Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain lifted Chelsea past Watford 3-0 and into third place in the English Premier League on Sunday.

Chelsea are one point clear of Tottenham Hotspur and five ahead of Arsenal, who host Brighton later, in the battle for the final two Champions League qualifying places.

"We don't know about Champions League, we have to wait for Arsenal but probably we have to go to our last match to try to win," manager Mauricio Sarri told the BBC.

"We have to fight until the last minute of the last match."

United, meanwhile, were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at relegated Huddersfield that ended any hope of a top-four finish

It left them on 66 points with one game remaining, making it impossible to catch Tottenham and deeming them to the Europa League next season.

"It's a massive blow for a club like Manchester United," captain Ashley Young said.

"Fighting for the top four is not what we want to be talking about.

"We should be talking about higher up, winning trophies, winning titles.

"It's a disappointment."

Chelsea responded to hearing half-time boos at Stamford Bridge by striking quickly out of the break.

Loftus-Cheek opened the scoring with a 48th-minute header and Luiz doubled the lead three minutes later by powering a shot past Ben Foster.

Higuain then clinched the win by chipping over Foster from an angle with 15 minutes left.

Needing a victory to keep their top-four hopes alive, Manchester United were foiled by a Huddersfield side that had lost 21 of their previous 23 league games.

United were gifted an early opener when Scott McTominay's shot somehow found its way though keeper Jonas Lossl.

But the visitors returned the favour in the second half as Luke Shaw completed missed Lossl's long kick upfield, sending Isaac Mbenza in to shoot through David de Gea's legs.

Both sides had late chances with United's Paul Pogba hitting the post and Tahith Chong having his shot saved by Lossl, while de Gea denied Karlan Grant at the other end.

"We are where we are for a reason," United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.

"Over a long season we haven't been good enough to challenge for the Champions League places.

"It's not come as a surprise but we hoped to show a better performance today."

Australian Associated Press