Chelsea ensured that qualification for the Champions League remains in their own hands as Marc Cucurella's winner beat Manchester United 1-0 to climb to fourth in the Premier League.

United are gearing up for next week's Europa League final against Tottenham but ran the Blues close as Ruben Amorim named a stronger line-up than expected.

However, the Red Devils ultimately slipped to an 18th league defeat of the season and remain 16th in the table.

Chelsea and Aston Villa, who beat Spurs 2-0 in Friday's other Premier League match, both leapfrog Manchester City into the top five.

City have a game in hand at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday as they face Crystal Palace in Saturday's FA Cup final.

But Chelsea will be assured of a return to Europe's top competition after a two-year absence should they beat Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season.

United's miserable season can only be saved by victory in Bilbao in five days' time but Amorim resisted the temptation to rest his key men at Stamford Bridge.

Captain Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Casemiro were among those to start as Amorim named close to his strongest available side.

Chelsea were without a recognised striker due to Nicolas Jackson's suspension and the continued absence due to injury of Christopher Nkunku.

Teenager Tyrique George, a natural winger, was forced to lead the line in an unfamiliar role up front and the Blues' lack of a focal point saw them easily snuffed out.

United's bright start was nearly rewarded when Harry Maguire fired in Fernandes' inviting cross only for a VAR review to show the centre-back had strayed centimetres offside.

Chelsea's best effort before halftime saw Reece James' long-range effort come back off the post.

TOO MANY STOPPAGES

Cole Palmer was the one creative spark for Enzo Maresca's men and nearly produced a moment of magic with a dipping shot that Andre Onana palmed into the path of Enzo Fernandez.

The Argentine somehow fired over with the goal gaping and was grateful to the offside flag for sparing his blushes.

A match littered with stoppages for minor injuries and VAR checks did not allow either side to hit their rhythm.

United started strongly again in the second period but failed to make it count as Mason Mount fired wide on his return to Stamford Bridge, before Fernandes blasted over.

On the hour mark a VAR review came to the visitors' aid when referee Chris Kavanagh initially pointed to the penalty spot after a challenge between George and Onana.

However, replays showed the goalkeeper clearly played the ball and the spot-kick was overturned.

With Chelsea's forward players lacking inspiration, the match-winning moment was created and converted by their full-backs 20 minutes from time.

James turned nearly on the edge of the box and clipped in a cross that Cucurella met perfectly to head in his seventh goal of the season.

Noni Madueke should have doubled the lead within seconds when he skewed wide after a slick pass from Palmer.

That miss could have been costly had Robert Sanchez not denied Diallo at his near post.

But Chelsea held their nerve to edge towards the brink of a return to the riches and glamour of the Champions League.

Elsewhere on the night, Aston Villa bolstered their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they beat Tottenham 2-0 to climb into the Premier League's top five.

Unai Emery's side had no margin for error at Villa Park as the race for the top five places approaches a dramatic conclusion.

Second-half goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara ensured Villa's battle to play in Europe's elite club competition will go down to the last day of the season.

Villa, who have won five of their last six games, still need Chelsea or Manchester City to fail to win one of their last two games to be in control of their own destiny when they face Manchester United on May 25.

Emery's men are likely to need a win at Old Trafford if they are to achieve their top-five target.

Tottenham were far more concerned with their own route into the Champions League ? winning the Europa League final against Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday.

Languishing in 17th place after their 21st league defeat this term, Ange Postecoglou's troubled team are set for their worst finish since being relegated from the top flight in 1976-77.

Tottenham are without a win in their last six league matches, losing five times in that dismal streak.

Already without injured trio Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall for the final, Postecoglou rested a host of key players, including Dominic Solanke, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Postecoglou had admitted Tottenham couldn't afford any more fitness problems, but his understudies succumbed to the latest lacklustre loss in a woeful season that could end in the Australian's sacking regardless of the result against United.

Before kick-off, Villa fans posed with a replica of the European Cup trophy their team won in 1982.

MOUNTING TENSION

That final triumph against Bayern Munich remains Villa's finest achievement, but this season's memorable run to the Champions League quarter-finals excited the club's supporters.

For Villa to remain in contention for another campaign among Europe's elite, victory against Tottenham was essential.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min was back in the starting lineup after a month out injured and the South Korea forward went close early on, cutting in from the left flank for a curler that flashed over.

Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez had to make an alert save to keep out Wilson Odobert's audacious back-heeled effort from Mathys Tel's cross.

Emery's men hit back after those escapes and Morgan Rogers forced a superb save from Tottenham keeper Antonin Kinsky, who clawed away the midfielder's flick before it could bounce in.

Marco Asensio was inches away with a vicious swerving strike that bent past the far post with Kinsky rooted to the spot.

Villa's failure to make the breakthrough in the first half against a team with their minds elsewhere raised the tension levels after the interval, bu Konsa eased the mounting anxiety in the 59th minute.

John McGinn's corner was flicked on by Ollie Watkins and Konsa took advantage of Tottenham's slow response as he swept a composed finish past Kinsky.

Villa went for the kill and Watkins' close-range shot was repelled by Kinsky's fine stop before McGinn rifled narrowly wide.

Kamara put the result beyond doubt in the 73rd minute, taking Rogers' pass and lashing home from the edge of the area. (Pieced together from AFP reports)

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