Manchester United moved to within one point of fourth place and rivals Manchester City after a 2-0 win victory at Burnley.
The crucial win at Turf Moor puts Jose Mourinho’s men firmly back in the hunt for a top-four finish, and the Manchester derby next week takes on some extra importance.
The win saw Wayne Rooney – restored to the United side following the injury to Zlatan Ibrahimovic – score his first goal since January in only his second league start of the year.
Rooney grabbed the second goal just before half-time after Anthony Martial had put United on 21-minutes, converting a fine counter-attacking move.
Burnley remain five points off the relegation zone in 15th.
Good game from the team today ! Happy to score ⚽️? pic.twitter.com/qTLX8xcZQk
— Anthony Martial (@AnthonyMartial) April 23, 2017
Christian Benteke came back to haunt his former club Liverpool as he scored two goals to give Crystal Palace a fine 2-1 win at Anfield.
Philippe Coutinho’s brilliant free-kick had given Liverpool the lead 24-minutes in and they looked well on course for the win.
But then Benteke stepped in – as the man who Jurgen Klopp sold to Palace last year – came back to show him just what he missed out out.
The Belgian converted a Yohan Cabaye cross to level the game just before half-time, before then he headed home from close-range on 72-minutes to seal the win.
Palace have now won six of their last eight league games to move on to 38 points, and look in no danger of being relegated.
Klopp’s side remain in third place, but they have now played two games more than both Man City in fourth and United in fifth, and are just two and three points ahead respectively.
City are still rated odds-on to make the top-four at 1/8, Liverpool are 4/7 whilst United are cut to 6/4.
Christian Benteke's game by numbers vs. Liverpool:
5 aerial duels won
5 shots
2 take-ons
2 goalsAnother big performance. pic.twitter.com/2KANpH3sv6
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 23, 2017