Man Utd boss Carrick relishes ‘special’ Liverpool rivalry

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Manchester United’s English Interim head coach Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on March 4, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR ‘LIVE’ SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES. AN ADDITIONAL 40 IMAGES MAY BE USED IN EXTRA TIME. NO VIDEO EMULATION. SOCIAL MEDIA IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES. AN ADDITIONAL 40 IMAGES MAY BE USED IN EXTRA TIME. NO USE IN BETTING PUBLICATIONS, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. /

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Michael Carrick believes Manchester United against Liverpool is always a “standout” fixture even though neither club are challenging for the Premier League title this season.

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England’s two most successful clubs, with 20 league titles each, meet at Old Trafford on Sunday, with both firmly on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

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United are third in the table, three points clear of Liverpool, with the top five guaranteed a place in Europe’s top club competition next season.

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“Certainly one of my favourite games, without doubt it’s a standout game,” said United boss Carrick. “There’s big games and big rivalries that we have with other teams, but certainly this one is right up there.

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“The history, the ups and downs the past has produced in these types of games and the excitement and entertainment, and the emotion, which is a huge part of it. It makes it a really special game.”

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The former United midfielder said the club had made great strides since last season, when they finished a miserable 15th in the table, 42 points behind champions Liverpool.

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“I just think this probably shows the improvements of the group, really, and getting stronger,” he said.

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“And to be coming into this game in such a good position, on the back of good results, and trying to achieve and moving forward.

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“So, fully aware of the situation in the league and how close it is between us. But that’s not something, really, we’ve focused on going into this game. I think it’s a one-off game.”

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The United boss said the club were “over the moon” after Kobbie Mainoo signed a new five-year contract this week.

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The England international, 21, fell out of favour under former boss Ruben Amorim but was restored to the first team when Carrick took over in January, playing a key role in their resurgence.

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“He’s done fantastic with it,” said Carrick. “There’s more to come, there’s loads more to come. I keep saying that for some time because he’s such a young man, but he’s in a great spot at the moment.”

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