Liverpool - Anfield Stadium
Liverpool - Anfield Stadium
Liverpool pay the price for a dismal first half at Old Trafford
Liverpool fell to a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford on 3 May 2026, blowing a two-goal comeback only to lose to Kobbie Mainoo’s late strike. Matheus Cunha’s deflected effort and a Benjamin Sesko bundled finish put Manchester United two goals clear inside 14 minutes, leaving Arne Slot‘s side with a massive mountain to climb.
Liverpool’s first-half display was lifeless; they fell behind after just six minutes when a poorly-cleared corner gave Cunha a second chance that he smashed home. The Reds then showed far more fight after the restart. Dominik Szoboszlai won the ball on the halfway line and kept his cool to finish, before Senne Lammens gifted possession near his own box and Gakpo tapped home to level the tie.
Even then, Liverpool let the game slip away and failed to push for a winner. With 13 minutes remaining, the ball fell kindly for Mainoo on the edge of the box, and he found the bottom corner with real confidence. The defeat left Liverpool still needing four points from their final three league games to secure Champions League football.
Liverpool player ratings — starters
Freddie Woodman — 5/10. This was the biggest stage of his career so far, and things quickly went south, with United’s first two goals arriving before he could settle his nerves. He steadied himself after that and distributed well, but letting in three at Old Trafford is always going to be hard to defend.
Curtis Jones — 6/10. Playing at right-back once again, he worked hard but didn’t really have the quality to stop the bleeding during that chaotic opening 15 minutes.
Ibrahima Konaté — 5/10. Konaté has been up and down all season, and he missed a header in the build-up to Sesko’s goal, a moment that basically summed up his entire campaign.
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Virgil van Dijk — 6/10. He was mostly the calmest head in the Liverpool defence, though he had a couple of shaky moments along the way.
Andrew Robertson — 5/10. He struggled to get anything going forward, and Bryan Mbeumo beat him too easily a few times, leading Slot to haul him off before the hour mark.
Ryan Gravenberch — 5/10. His passing was far too slow in the first half, and he kept losing the physical battle in midfield, though he did look a lot better after the break.
Alexis Mac Allister — 6/10. He tried to drive the ball forward early on but was too sloppy, giving Fernandes way too much room, yet he was much sharper in the second half and did well to win the ball for the equaliser.
Jeremie Frimpong — 5/10. He looked a bit lost on the wing and never really looked like he was going to score or create. Taking him off early showed just how little he was doing to change the game.
Dominik Szoboszlai — 7/10. He dragged Liverpool back into the match with a great finish and then set up Gakpo; his man-of-the-match performance was the only real positive in a tough afternoon.
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Florian Wirtz — 6/10. He worked his socks off all over the pitch and created three chances, though playing him as a false nine still feels like a weird tactical move from Slot.
Cody Gakpo — 7/10. He sent a shot just wide from 20 yards in Liverpool’s only real chance of the first half before pouncing on Lammens’ mistake to get the goal he deserved.
Substitutes rated
Milos Kerkez (on 59′ for Robertson) — 6/10. He brought more pace and looked more solid defensively on the left, giving Liverpool a better base to work from.
Rio Ngumoha (on 75′ for Frimpong) — 5/10. He pulled a shot wide late on and showed a few flashes of pace, but the game felt a bit too big for him.
Federico Chiesa (on 88′ for Konaté) — N/A. Didn’t have enough time to actually do anything.
Liverpool’s problems this season go much deeper than one bad result, and another first-half collapse against a big rival only piles more pressure on Slot’s future at the club. Liverpool have to turn things around fast with Champions League qualification still on the line.