Manchester United beats Newcastle thanks to goals from Mainoo, Diallo, and Hojlund despite a late scare from Newcastle’s Hall. Anything other than a win for Erik ten Hag’s side would have taken them to their lowest league finish in three decades. Instead, they go into the final day needing to better Newcastle’s result to claim a place in next season’s Uefa Conference League, although they will qualify for the Europa League if they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on 25 May. The game got up to speed as Kobbie Mainoo put the home side in front after 31 minutes when he applied a cool finish from 10 yards after being played onside by Kieran Trippier.
Everton former boy Anthony Gordon leveled four minutes after the restart and Manchester United needed a brilliant tackle from Sofyan Amrabat to stop them from going behind as Alexander Isak failed to finish a three-on-one counter. Amad Diallo drove home his first Premier League goal just before the hour mark as Newcastle failed to clear a corner to put Manchester United back in front, although Eddie Howe’s visitors were inches away from an equalizer as Miguel Almiron just failed to turn home a low cross from the excellent Gordon at the far post. It was left to Hojlund to settle home nerves, stepping to his right before sending a low finish into the bottom corner for his 15th goal of the season. However, those nerves still jangled a bit, as Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall fired home from the edge of the box in the second minute of stoppage time but the home side held on.
Newcastle need a final-day win at Brentford to be certain of a top-seven finish.
Forgetting about the Premier League for a second, Manchester United will book a Europa League spot if they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25, regardless of where they finish in the league. If United lose the FA Cup final, they will need to finish sixth to secure a place in the Europa League, while seventh will land them a spot in the Europa Conference League.
Victory against Newcastle means United could mathematically finish as high as sixth if Chelsea and Newcastle lose on the final day, although it is virtually impossible due to a massive goal-difference gap. Seventh is much more realistic, but even then United need to better Newcastle’s result on the final day. If United lose to Brighton – they cannot clinch seventh – and will miss out on Europe if they lose the FA Cup final.
Newcastle play Brentford in their final match and United need them to drop points to have any chance of finishing seventh. If Newcastle loses to Brentford, a point against Brighton would be enough for United to grab the seventh spot. If Newcastle and Brentford draw, United will need to win. With one game to go, victory keeps alive Man United’s hopes of finishing in the top seven and qualifying for European competition through their league position. It also raises a faint hope that, with an FA Cup final to come against Manchester City at the end of the month, a disastrous season may yet end on a positive note. Whether or not any of it will be enough to keep Ten Hag in a job, only new club investors Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS know.
It is indeed one of the rare good days for Ten Hag and his waterfall boys.
