Manchester United vs Bournemouth LIVE!
After a dramatic win in the Manchester derby last weekend and then losing at Tottenham in a chaotic Carabao Cup quarter-final Thursday, Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United face Bournemouth in their final game before Christmas.
Fail to win at Old Trafford and United will be in the bottom half of the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time since the 1989-90 season. Amorim has found out in recent weeks the size of the job facing him at United but last weekend’s 2-1 win at the Etihad provided a lift and there were some positives in the second-half fightback at Spurs.
Victory in their penultimate home game of the year would give United a boost going into the busy festive period, but they face a tough test against a Bournemouth side enjoying a brilliant season under Andoni Iraola. The Cherries ran riot in a famous 3-0 win at Old Trafford last season and can move fifth with a victory. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Manchester United vs Bournemouth latest
13:01 , Giuseppe Muro
For Bournemouth, Tyler Adams replaces Lewis Cook in midfield as Andoni Iraola sticks with most of the same XI who were held by West Ham on Monday.
Both Evanilson and Antoine Semenyo, who were concerns, are fit to start.
12:57 , Giuseppe Muro
So Marcus Rashford has again been left out of the Manchester United squad.
Rashford was dropped for last weekend’s 2-1 win at Manchester City and was not in the squad for the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham on Thursday.
Ruben Amorim is still without Matthijs de Ligt due to illness so Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia start in defence, with Victor Lindelof missing through injury.
Amorim makes six changes from the loss at Spurs, with Andre Onana is back in goal.
Team news: No Rashford again
12:51 , Giuseppe Muro
Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Malacia, Diallo, Zirkzee, Fernandes
Subs: Bayindir, Evans, Yoro, Casemiro, Collyer, Eriksen, Antony, Garnacho, Hojlund
Bournemouth: Kepa, Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Adams, Christie, Semenyo, Kluivert, Outtara, Evanilson
Subs: Travers, Cook, Brooks, Hill, Unal, Billing, Aarons, Winterburn, Kinsey
12:38 , Giuseppe Muro
Team news on the way from Old Trafford…
Stats
12:30 , Giuseppe Muro
– Manchester United begin this matchround 13th in the table. They have not been lower than seventh at the end of a calendar year since sitting 15th in 1989
– United’s tally of 22 points is their lowest after 16 matches since 1989
– Only Liverpool, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have earned more points across the past 10 matches than Bournemouth’s 17
– Bournemouth have scored a league-high eight Premier League goals by substitutes. Their last three goals were scored by players off the bench, in minutes 87, 95 and 90.
Amorim defends Rashford omission
12:22 , Giuseppe Muro
The big talking point at Manchester United this week has been Marcus Rashford.
Ruben Amorim has insisted it was not a mistake to leave Rashford out of the United squad for Thursday’s 4-3 defeat at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.
Rashford declared on Tuesday he was “ready for a new challenge” after Amorim decided to omit the 27-year-old from the team for the 2-1 derby win at Manchester City last Sunday.
While Rashford’s contract runs until 2028 and Amorim insisted he wanted the “big talent” to stay on Wednesday, the England international was left at home for this cup tie in the capital to spark more speculation over his future.
United were 3-0 down after 54 minutes at Tottenham and despite a second-half fightback they exited the competition, but the Portuguese head coach defended his decision.
Asked if it was a mistake to leave Rashford out, Amorim said: “No it is not.
“I feel that I do the right thing for the team so it’s never a mistake. We have to make a selection.
“Sometimes, like in the game, you feel that some of the guys go inside of the pitch and change a little bit of the game. Sometimes it is like that.
“I think it was not a mistake because I feel I am always doing the best for the team in my way of seeing things.”
Rashford has scored just 15 goals in 67 appearances in the 18 months since signing a big-money deal until 2028, with his future set to be a big topic of debate over the next month.
12:13 , Giuseppe Muro
The Manchester United squad has arrived at Old Trafford…
Manchester United vs Bournemouth latest odds
12:05 , Giuseppe Muro
Man United to win: 20/23
Draw: 29/10
Bournemouth to win: 3/1
Odds via Betfair and subject to change.
Prediction
11:58 , Giuseppe Muro
Manchester United vs Bournemouth prediction Bournemouth have pulled off some big results this season and appear to have little to fear.
Bournemouth to win, 2-1.
Bournemouth team news
11:50 , Giuseppe Muro
Luis Sinisterra, Alex Scott, Julian Araujo, Marcos Senesi and Marcus Tavernier remain out for Bournemouth.
Andoni Iraola expects to have the same squad available from Monday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Manchester United team news
11:42 , Giuseppe Muro
Ruben Amorim will hope to have Matthijs de Ligt back after he missed Thursday’s 4-3 Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham due to illness.
United are set to be without Victor Lindelof after he was forced off against Spurs and the availability of De Ligt could be key.
Mason Mount has been ruled out for “several weeks” after sustaining an injury in the Manchester derby.
Amorim has stressed Marcus Rashford is available for selection but it seems unlikely he will be involved after the forward said he is “ready for a new challenge”.
Rashford was dropped for last weekend’s 2-1 win at Manchester City and was not in the squad for the Spurs defeat.
Asked if Rashford is available for selection, Amorim said: “Yes, of course. It’s the same thing [why he did not feature against Spurs].”
Andre Onana is expected to be back in goal.
How to watch
11:33 , Giuseppe Muro
TV channel: The game will not be broadcast in the UK.
Free highlights: Match of the Day 2, however, will show highlights when it airs at 10.30pm GMT on BBC One on Sunday.
Good morning!
11:32 , Giuseppe Muro
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Manchester United vs Bournemouth!
It’s the final game at Old Trafford before Christmas and what feels like a big one for United, who will be in the bottom half of the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time since the 1989-90 season if they fail to win.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 2pm GMT from Old Trafford.
