In a game that was always likely to have huge ramifications in the top-four race, a front-footed United start yielded an early goal.
There was an element of fortune to it as Matheus Cunha needed two bites and the cherry to see a deflected left-footed strike nestle in the corner, but it was exactly the reward the hosts’ start deserved.
Their endeavours bore yet more fruits before the first half was even 15 minutes old, as after first being denied by a save from Freddie Woodman from point-blank range, Benjamin Sesko was in the right place at the right time from the recycled cross, which saw Woodman parry Bruno Fernandes’ header against him, and the ball trickled over the line.
Cody Gakpo came close to halving the deficit when he curled an effort inches wide with Senne Lammens beaten, but United were undeterred by that Liverpool pot-shot and came close to adding a third when Fernandes’ half-volley whistled just the wrong side of the post.
Darren England’s half-time whistle was well received by Liverpool, who will have appreciated the time to regroup and reset after a sub-standard half in which they were perhaps lucky to end just two goals down, even if Ryan Gravenberch did manage to at least test Lammens in the dying moments.
Arne Slot’s men couldn’t have been much worse in the second half, and they got off to the perfect start when half-time substitute Amad Diallo gifted possession to Dominik Szoboszlai in the middle of the pitch, and the Hungarian carried the ball half the length of the Old Trafford turf and coolly slotted into the bottom corner.
Liverpool completed an unthinkable turnaround 10 minutes into the second half, although it was again down to an individual error from United as Lammens’ loose pass was pounced upon by Alexis Mac Allister before Szoboszlai teed up Gakpo to tap into an empty net.
United looked down and out at that point, but they rallied in the closing stages and managed to hit the front once more.
Liverpool could only half clear Luke Shaw’s cross, and Kobbie Mainoo strode onto Mac Allister’s weak clearance on the edge of the area to sweep the ball into the bottom corner in front of a delirious Stretford End.
Gakpo tested Lammens as Liverpool pushed for a late equaliser, but they ultimately came up short in that quest, as United held on to secure a top-five finish in style - the ultimate way for Michael Carrick to stake his claim for the permanent job.
Defeat for Liverpool likely won’t be catastrophic to their top-five push, given their six-point cushion with three games remaining.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)