March 15 (Reuters) - Manchester United tightened their grip on a ⁠top-four place in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over rivals Aston Villa but Liverpool dropped points in a disappointing home draw with struggling Tottenham Hotspur ⁠on Sunday.

Goals by Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and substitute Benjamin Sesko took third-placed United to 54 points after 30 games, three more than fourth-placed Villa who suffered ‌a third successive league defeat.

Liverpool looked like they would move above Villa into fourth place as they led with a superb Dominik Szoboszlai free kick but Richarlison's last-minute equaliser gave 16th-placed Tottenham a deserved share of the spoils.

The point lifted Liverpool above Chelsea into fifth place with 49 points from 30 games while Tottenham's avoidance of a sixth successive league defeat left them one point above the relegation zone with 30 points.

Nottingham Forest moved out of the ​relegation zone on goal difference as they drew 0-0 at home with Fulham while 15th-placed Leeds United managed a ⁠0-0 draw at Crystal Palace despite having Gabriel Gudmundsson sent off.

FERNANDES ⁠RECORDS 100TH ASSIST

United were playing their first game in 11 days and were keen to get back on track after interim boss Michael Carrick's seven-game unbeaten run ended in a ⁠2-1 ‌loss to 10-man Newcastle United on March 4.