Pro Sports

Solskjaer breaks Busby record, United closes in on 4th place

Posted January 19, 2019 6:00 am

By ROB HARRIS

Manchester United's Paul Pogba celebrates after the final whistle of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - On a day of commemorations for Matt Busby, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer surpassed the start of the late, great Manchester United manager.

With a 2-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday, Solskjaer racked up a sixth successive Premier League win since replacing the fired Jose Mourinho. Busby, who died 25 years ago this week, only managed five in a row when he started out at United in 1945.

Although United remains in sixth spot - just like a month ago when Solskjaer was hired - it is now only three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford secured the latest victory with first-half goals.

Chelsea's grip on the final Champions League place was loosened by a 2-0 collapse at Arsenal, which is ahead of United on goal difference.

United is still waiting for its first title since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Liverpool has been waiting since 1990 but is now well placed to dethrone Manchester City as champion.

A 4-3 victory over Crystal Palace put Liverpool seven points ahead of City, which plays Sunday against last-place Huddersfield.

It wasn't the only 4-3 scoreline on Saturday, with Wolverhampton edging a pulsating encounter with Leicester when Diogo Jota completed a hat trick in the third minute of stoppage time.

Newcastle climbed out of the relegation zone, and sent Cardiff into the bottom three, with a 3-0 victory over the Welsh club. Southampton's revival under Ralph Hasenhuettl continued with a 2-1 victory over Everton taking the south-coast team three points clear of danger. Burnley is between Newcastle and Southampton after drawing 0-0 at Watford.

In a mid-table meeting, Bournemouth beat West Ham 2-0.

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Manchester United's Jesse Lingard attempts a shot on goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino, left, celebrates with his teammate Liverpool's Fabinho, top, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, right, after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) The Associated Press

Arsenal's Matteo Guendouzi celebrates after the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates stadium in London, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Arsenal won the game 2-0. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Chelsea's Willian, left is tackled by Arsenal's Sokratis Papastathopoulos during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates stadium in London, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

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