Casemiro’s stunning strike moved Manchester United closer to the top four as they secured a narrow Premier League victory over Bournemouth.

In a game with little chance of success at either end, magic from Casemiro proved the difference at the Vitality Stadium.

The Brazilian collected a rich pass from Christian Eriksen and headed home from Marcos Senesi without a hammer.

Without their top scorer this season, Marcus Rashford, who has been sidelined through illness and has missed the equivalent of 17 goals in a single campaign, United have struggled to create regular scoring threats.

But Casemiro’s nine-minute strike is Liverpool draw against Aston Villa It has moved United one point out of a guaranteed top four spot.

United are on their way back to the Champions League

With Liverpool on the verge of a big game against Villa, a win for United looks like it could be enough to keep Erik ten Hag’s side in the top four.

But Roberto Firmino’s late equalizer means United will have to wait until early Thursday to secure the return of Europe’s top competition to Old Trafford after a long season.

Meanwhile, as Red Devils fans await news of who the new owner will be, there will be few complaints from supporters about the work Ten Hag has done.

Winning the Carabao Cup, preparing to face Manchester City in the FA Cup Final at Wembley on June 3 and almost securing a top four finish are the highlights of the Dutch manager’s first Premier League debut.

As rumors swirl about the future of former striker David de Gea, his result at Anfield also means the Spanish striker has done enough to secure the Golden Glove, having kept 16 clean sheets this term.

All of United’s performances come despite poor form – they have picked up just eight points from nine away games in 2023, equaling the club’s record for most Premier League defeats in a single season (eight).

As with Wolves last week, the Red Devils sometimes lacked urgency against Bournemouth with Dominic Solanke twice going close and David Brooks forcing a finger to save De Gea.

Bruno Fernandes saw a shot deflected away with a second effort saved by Neto, but in Rashford’s absence United’s firepower in front of goal had disappeared.

Wout Weghorst struck late on but was pushed away by the Bournemouth keeper, meaning the Dutchman’s quest for a first Premier League goal for the club continues.

Cherries safe but defensive are needed

Many pundits and fans wrote off Bournemouth before the start of the season, telling them to return to the Championship.

But manager Gary O’Neil has done a good job, meaning the lackluster game at Vitality didn’t matter as he already saw his side’s progress in the relegation battle.

Bournemouth are 14th in the league and face relegation-threatened Everton in their final game of the season at Goodison Park.

The Cherries, however, have scored 70 goals in the Premier League in 2022-23, equaling their highest total since 2018-19 and if O’Neil needs to address defensive weaknesses to ensure his side’s promotion next season.

But he did well to reduce United to a one-goal deficit on Saturday and squandered a chance to match Kieffer Moore’s strike which resulted in De Gea’s fine save.

With their defense assured Bournemouth will now look to build a squad capable of extending their stay in the top flight next year.

The home team also celebrated Brooks’ return to the starting 11 – for the first time in 598 days after being diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in October 2021.

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