LONDON: Wayne Rooney scored on his return to the Manchester United starting-line up as Jose Mourinho’s side enjoyed a 2-0 win at Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday, lifting the team to within a point of the Champions League qualification positions.

Fifth-placed United (63 points) are now just a point behind local rivals Manchester City, who are fourth, and three behind Liverpool who saw their top-four ambitions dented after old-boy Christian Benteke scored twice on his return to his former club to earn Crystal Palace a 2-1 win.

Both City and United have two games in hand over Liverpool, who has four matches left.

Rooney, who last started a game on March 4, was given the start for only the second time in 2017 in the absence of the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic and with Mourinho opting to start with in-form 19-year-old Marcus Rashford on the bench.

It was his French strike partner Anthony Martial though who opened the scoring at Turf Moor in the 21st minute, breaking from midfield and then finishing in style after a swift exchange with Ander Herrera.

Rooney made it 2-0, with his 251st goal, in the 39th minute, reacting well to poke home from close range after Burnley keeper Tom Heaton failed to hold on to a low shot from Martial.

Benteke was sold by Liverpool for 27 million pounds ($34.6 million) in August as he didn’t fit into coach Juergen Klopp’s plans, but he is proving the ideal striker for Palace in its late run to safety.

It is now five goals in his last five games for the tall Belgium striker, who equalised at Anfield in the 42nd minute with a sidefooted finish before stooping to head home the winner from a corner in the 74th.

Philippe Coutinho put Liverpool ahead in the 24th with a curling free kick from 25 metres, and spurned a number of opportunities early in the second half before Benteke struck for the second time.

Palace, who have recently beaten Chelsea and Arsenal, moved up four places to 12th and should now be safe from relegation after a sixth win in eight games.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2017