Carrick's Big Test Turns Into Uncomfortable Questions After Liverpool Scare

Roy Keane had it right before Sunday's showdown with Liverpool. The interim boss needed a proper performance to strengthen his hand in the permanent job conversation. Instead, what unfolded was a match that probably did him no favours whatsoever.

United won it, which matters. Champions League football is secured for next season. But the manner of that victory – commanding for 45 minutes before nearly throwing it all away – tells a troubling story about Michael Carrick's credentials for the full-time gig.

The first half was textbook dominance. Arne Slot's side were dismantled, outplayed in every department. You'd have fancied United to run away with it. Then the second half happened. Within 11 minutes of the restart, the entire complexion of the match shifted dramatically. Two individual errors – Amad Diallo's shocking mistake and Senne Lammens' blunder in goal – handed Liverpool a lifeline they barely deserved.

Kobbie Mainoo's 77th-minute strike ultimately settled it, but that's not the point. United came perilously close to surrendering a position of absolute control against their fiercest rivals. That's the narrative that sticks.

The interim manager has done exactly what was asked of him. Since January, he's transformed the atmosphere, shifted the mood, and steered the club back into European qualification. Ten wins, two draws, two defeats – a solid record by any measure. The vibe has undeniably changed. For those reasons alone, he warrants serious consideration.

Yet here's the uncomfortable bit: the football hasn't been particularly convincing, has it? The squad limitations are real, sure, but there's a fragility to how Carrick's side operates. Brentford at home proved that too – another game that could easily have slipped away.

Gary Neville's position is instructive here. Back in January, he was adamant: under no circumstances should Carrick get the job, regardless of results. Even if United won every match, Neville said, the appointment shouldn't happen. That was his firm stance. Now? He's "not sure". He's questioning which world-class managers are actually available. He's wavering.

The irony is thick. Champions League qualification has changed the conversation. A win over Liverpool – of all teams – has softened positions. But Sunday's performance, for all its final outcome, has actually muddied the waters rather than clarified them.

The scoreline masks a deeper problem. This wasn't a commanding display that screams "permanent manager in waiting." It was a performance that could have gone either way, that depended on Liverpool's generosity rather than Carrick's tactical superiority. When you're fighting for a job, those margins matter. They matter a lot.

Results have improved. The table looks healthier. The atmosphere is better. But questions about sustainability remain – and Sunday's chaotic second half has only reinforced them. Carrick needed to be perfect. Instead, he was merely adequate, rescued by a moment of individual quality from his young talent.