Manchester United vs Bournemouth: The Premier League continues to deliver thrilling encounters as Manchester United host Bournemouth at Old Trafford on December 22, 2024. With contrasting league positions and recent form, both teams aim to secure a vital three points. This preview delves into head-to-head stats, recent meetings, standings, tactics, team news, key stats, and predictions for this intriguing matchup.
Head-to-Head
Manchester United wins: 14
Bournemouth wins: 4
Draws: 4
Last Five Meetings
- 13 Apr 2024: Bournemouth 2-2 Manchester United (Premier League)
- 09 Dec 2023: Manchester United 0-3 Bournemouth (Premier League)
- 20 May 2023: Bournemouth 0-1 Manchester United (Premier League)
- 04 Jan 2023: Manchester United 3-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
- 04 Jul 2020: Manchester United 5-2 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Premier League Standings
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Form | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Bournemouth | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 21 | LWWWD | 25 |
| 13 | Manchester United | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 19 | DWLLW | 22 |
Tactics
- Manchester United: Under Rubén Amorim, United often rely on a 4-3-3 formation. Key players like Bruno Fernandes dictate play in midfield, while Rasmus Højlund spearheads the attack. Lisandro Martínez anchors the defense, and Manuel Ugarte provides steel in midfield.
- Bournemouth: Iraola’s Bournemouth emphasizes a compact 4-2-3-1 setup. The likes of Justin Kluivert and Dango Ouattara offer pace and creativity, while Kepa Arrizabalaga ensures stability between the posts. Their recent form suggests a balanced approach with a strong counter-attacking threat.
Manchester United vs Bournemouth Team News
- Manchester United: Injuries plague the squad, with Luke Shaw (calf) and Mason Mount (leg) confirmed out. Matthijs de Ligt is doubtful due to illness. Marcus Rashford’s availability remains uncertain amid transfer speculation. Victor Lindelöf’s status is also in doubt after a recent knock.
- Bournemouth: Five players remain sidelined: Marcos Senesi, Marcus Tavernier, Alex Scott, Julian Araujo, and Luis Sinisterra. However, Unal’s recent performances may earn him a start ahead of the struggling Evanilson.
Manchester United vs Bournemouth Lineups
- Manchester United (4-3-3):
- Goalkeeper: Altay Bayındır
- Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelöf, Noussair Mazraoui
- Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, Christian Eriksen
- Forwards: Antony Santos, Rasmus Højlund, Marcus Rashford (if fit)
- Bournemouth (4-2-3-1):
- Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga
- Defenders: Adam Smith, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez
- Midfielders: Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook
- Forwards: Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo, Dango Ouattara, Unal
10 Key Tips
- Manchester United have won five of their last seven home matches against Bournemouth.
- Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert is their top scorer this season with five goals.
- Marcus Rashford leads Manchester United with four goals.
- Manchester United score 26% of their goals between minutes 31-45.
- Bournemouth score 42% of their goals between minutes 76-90.
- Bournemouth have scored in nine consecutive Premier League matches.
- Manchester United have conceded in each of their last five matches.
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last four matches.
- The average number of goals in meetings between these teams is 3.6.
- A year ago, Manchester United were sixth in the table with 27 points; now, they are 13th with 22 points.
Manchester United vs Bournemouth Prediction
Both teams are desperate for points, but Manchester United’s home advantage and superior head-to-head record could tilt the balance. Expect a closely fought match with Manchester United edging a 2-1 victory.
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