Manchester United‘s win over Burnley on Saturday puts them within eight points of the Premier League table-toppers Manchester City. It was Mason Greenwood’s brace and Edinson Cavani‘s goal that cancelled James Tarkowski’s goal and earned them a 3-1 win. Fulham, on the other hand, had to settle for a draw with Arsenal after conceding a goal in stoppage time. 

Greenwood had opened the scoring early in the second half at Old Trafford before James Tarkowski equalised moments later. Greenwood’s second goal made him the joint-top scoring teenager in Premier League history for United, level with Wayne Rooney on 15 goals.

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Edinson Cavani grabbed the third goal in stoppage-time as second-placed United won six consecutive Premier League games for the first time since January 2019.

Although they have probably left it too late to overhaul City, United are on course for a second-place finish and could still win the first silverware of Solskjaer’s reign. Mathematically, United can still go above City, who are within eight points with six games to go.

United were beaten in three of their opening six league matches this season but have lost only one of their subsequent 26.

United were fortunate not to fall behind in the opening minute when Chris Wood’s header was disallowed for offside after keeper Dean Henderson failed to reach Matt Lowton’s cross.

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Greenwood opened the scoring in the 48th minute with a clinical close-range finish after Bruno Fernandes cleverly dummied Marcus Rashford’s pass. The England forward’s fourth goal in his last six appearances was cancelled out 114 seconds later.

Burnley defender James Tarkowski out-muscled Harry Maguire as he climbed high to head Ashley Westwood’s corner past Henderson from six yards.

Greenwood restored United’s lead in the 84th minute when his shot deflected in off Jack Cork before Cavani slotted home from Donny van de Beek’s pass in the final moments.

Arsenal were seconds away from a first-ever home defeat against Fulham as they laboured to find a response to Josh Maja’s second half penalty. But Nketiah’s leveller pushed Fulham closer to relegation deep into stoppage-time.

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It was a major setback for third-bottom Fulham, who are six points from safety and have just five games left to beat the drop.

Fifth-bottom Brighton and Hove Albion travel to Chelsea on Tuesday and, similar to Burnley, they will still have a game in hand on Fulham after that match.

“I’m disappointed and gutted,” Fulham manager Scott Parker said. “I’ve just seen their goal back. Rob Holding looks offside to me. That’s what’s disappointing. We were so close so it’s painful.”

Ninth placed Arsenal are nine points adrift of the top four and their best hope of reaching next season’s Champions League is winning the Europa League.