guess you get these things."

And on Carrick's part in his revival he continued: "Yes he's played a huge part, the confidence he has put in not just me but all the players, you want to fight for him, you want to die for him on the pitch and that is what I feel we did today.

"I've not been around with the goals too much but I was happy to be around them in this game, it is such a special occasion and a victory."

While the former Academy player added: "I used to dream of times like this I would have been over the moon."

Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated Premier League encounter pitted third against fourth at Old Trafford, where the Red Devils roared out of the blocks as Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko struck inside the opening 14 minutes.

But United gifted Arne Slot’s stumbling side a way back just after half-time, with substitute Amad Diallo’s misplaced pass punished by Dominik Szoboszlai before Cody Gakpo levelled the scores following a Senne Lammens blunder.

Play continued at a frenetic pace before Mainoo settled things in the 77th minute, slamming home just days after committing his future to the club until 2031.