Remarkable stat shows extent of Michael Carrick effect at Manchester United after dramatic Liverpool win secures Champions League football next season

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Michael Carrick is building quite the case to land the Manchester United job on a permanent basis - with Sunday's 3-2 win over Liverpool placing him in esteemed Premier League company.

Carrick praises 'spirit and togetherness' of Man Utd squad

Video credit: SNTV

When Carrick was appointed United interim manager following the departure of Ruben Amorim at the start of the year, it was viewed as a temporary fix - in the same way it was back in November 2021 in his role as caretaker after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's exit.

But having secured UEFA Champions League football for Man Utd next season - for the first time since the 2023/24 campaign - Carrick's credentials to land the full-time role have been strengthened.

On Sunday, he watched his side race into a two-goal lead against Liverpool at the break courtesy of goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, only for individual mistakes from Amad Diallo and goalkeeper Senne Lammens to allow the visitors to level through Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo.

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It sparked fears that Manchester United would lose their long-held record of having not lost a league game at Old Trafford when leading at half-time since May 7, 1984 - against Norwich City.

But Kobbie Mainoo, fresh from signing a new contract, was on hand to re-establish United's lead with a calm finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box - to the delight of Carrick on the touchline.

Mainoo was full of praise afterwards for Carrick, telling Sky Sports: "We want to follow him. We want to die for him on the pitch."

Such a ringing endorsement of Carrick's impact on the United dressing room has been backed up by an impressive statistic.

According to Opta, Carrick has become the first English manager to win eight or more of his opening nine home Premier League games - with the 2-1 defeat to Leeds United last month his only setback.

Carrick is the sixth manager in total to achieve the feat during the Premier League - and first since Antonio Conte during the 2016/17 season, when Chelsea won the title.

The numbers include Carrick's short spell in 2021, when he oversaw a home victory against Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

Carrick, who was out of work after being sacked by Middlesbrough at the end of the 2024/25 season, has also now completed a first Premier League double over Liverpool in 10 years, to go with overcoming Pep Guardiola in the Manchester derby back in January.

Carrick also got the better of Arteta once more at the Emirates as United prevailed 3-2 in one of the results of the season.

He was an onlooker last season as Amorim's United finished in 15th place on 42 points - their lowest league position since 1989/90 and fewest points in a top-flight season since they were last relegated in 1973/74.

Cunha: Carrick has brought Ferguson 'magic'

United have now won seven of their last eight Premier League home games, and there is still an unlikely but mathematical chance of them finishing the season above Man City in second place.

On Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson was in attendance at the start of the encounter with Liverpool before he was taken to hospital as a precaution after falling unwell.

Since Ferguson retired in 2013, United have not won another Premier League title - and have appointed seven permanent managers in a bid to end that wait.

Carrick has demonstrated that the answer may well lie within.

"We're learning so much, of course," Cunha said. "When Michael [Carrick] came, he came with magic! [Sir] Alex Ferguson vibes.

"He talks so much about his team, the conquering team. This feeling comes to us. We feel so happy with the information, we focus so hard to reach the objective.

"At the end of the day, this is just the start of the journey, it's the beginning - a beautiful beginning!"

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