Vital win for Man United in race for top four, Saints relegated
Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho struck as Manchester United notched a comfortable 2-0 Premier League home win over Wolves on Saturday that moved them a step closer to a return to the Champions League.
With the top four qualifying directly for next season’s group stage, United are fourth in the table on 66 points, four ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool with both sides having three games left.
After a sluggish start, Brazilian winger Antony headed over from point-blank range on the half-hour mark but he made amends two minutes later, tearing down the right on a quick counter-attack and squaring the ball for Martial to fire home.
Brought off the bench in the 82nd minute after a long spell out due to an ankle injury, Garnacho wrapped up the three points with a long run and shot that bounced off the inside of the right-hand post deep into stoppage time to seal the win.
Southampton meanwhile were relegated from the Premier League after being beaten 2-0 at home by Fulham, bringing an end to their 11-year spell in the English top flight.
The defeat means Southampton, who needed a win to stave off relegation, can no longer reel in 17th-placed Everton. Ruben Selless side are bottom of the league on 24 points from 36 games, while Fulham’s win moves them up to ninth.
Elsewhere, defender Rasmus Kristensen scored a late equaliser to give Leeds a share of the points in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Newcastle that saw Leeds miss one spot kick, concede two more, and have a man sent off in stoppage time.
Leeds are still in the relegation zone but move up one spot to 18th on 31 points, one point behind Everton in 17th, while Newcastle remain in third on goal difference.
Tottenham wretched away form continued with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa that left their hopes of qualifying for Europe in the balance. Jacob Ramsey smashed home Villa’s opener in the eighth minute and Villa could and should have been out of sight before halftime against a lacklustre Spurs side.
Tottenham did show more appetite after the break but there was no coming back after Villa’s Douglas Luiz found the net with a 72nd-minute free kick that keeper Fraser Forster should have saved.
Villa were full value for the points, which boosted their own hopes of a European finish, although they did have some anxious moments late on after Harry Kane fired home a penalty.
Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest grabbed a precious point at Chelsea, thanks to two goals from Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi.
Eberechi Eze scored twice as Crystal Palace beat a disappointing Bournemouth 2-0.
Both teams came into the match with little to play for, with Palace already safe from relegation and 14th-placed Bournemouth just a point away from securing their survival.