Manchester United moved to within a point of the top four after a narrow 1-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday evening.
Harry Maguire returned to the defence in place of Victor Lindelof, with Cristiano Ronaldo partnering Marcus Rashford and Antony Elanga in the attack.
Ronaldo launched the encounter's first shot in anger over 15 minutes in when his thumping effort from 25 yards out worked a strong save from West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
The chances rolled on for the host and in no less than a minute Fabianski produced a superb save to plug out a ferocious header from Rashford off Diogo Dalot's cross.
Manchester's pressured play paid dividends seven minutes to the break as Rashford got on the end of a cross from Christian Eriksen and nodded beyond a rasping Fabianski for his 100th goal for the club.
Hammers manager David Moyes made an alteration after the halftime period, with goalkeeper Alphonse Areola installed and Fabianski recalled following an injury to the head.
Rashford went in search of a brace seven minutes in the second half after he cut inside of Thilo Kehrer from a clever angle, but whisked wide of target in the end.
A change from the Red Devils over ten minutes to full-time had Eriksen withdrawn and Brazilian international Fred thrown on.
The Hammers were a whisker away from the equaliser when a first-time header in the area from Kurt Zouma forced a remarkable outstretched palm from De Gea in the closing eight minutes.
Manchester however could've settled the clash with five minutes to go when Fred jumped on the end of Scott McTominay's cross and headed against the upright.
De Gea was at it again in additional time as he pulled off another telling stop off a screaming shot by Declan Rice and led the host to victory.
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