Manchester United could make changes for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland with Champions League qualification for next season now secured.
The third-place Red Devils made sure of their return to Europe’s elite club competition with three games to spare thanks to a thrilling 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford last weekend, with Kobbie Mainoo netting a dramatic late winner after early goals from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko had been cancelled out after the break by Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo.
It was United’s first Premier League double over Liverpool in a decade and officially ended their two-year exile from the Champions League, with the result meaning that they can now not finish any lower than fifth this term.
It was also another huge boost to interim head coach Michael Carrick’s chances of becoming the club’s next full-time manager, though there has still been no official decision taken in that regard.
Though Carrick will still want to finish the campaign as strongly as possible to further enhance his long-term job prospects, he has also hinted at giving a chance to some of United’s fringe players during the final three matches with their main objective now achieved.
“I think every player in the squad has been absolutely fantastic, I have to say,” Carrick said at his pre-Sunderland press conference on Thursday.
“Some have played a lot more than others and I understand from a professional and a playing point of view it can be difficult, but the togetherness and the support that the players have shown, certainly each other, is great to see.
“It's what we need within the group and that's part of the challenge of doing a lot of training and not having as many games as we would have liked.
“It’s the balance that we've made the most of really, so coming into these games it's something we're aware of. I think it's really something we're keen on playing well and still trying to get good results as well, but it's definitely something to be aware of.”
Whether that rotation approach starts this weekend remains to be seen as United face a Sunderland side who have found wins hard to come by lately, with a 1-1 draw against relegated Wolves last time out seeing them stuck in 12th place and now five points adrift of the top six.
Sesko may be a doubt anyway after coming off at half-time against Liverpool, replaced by Amad Diallo after aggravating a pre-existing shin injury during a clash with Ibrahima Konate that saw him collide with the advertising hoardings.
Matthijs de Ligt seems likely to miss out again as he continues to work his way back from a lower back injury that has kept him sidelined since November, though there is one defensive boost for United as Lisandro Martinez returns from suspension.
Patrick Dorgu made his first appearance since January off the bench against Liverpool having recovered from a hamstring injury, while Carrick may now consider handing more opportunities to the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte and Noussair Mazraoui, among others.
Predicted Man Utd XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo
Doubts: De Ligt, Sesko
Time and date: 3pm BST on Saturday May 9, 2026
Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
