Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2 on Sunday to seal a return to the UEFA Champions League next season, while Tottenham Hotspur climbed out of the English Premier League relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Aston Villa.
Kobbie Mainoo’s late winner edged a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford in United’s favor after Liverpool had battled back from 2-0 down.
Before the match, legendary former United manager Alex Ferguson was taken to hospital as a precaution after falling ill.
Photo: EPA
The Red Devils raced out the blocks to score twice inside the first 15 minutes.
Matheus Cunha’s deflected strike from the edge of the penalty area beat third-choice Liverpool goalkeeper Freddie Woodman before Benjamin Sesko bundled in from close range.
United could have been even further in front by halftime against an out-of-sorts Liverpool lacking the injured trio of Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, but the visitors were gifted a route back into the game by United mistakes.
Dominik Szoboszlai pounced on Amad Diallo’s wayward pass to run from inside his own half and cut the arrears two minutes into the second half.
Szoboszlai then teed up Cody Gakpo to equalize after a stray pass from United goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
In the week he signed a new five-year contract, Mainoo was ultimately the hero when he coolly slotted in from outside the penalty area 13 minutes from time.
Victory and the guarantee of playing in the Champions League after a two-year absence further strengthens Michael Carrick’s case to remain in charge of United next season.
“I love doing what I’m doing and it’s a great position for me to be in,” Carrick said. “It feels pretty natural if I’m totally honest.”
Liverpool remain in fourth after a much-changed Villa offered Spurs a lifeline in the battle for survival.
Tottenham had not won for 118 days in the English Premier League until the previous weekend’s scrappy 1-0 victory at already-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers, but they are now back in the driving seat to avoid relegation as West Ham United dropped into the bottom three with three games remaining.
“I’m pleased with this performance from my players. I know how much they have suffered this season,” Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi said. “My job is to help them and show what they are capable of.”
Villa head coach Unai Emery made seven changes with one eye on overturning his side’s 1-0 deficit in their UEFA Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest on Thursday.
Tottenham took full advantage as Conor Gallagher fired in his first goal since joining from Atletico Madrid in January.
Richarlison then headed in Mathys Tel’s teasing cross to double Tottenham’s lead on 25 minutes.
De Zerbi’s men were rarely troubled by an under-par Villa, even after Emery summoned Ollie Watkins from the bench.
Emi Buendia pulled a goal back in the dying seconds, but Spurs held out to move one point ahead of West Ham.
Villa should still secure Champions League qualification, but AFC Bournemouth closed the gap on the top five to six points with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Jefferson Lerma’s own-goal, Eli Junior Kroupi’s penalty and Rayan’s late strike extended the Cherries’ unbeaten run to 15 games.
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