Manchester United

MANCHESTER, England — Former Europa League winner Manchester United booked a quarterfinal spot in the tournament after their second-string side laboured to a 2-1 home win over LASK Linz on Wednesday to seal a 7-1 aggregate rout of the Austrian side.

United's reward is a clash with FC Copenhagen in Cologne on Monday after the Danish side beat Istanbul Basaksehir 3-0 at home earlier on Wednesday to wipe out a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

The Dallas Cowboys were ranked the world's most valuable sports team for a fifth consecutive year according to an annual list published by Forbes on Friday that was dominated by National Football League clubs.

The NFL's Cowboys, who unseated Spanish soccer club Real Madrid for top spot on the list in 2016, were valued at $5.5 billion, a 10 percent rise when compared to last year, Forbes said in a statement.

Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp was named League Managers' Association (LMA) manager of the year on Monday after guiding the Merseyside club to their first top-flight title in 30 years.

Klopp's Liverpool side won the Premier League title with seven games to spare and they finished the season 18 points clear at the top of the table.

The German coach pipped Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa, Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth and last year's winner Chris Wilder of Sheffield United to the Alex Ferguson Trophy — named after the former Manchester United manager.

Manchester United's 14-game unbeaten run to end the Premier League season, culminating in Sunday's 2-0 win at Leicester City, pushed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side into the Champions League spots but now the club faces a crucial transfer window.

The Norwegian delivered on United's main goal for this season — they were never expected to challenge Liverpool or Manchester City for the title — but being back in Europe's elite competition is just part of the journey back to the top.

The final day of the Premier League season on Sunday promises to be a nerve-racking one for fans of clubs at both ends of the table as three teams vie for two Champions League spots and three more look to avoid relegation.

At the top, champions Liverpool and second-placed Manchester City have already sealed their spots in the Champions League while Manchester United (63 points), Chelsea (63) and Leicester City (62) fight it out for the two remaining places.

Manchester United dropped crucial points in the Champions League race and West Ham secured its safety in the Premier League after the two clubs drew 1-1 on Wednesday.

The real story out of the feisty tie was Paul Pogba’s questionable decision making that led to the Hammers’ goal.

West Ham took the lead moments before halftime courtesy of Pogba pulling the most youth soccer move you’ll ever see at the highest level of the sport. Pogba was clearly caught off guard during a West Ham free kick and instinctively chose to protect his face.

Chelsea beat Manchester United 3-1 on Sunday to book their place in an all-London FA Cup final, helped by two errors from United goalkeeper David de Gea and an own goal by Harry Maguire.

Chelsea, who will face city rivals Arsenal in the Aug. 1 showpiece, had lost to United three times this season but looked brighter from the start at Wembley and took control with goals either side of halftime from Olivier Giroud and Mason Mount.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard — who made 29 appearances for the club between 2011 and 2014 — is back on our radar after scoring the first goal of his career while playing for Sweden’s Helsingborg.

In a match between Allsvenskan strugglers, Helsingborg escaped with a draw against Falkenberg after Lindegaard came forward for a corner kick in the 90th minute and planted a towering header inside the far post.  

LONDON — Manchester United kept up their chase for a Champions League qualification spot with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial on target in a 2-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Thursday.

With two games remaining, United are in fifth place on 62 points, behind Leicester City on goal difference, with third-placed Chelsea on 63.

After West Ham visit Old Trafford on Wednesday, United go to Leicester on the final day of the season in what could be a decider for fourth place.