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Manchester United is in touching distance of a return to the Champions League after beating Bournemouth 1-0 on Saturday to strengthen its place in the top four of the Premier League.
The win — sealed by Casemiro’s close-range overhead kick in the ninth minute — moved United three points clear of fifth-place Liverpool, which drew 1-1 with Aston Villa and only has one game left to play.
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United only requires a point from its final two games, at home to Chelsea and Fulham, to get back into the Champions League after a one-season absence. That would be yet another positive for United in a strong first season under Dutch coach Erik ten Hag, who has already guided the team to the English League Cup trophy as well as a spot in the FA Cup final against Manchester City on June 3.
Being in the Champions League should see United attract bigger names in the offseason transfer window, while adding more value to a club that is up for sale and the subject of offers from Qatar and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.
It was maybe fitting that a goal by Casemiro moved United so close to that top-four place, with the Brazil midfielder playing an influential role since joining from Real Madrid last year and running the game at Vitality Stadium.
His goal came from a rare foray forward. Christian Eriksen clipped a pass over the defense and into the penalty area toward Casemiro, who reacted to the ball taking a slight deflection off a Bournemouth player by adjusting his body and acrobatically volleying in off the post with his back to goal.
United was without Marcus Rashford because of an illness and that impacted the visitors’ attacking threat against a Bournemouth team already safe from relegation and with little to play for.
United needed a save with his legs by David De Gea from substitute Kieffer Moore to preserve the clean sheet and win.
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Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa
Roberto Firmino kept Liverpool’s bid for Champions League football next season hanging by a thread as the Brazilian waved goodbye to Anfield with a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday.
The Brazilian netted his 110th Liverpool goal a minute from time in his final home game for the club.
But a point did little for the Reds’ faint chances of hunting down Newcastle and Manchester United for a top-four finish as they both now need just one point form their remaining two games to guarantee Champions League football.
A point also aids Villa’s chances of a return to Europe for the first time since 2010.
Unai Emery’s move one point ahead of Tottenham in seventh with victory over Brighton in their final game next weekend good enough to secure at least Europa Conference League football next season.
A seven-game winning streak had kept Liverpool’s chances of reaching the Champions League alive.
But that run had masked a desperately poor campaign from Jurgen Klopp’s men, who came close to an unprecedented quadruple of trophies last season.
This time there will likely not even be the consolation of a top-four finish for a trophyless season, which could have an impact Klopp’s budget in the transfer market for a summer rebuild.
It could have been worse for the hosts as Villa missed a first-half penalty taken by Ollie Watkins.
The England international won the spot-kick as he outpaced Ibrahima Konate and was brought down by the Frenchman.
But Watkins’ poor penalty record continued as he slotted wide to miss for the fifth time in nine attempts in his career.
Villa, did not have to wait long for the opener as Jacob Ramsey’s cool finish at the far post steered home Douglas Luiz’s cross on 27 minutes.
Klopp was serving the first of a two-match touchline ban after questioning the integrity of referee Paul Tierney following his side’s win over Tottenham last month.
The German’s presence was missed in a lacklustre performance but Klopp might have found himself in further trouble had he been on the touchline as two major decisions went against his side.
Firstly, Tyrone Mings survived a VAR check for a red card for a high challenge that left stud marks on Cody Gakpo’s chest.
Gakpo then had the ball in the net on the hour mark after a goalmouth scramble.
But after another lengthy VAR review, referee John Brooks decided Virgil van Dijk’s role in the build up from an offside position was in the same phase of play and the goal was ruled out.
Firmino was introduced from the bench 20 minutes from time and all that was lacking from a fairytale finish was a Liverpool winner after he steered home Mohamed Salah’s cross.
But Villa held out for over 10 minutes of stoppage time to leave Newcastle and Manchester United with the champagne on ice.
Newcastle can clinch Champions League football for the first time in 20 years when they host Leicester on Monday.
United have two home games against Chelsea and Fulham to get the job done in Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)
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