Southampton relegated, Manchester United ignites push for Champions League qualification

Southampton has been relegated to the Championship after losing 1-0 to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The Saints needed a win to keep their hopes of survival alive, but Christian Benteke’s first-half header consigned them to the drop.

Meanwhile, Manchester United boosted their hopes of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League with a comfortable 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park.

It was a crucial victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, who now sit eight points clear of fifth-placed West Ham in the race for Champions League football.

The Red Devils opened the scoring in the first half through a header from Bertrand Traore’s own goal. Then, Mason Greenwood added a second for United in the closing stages with a well-placed finish to seal the deal for United.

Southampton’s relegation was not unexpected, given their poor form in the second half of the season. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side won just two of their final 17 games, leaving them 18th in the table with just two games remaining.

It has been a huge disappointment for Southampton, who were challenging for a European place earlier in the campaign. However, injuries to key players and a lack of depth in the squad ultimately cost them dear.

For United, the win over Villa was another step towards securing a top-four finish. Solskjaer’s side have been in fine form in recent weeks, and have now won four of their last five Premier League games.

The form of Greenwood has been particularly impressive, with the 19-year-old scoring in three consecutive league games for the first time in his career.

The victory over Villa also saw United extend their unbeaten away record to 25 games, the joint-second-longest in Premier League history.

With two games remaining, United will be confident of holding onto their top-four spot and qualifying for the Champions League once again.

Their next game is against Leicester City at Old Trafford, before the final day showdown with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

In conclusion, Southampton’s relegation and Manchester United’s push for Champions League qualification are just two of the many storylines in the Premier League this season. As the season draws to a close, fans will be eagerly anticipating the final few games, with plenty still to play for at both ends of the table.