Manchester United kept their European hopes alive after securing a 3-2 win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford to move level on points with the Magpies in the Premier League standings.

In order to qualify for the UEFA Conference League the following season, Erik ten Hag’s team is fighting for a seventh-place finish in the Premier League.

If United defeats Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25, they will advance to the Europa League.

However, if City wins at Wembley, seventh place will be sufficient to secure a Conference League berth.

And after defeating Newcastle to tie the seventh-place Magpies on points, United, in eighth place, is still vying for that spot.

At Old Trafford, goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Diallo, and Kobbie Mainoo handed United just their third league victory in nine games.

But because United’s goal differential is so much worse than Newcastle’s, they need to defeat the Magpies in the season’s final match.

On Sunday, United goes to Brighton while Newcastle goes to Brentford.

Tottenham, in fifth place, will undoubtedly compete in the Europa League next season as a result of Newcastle’s defeat.

Sixth position After a wild campaign, Chelsea advanced closer to European qualification with a 2-1 victory at Brighton on Wednesday.

After the season’s last home game, United started a pathetic “lap of honour.”

Even if Ten Hag’s campaign hasn’t exactly been spectacular, this outcome was crucial as he tries to escape being fired at the end of one of United’s worst seasons in the history of the Premier League.

Because of Kieran Trippier’s careless marking, Diallo’s deflected pass left Mainoo entirely unmarked in the 31st minute, rewarding United’s first-half dominance.

The teenage midfielder chose his place with a low finish from 12 yards out, appearing surprised that he had so much time and space.

Casemiro, a Brazilian midfielder who has been heavily criticised for his unsteady center-back performances lately, saved United when he knocked Dan Burn’s header off the line just inches before it crossed.

Newcastle tied the game in the 49th minute, but United ignored the warning.

Frustrated supporters had made much fun of the Old Trafford roof’s leaky drainage system, which was discovered during a thunderstorm during Sunday’s loss to Arsenal.

However, Ten Hag was more concerned with the gaps in United’s defence, as Anthony Gordon was allowed unrestricted access to the penalty area and used it to convert Jacob Murphy’s cross with a close-range volley.

Ten Hag’s frustration was short-lived, as United took the lead again in the 57th minute. Diallo scored a powerful goal past Martin Dubravka from just inside the box after Bruno Fernandes’ corner was cleared by Newcastle.

Hojlund scored in the 84th minute with a deadly strike after dodging two players, but Lewis Hall’s long-range curler in stoppage time kept United on edge until the very end.

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