Manchester United Overcome Brighton as Sunderland Shock Chelsea to Climb to Second in Premier League
Manchester United secured a spot in the Premier League's top four thanks to a 4-2 win against Brighton, while Sunderland rose to second place following their 2-1 upset over Chelsea on Saturday.
It took almost a year under Ruben Amorim's management for United to achieve consecutive league victories, yet they have now notched up three straight wins by halting Brighton's impressive streak at Old Trafford.
The Seagulls had triumphed in their last three outings there, part of a sequence boasting six victories in seven league encounters with United.
Early indications suggest that the Red Devils' £200 million trio ($266 million) of summer signings in attack, namely Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, are starting to gel.
Cunha bent in his debut strike for the team from long range to break the deadlock.
Casemiro's shot that took a deflection made it two goals for United before the interval.
Sesko then set up Mbeumo to slot it home at the near post.
Danny Welbeck's stunning free-kick along with Charalampos Kostoulas' headed goal created a tense finish.
However, Mbeumo blasted in his brace in the 97th minute to confirm the victory.
United now leapfrog Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham into Champions League qualification spots, sitting just three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Chelsea 'not good enough'
Sunderland's remarkable comeback to the elite division after eight years continues, highlighted by Chemsdine Talbi's injury-time decider at Stamford Bridge.
The Black Cats appear poised to defy the recent pattern where all promoted teams dropped straight back to the Championship over the last two campaigns.
Chelsea seemed destined to occupy second position when Alejandro Garnacho rifled in his inaugural goal for them after only four minutes.
Sunderland drew level in the middle of the opening period as Wilson Isidor nudged the ball over the line from close quarters following Chelsea's mishandling of a lengthy throw-in.
The away side managed to contain the Club World Cup champions during the latter half before delivering the killer blow on a breakaway in the 93rd minute, with Brian Brobbey assisting Talbi to elegantly curl the ball into the far corner.
The loss drops Chelsea to seventh, dimming prospects of mounting a serious title push.
"We were not good enough and in the Premier League the consequences can be bad," commented Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.
"If you want to be there (challenging for the title), you need consistency."
Newcastle edged Fulham 2-1 courtesy of skipper Bruno Guimaraes' goal in the 90th minute at St James' Park.
Jacob Murphy capitalised on a blunder by Calvin Bassey to hand the Magpies the advantage in the first half.
Sasa Lukic nodded home Fulham's leveller shortly before the hour.
Yet Marco Silva's squad suffered a fourth loss on the trot, leaving them teetering just outside the drop zone.
Guimaraes finished off the loose ball after Bernd Leno parried William Osula's first attempt, boosting Newcastle to 11th place.
Liverpool aim to snap their three-match Premier League skid in the 1900 GMT clash against Brentford.
The Reds' slump has cost them a four-point gap to frontrunners Arsenal, who face Crystal Palace at home on Sunday.