Man U into top four after thrilling 3-2 win

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Romelu Lukaku scored an 88th-minute goal to earn Manchester United a thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton and a place in the top four of the English Premier League (EPL) yesterday.

When interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced José Mourinho in December, United were in sixth spot, 11 points off the Champions League qualification positions.

This win over Southampton made it 10 victories in 12 league matches under Solskjaer and lifted United above Arsenal – and to within three points of third-place Tottenham.

Three days after scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace, Lukaku again proved the difference for United with another double.

Yan Valery rocked Old Trafford with a long-range opener for Southampton in the 26th, only for Andreas Pereira to make it 1-1 with a similarly impressive effort from distance in the 53rd.

Lukaku put United ahead for the first time by steering home a finish in the 59th, but James Ward-Prowse bent home a free kick to bring Southampton level with 15 minutes left.

Lukaku had the final say when he made space for himself after collecting Fred’s pass and fired home a low right-footed shot in front of the Stretford End.

There was still time for United’s Paul Pogba to have a penalty saved by Angus Gunn in injury time after Marcus Rashford was fouled.

Already without Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial because of injury, United lost Alexis Sanchez to a right knee injury in the second half.

“It looks like his ligaments but, hopefully, he won’t be out too long,” said Solskjaer, whose team plays Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of its Champions League last-16 matchup. PSG leads 2-0 from the first leg.

MAN CITY ON TOP

Meanwhile, Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Bournemouth but lost Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones to injury on Saturday.

Substitute Riyad Mahrez secured City’s fifth straight league win with a low strike early in the second half after coming off the bench to replace De Bruyne, who injured his hamstring as he made a pass.

City moved two points clear of Liverpool, who play Everton in a local derby today. But victory on the south coast, which was wrapped up without the hosts producing a shot at goal, came at a significant cost to Pep Guardiola’s side.

After watching De Bruyne limp off in first-half stoppage time, Guardiola then saw Stones leave the field minutes after the restart on his return after three games out with a groin problem.

Results: Tottenham 1 Arsenal 1; Bournemouth 0 Man City 1; Man United 3 Southampton 2; Brighton 1 Huddersfield 0; Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3; Wolves 2 Cardiff 0; West Ham 2 Newcastle 0.