Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-2 to seal a return to the Champions League next season, while Tottenham climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Sunday.
Kobbie Mainoo’s late winner edged a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford in United’s favour after Liverpool had battled back from 2-0 down.
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Before the match, legendary former United boss Alex Ferguson was taken to hospital as a precaution after falling ill.
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 box beat third-choice Liverpool goalkeeper Freddie Woodman before Benjamin Sesko bundled in from close range.
There was controversy in the second goal with Liverpool coach Arne Slot left raging at what he saw as a handball from Sesko in the lead up.
The incident was checked by VAR before the goal was upheld.
“If it was a touch, which I think it is, in a ball sport it has a certain curve and it changes it must be a contact, then we should have a debate if that is enough to disallow a goal,” a furious Slot as he banged his fist on the table in his post-match media conference.
“I don’t think it is a surprise to anyone this season that if there is a VAR intervention it goes against us – it has been the whole season the same.
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“I remember Paris St-Germain at home, getting a penalty for a soft touch on [Alexis] Mac Allister. VAR intervened and it was not a penalty. The next week, PSG gets one.
“But the second goal, we did not concede because of the handball. We lost it because we lost the ball in a stupid position so we have to first look at ourselves. This is a complete pattern over the season but there is also a pattern that we concede ridiculous goals.”
United could have been even further in front by half-time 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 equalise 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 box 13 minutes from time.
Handball?! VAR drama haunts Liverpool | 00:44
Victory and the guarantee of Champions League football 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,” said Carrick.
“It feels pretty natural if I’m totally honest.” Liverpool finished 14 places and 42 points ahead of United last season. Arne Slot’s men now trail their old rivals by six points and still have work to do in the final three games to secure a top-five finish themselves.
– Emery eases Spurs fears –
Liverpool remain in fourth after a much-changed Villa offered Tottenham a lifeline in the battle for survival.
Spurs had not won for 118 days in the Premier League until last weekend’s scrappy 1-0 victory at already-relegated Wolves.
But they are now back in the driving seat to avoid relegation as West Ham drop into the bottom three with three games remaining.
Villa boss Unai Emery made seven changes with one eye on overturning his side’s 1-0 deficit in their 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.
Roberto 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 Bournemouth closed the gap on the top five to six points with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
A Jefferson Lerma’s own goal, Eli Junior Kroupi’s penalty and Rayan’s late strike extended the Cherries’ unbeaten run to 15 games.
FULL RESULTS
MONDAY
Aston Villa 1 (Buendia 90+6) Tottenham 2 (Gallagher 12, Richarlison 25) Bournemouth 3 (Lerma 10-og, Kroupi 32-pen, Rayan 77)
Crystal Palace 0 Manchester United 3 (Cunha 6, Sesko 14, Mainoo 77) Liverpool 2 (Szoboszlai 47, Gakpo 56)
SUNDAY
Newcastle 3 (Osula 12, Burn 24, Barnes 90+5) Brighton 1 (Hinshelwood 61) Brentford 3 (Mavropanos 15-og, Thiago 54-pen,Damsgaard 82) West Ham 0 Wolves 1 (Bueno 54) Sunderland 1 (Mukiele 17) Arsenal 3 (Gyokeres 9, 45+4, Saka 40) Fulham 0
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