Michael Carrick has achieved his primary objective of guiding Manchester United back into Europe’s elite after Sunday afternoon’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Liverpool.

Goals from Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Šeško, and Kobbie Mainoo secured all three points for United despite a spirited second-half response from Arne Slot’s side. The result confirms United will finish inside the Premier League’s top five this season.

Champions League qualification was viewed as the club’s key target when Carrick took charge in January, and achieving it with three matches remaining has intensified discussion over whether he should be handed the role permanently.

Although the club’s stance has consistently been that no final decision would be made until Champions League qualification was guaranteed, there is an increasing sense among supporters that Carrick’s appointment on a full-time basis now feels unavoidable.

With United now looking toward the summer and next season, a lot of the initial focus surrounds who that new head coach will be.

While Carrick has been brilliant, questions remain about his long-term suitability for the job of taking United right back to the very top of English and European football, given his lack of experience at the elite managerial level. 

On the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, former United captain Roy Keane asked Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who is a firm believer in Carrick's appointment for the job, if he felt Carrick would be able to help United lift trophies.

Keane's former teammate, Paul Scholes, then furthered the question regarding whether Carrick could win the Premier League.

"I think that Michael Carrick will be able to do that," was Wright's blunt reply.

Ex-United full-back Gary Neville then jumped in to ask whether Mikel Arteta's managerial journey, working as an assistant under Pep Guardiola before becoming Arsenal boss, is a reason why Wright feels Carrick could win a league title.

"What it shows, Gary, is that it can be done," the former striker responded, referring to Carrick's composure as a signifiacnt trait that could win him a league. "He's got the kind of character and persona of somebody that can manage what's going on.

"He can control it. He's not bothered about the noise or what's going on. He seems to have got the players going."

However, Wright did add a caveat that it depends on who the club recruit this summer, but if that's perfected, then Carrick has a shot at lifting United back to the very top.

"Now, obviously, it depends on the players who are coming in, and it goes from there, Man United buy to kick on again, because you can see that it just doesn't seem like there's too much more that's needed, obviously, to get to the back, to the top."

When United initially appointed Carrick for the role, Keane was steadfast against the decision, citing the former United midfielder's lack of experience managing at a top level.

However, during the podcast, he seemed to show a softer view, suggesting that while there are better managers on paper, what Carrick has shown gives him a shot at the job, although PSG's Luis Enrique would still be his top choice.

"He worked under [Jose] Mourinho. He worked under Ole [Gunnar Solskjær]. He had a little spell [as manager], after Ole was there, for three games. So they must have an idea if they think he has that personality taking forward.

"Of course, he lacks that experience. But he is winning football matches, and there are problems to fix with midfield, of course. And the way they're so open at the back, it's ridiculous.

"But we go back to it, any business or industry, do we think there's better options? On paper, there is. But that doesn't mean to say they would... I like Enrique. Of course, I like Enrique for what he's done. He's got that experience, even at international level

"He seemed like a good character. His team, you don't know about his team, he gets his teams to run. And any manager who gets his players, top players to run, I tell you what, that's a big thumbs up. But again, people don't look at Man United anymore.

"He's probably thinking, I'm not going to Man United with all your issues, and I want to be winning the big prizes every year."