Overview
Manchester United has won a ticket back to the Champions League after a volatile 2025-2026 season. The breathtaking 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford last weekend not only helped the "Red Devils" consolidate their position in the top 4 but also added great confidence under interim coach Michael Carrick.
The hero who brought victory to Man United was Kobbie Mainoo, when the young talent who grew up from the academy scored the decisive goal in the final minutes. This result helps the Old Trafford team stand before the opportunity to finish in the top 3 when they are 6 points ahead of Liverpool.
This is a remarkable step forward compared to last season, when Man United finished only 15th under Ruben Amorim and was completely absent from the European arena. Since Carrick took over in mid-January, no team in the Premier League has won more points than Man United (32 points). The "Red Devils" have also won 10 matches under the former English midfielder, more than the first 20 rounds of this season under Amorim.
That sublime form helps Carrick receive great support from the players in the dressing room. The 44-year-old coach recently admitted that he hopes the board will soon make a decision on his future before the end of this month.
In the next round, Man United will be guests at Sunderland's Stadium of Light - an opponent they have often overwhelmed in the past. "The Red Devils" have only lost one of their last 15 away games against Sunderland in the national championship, winning 10 matches.
Meanwhile, Sunderland is losing momentum in the final stage of the season. After the victory over Tottenham in April, coach Regis Le Bris's team has gone through 3 consecutive matches without a win and gradually lost hope of winning a ticket to European cups.
Last weekend, Sunderland drew 1-1 with Wolves in a controversial match when Daniel Ballard received a direct red card for snatching the opponent's hair - a decision that the club later filed an appeal against.
Currently, Sunderland is 12th in the standings and is 4 points behind the European Cup group when the season is only three rounds away. However, Le Bris still believes that his team deserves to be recognized after a season that exceeded expectations and has never fallen into the relegation battle.
However, head-to-head history clearly does not stand on the side of the Stadium of Light team. Sunderland has only won 3 out of 33 matches against Man United in the Premier League, and lost 24 matches - more than against any other opponent in the league.
More worryingly, Sunderland has also not won any match in the last 28 encounters with teams in the top 4 of the Premier League, since the victory over Chelsea in 2014 under Gus Poyet.
Expected lineup:
Roefs, Mukiele, O'Nien, Alderete, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Talbi, Diarra, Le Fee, Brobbey.
Man United: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko.
The match between Man United and Sunderland takes place at 9:00 PM on May 9th (Vietnam time).
