After defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion handed their city rivals – Manchester City the title, Manchester United visit Bournemouth ahead of their FA Cup Semi Final against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.
Bournemouth can secure virtual safety with victory here whilst United look to pile pressure on Liverpool, who play at weekend by taking the three points here as they fight for the runner up spot.
Team news
Eddie Howe has a near full Bournemouth squad available for this match with just three absentees.
Junior Stanislas is ruled out for remaining of season with a knee injury.
Tyrone Mings (fatigue) and Adam Smith (knee) however could return before end of season.
Sergio Romero is Manchester United’s only missing player as he recovers from a knee injury.
Jose Mourinho will however rotate his squad as they prepare for Saturday’s FA Cup semi, with Scott McTominay and Phil Jones in line to start.
Form
Bournemouth enter this in good form, having lost just three in last 15 league games, taking five wins and seven draws in that period, including their last two league games which finished 2-2.
Across that run, they have netted 26 goals via 11 different goal scorers, with Callum Wilson and Joshua King joint top scorers on four goals each.
Manchester United meanwhile come here after a home defeat ended their five match winning league run.
Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford are joint top scorers for United with three goals each from five of last six games.
Stat Attack
- Since winning their first Premeir League meeting in December 2015, Bournemouth have taken a point from last four meetings with Manchester United.
- The Cherries has failed to score in this league fixture just once, back in December when Man Utd won 1-0 at home.
- Man U have a (W2, D2, L2) record from six trips to Bournemouth across all competitions.
- Bournemouth have the best home foul average in England’s top four leagues, averaging 8.59 fouls every home game.
- Man Utd’s last ten away goals all came in second half whilst 11 of Bournemouth’s last 12 home goals also came after break.
Where can game be won or lost?
| Per Game Average | Bournemouth (home) | Manchester United (away) |
| Corners | 5.65 | 5.38 |
| Fouls | 8.59 | 11.06 |
| Shots | 14.18 | 12.06 |
| Shots on Target | 4.41 | 4.69 |
| Goals | 1.47 | 1.75 |
| Yellow Cards | 1.59 | 2.06 |
| Red Cards | 1 | 1 |
| Goals per First Half % | 28 | 39.3 |
| Goals per Second Half % | 72 | 60.7 |
Definitely expect this match to be a grower with majority of action occurring in second half.
Bournemouth appear to be the more disciplined, committing less fouls and earning less yellow cards than Manchester United.
Clinical finishing will definitely be where the game is won or lost for either side.
Bournemouth might dominate the shots department but United get more on target and converted into goals.
Either way, this looks like should be a nice scrappy match with United probably doing most of the tackling.
Prediction
I think this will be a tight game because both sides are in good form and United will want to produce a reaction after Sunday’s loss handed Man City the title.
Bournemouth however seem to like draws at minute so I am fancying a score draw here.
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Manchester United
Jake predicts: Bournemouth 0-2 Manchester United
Result: Bournemouth 0-2 Manchester United