Manchester United welcome arch-rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday for a gargantuan clash, where a good result would see the Red Devils clinch their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Nine wins from 13 Premier League games since the arrival of interim manager Michael Carrick in the aftermath of Ruben Amorim’s firing in January have completely turned around the season. Manchester United sat sixth, just three points ahead of the bottom half of the table, when Amorim was sacked. Now, Carrick’s men are third, three points clear of Sunday’s visiting Liverpool. More importantly for United, though, is the fact that finishing no lower than fifth guarantees a return to the Champions League after a two-season absence. Aston Villa are tied on points with Liverpool in fifth, but more importantly Carrick’s side have built an 11-point gap over sixth-placed Brighton.…