Manchester United secured a crucial 1-0 win against Bournemouth, thanks to a stunning early volley by Casemiro, leaving them needing just a point from their final two fixtures to confirm Champions League qualification. The win was United’s fourth in a row, making them the in-form team in the Premier League right now. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa put a dent in their hopes for Champions League football next season, leaving them three points behind their Manchester rivals with just one game left to play.
United started without Marcus Rashford who wasn’t able to travel due to illness, but they didn’t lose a beat, and Casemiro’s goal, coming after just 8 minutes, was enough to secure the points. The midfielder’s acrobatic volley, off Christian Eriksen’s clever chipped pass, was a spectacular piece of skill that left the Bournemouth goalkeeper stranded. Despite dominating the opening exchanges, United went off the boil towards the middle of the first half, allowing Bournemouth to grow into the game. David De Gea made a sharp save from Dominic Solanke’s effort, before Varane produced an important block from Ryan Christie after Antony gave the ball away with an errant backheel.
In the second half, Brooks’ rasping shot was saved by De Gea, but United eventually reasserted their control of the match. Neto saved from Wout Weghorst and tipped Bruno Fernandes’ excellent volley over the bar. However, the visitors retreated into their own half as the game wore on, and Bournemouth twice went close to grabbing an equaliser. De Gea produced a crucial save from Kieffer Moore’s close-range effort before Marcos Senesi saw a sensational late volley fly just over the crossbar as United hung on to a vital three points.
Erik ten Hag was full of praise for Casemiro after the game, calling him a brilliant football player, who has exceeded expectations since his arrival from Real Madrid last summer. He also downplayed the importance of events at Anfield, stating that his team is in the lead, and the only thing they have to worry about is their own performances.
United’s results over the last season should not go underrated, given that their manager has led them to Carabao Cup glory and put them on the brink of a Champions League return in his first year at the helm. Although their performances haven’t always been convincing, at this stage of the season, results are what matters. United has won three of their last six Premier League games, including the win against Bournemouth, and are grinding out results when they need them.
Bournemouth’s season may be petering out slightly, with three defeats in a row since Premier League survival was secured, but the rookie head coach Gary O’Neil should be proud of the excellent work he has done this season. O’Neil took over a team that his predecessor had deemed unfit for top-flight survival and led them to safety with plenty to spare. He hasn’t been afraid to tweak his tactics this season, and the way Bournemouth switched from a 4-4-2 out of possession to a 3-4-3 in possession flummoxed Manchester United for large parts of their matchup.
Looking ahead, the final day of the Premier League season is on Sunday, May 28th, with every game kicking off at 4.30 pm. Free match highlights will be published across Sky Sports’ digital platforms shortly after full-time. Bournemouth heads to relegation-threatened Everton in their last outing of the campaign. Meanwhile, United welcomes their rivals Chelsea in a highly anticipated fixture on the coming Thursday, and Fulham the following weekend. A win or a draw from either of these games will secure Champions League football for United next season.
