Matheus Cunha made a stunning return to the starting lineup as Manchester United edged out fierce rivals Liverpool 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford on Sunday. The victory not only secured a league double over their arch-rivals for the first time in over a decade but also guaranteed the Red Devils a spot in next season's Champions League after a two-year absence.

After a shaky spell where United let their two-goal halftime lead slip, it was young Kobbie Mainoo who stepped up to seal the deal late on. But the real story of the day was Cunha's explosive performance. Brought back into the side by manager Michael Carrick in place of the ineffective Amad, the Brazilian wasted no time making his presence felt.

Just six minutes into the match, Cunha pounced on a loose ball from a corner, seeing his initial effort blocked before reacting quickest to slot home the rebound. It was his ninth goal for the 20-time English champions, making him the joint-second top scorer for his new club in the Premier League this season.

The 26-year-old tormented Liverpool's defense down the left flank, completing two dribbles and firing off three shots in total. He also had five touches inside the Liverpool box and completed a pass in the final third. But it wasn't just his attacking prowess that caught the eye—Cunha was equally effective without the ball, winning 100% of his tackles and making nine defensive contributions. He recovered the ball five times and completed two interceptions, according to stats from FotMob.

With Patrick Dorgu now back in contention, Cunha will need to maintain this level of performance to keep his spot in the starting lineup. Based on his current form, that looks more than likely. For United fans, seeing their No. 10 firing on all cylinders is a welcome sight as they prepare for a return to Europe's elite competition.