Casemiro’s acrobatic volley, on Saturday, secured Manchester United a scrappy 1-0 win at Bournemouth and left them needing just one point from their final two fixtures to confirm Champions League qualification.
Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa – which took place at the same time as United’s game at the Vitality Stadium – saw Jurgen Klopp’s side drop valuable points in their pursuit of the top four.
Fourth-placed United and Newcastle, in third, are both three points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, who have only one game left.
Newcastle can seal their spot with a draw or win against Leicester on Monday or Chelsea on May 28.
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Liverpool have just one game remaining – away to Southampton next Sunday – and are three points behind their rivals, meaning Erik ten Hag’s side will finish in the Champions League places if they take points off Chelsea on Thursday or against Fulham next weekend.
United were far from convincing at Bournemouth but claimed the three points thanks to Casemiro’s early volley, with the midfielder adjusting impressively to slam a volley into the top corner and leave United on the brink of returning to Europe’s elite.
Bournemouth head to relegation-threatened Everton in their last outing of the campaign., while United welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford on Thursday, May 25, before wrapping up their season against Fulham at home.
Meanwhile, Yerry Mina’s last-gasp equaliser boosted Everton’s hopes of avoiding playing in the second tier for the first time since 1954.
Sean Dyche’s men fell behind after 34 minutes when Adama Traore’s shot was pushed out to Hwang Hee-chan, who netted from close-range.
Mina bundled in Everton’s leveller nine minutes into stoppage-time to leave the fourth bottom Toffees two points above the relegation zone.
Third bottom Leeds would go above Everton with a win at West Ham on Sunday, while second bottom Leicester would also leapfrog Dyche’s team if they beat Newcastle on Monday.
Fulham and Crystal Palace shared a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
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