Top-four chasing Manchester United visit Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in a pivotal Premier League encounter.
Victory could see Bournemouth climb to 13th if Wolves lose elsewhere, whilst Man Utd will stay fourth with a win.
Team News
Antoine Semenyo is ruled out for Bournemouth after he missed their defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend with a leg injury.
Hamed Traore (foot) is a doubt but Marcus Tavernier (hamstring), Ryan Fredericks (calf) and Junior Stanislas (unspecified) remain absent.
Man Utd will be without Marcel Sabitzer after the midfielder suffered a knee injury which kept him out of their home win against Wolves.
Scott McTominay (knock) and Marcus Rashford (leg/illness) are doubts and face late fitness tests, despite having returned to first-team training this week.
Tom Heaton (ankle), Phil Jones, Donny van de Beek (both knee), Lisandro Martinez (foot) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Bournemouth host Man Utd at Vitality Stadium at 3pm BST on Saturday 20 May, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in three of 11 previous Premier League meetings against Man Utd (W2, D1, L8).
- Man Utd have won three of their five previous Premier League trips to Bournemouth (W3, L2).
- Utd’s Marcus Rashford has scored in four of his last five appearances against Bournemouth, only failing to score in a 1-0 away defeat in November 2019.
- Bournemouth have won just one of their last four home matches (W1, L3).
- Man Utd have claimed just four points from their last six away matches in the Premier League (W1, D1, L4).
Prediction
With survival now mathematically confirmed despite losing their last two matches, Bournemouth’s task is now simply to produce a much sharper attacking performance than they delivered at Palace last weekend.
Gary O’Neil though should be pleased with how his team defended overall because only small defensive errors allowed Eberechi Eze to score twice for Palace, which is something that they can look to build upon in what will be a tricky game with potentially little possession.
Man Utd meanwhile dominated Wolves across the pitch with a well disciplined defensive effort and creative attack, amidst a series of wasteful end products which they will want to correct with a tidier performance – especially if Rashford is back in the starting line-up.
Erik Ten Hag’s Red Devils also know that they can avoid the prospect of any last-day dramas by winning here and hoping Liverpool lose elsewhere, so there will be strong motivation to get the win to put their top-four fate into their own hands heading into their final two home games of the season.
In fact, I do back Utd to get the job done here irrespective of what Liverpool achieve elsewhere because Bournemouth have little to play for, which could suit Man Utd if they turn up and play like they did last weekend.
Prediction: Bournemouth 0-2 Manchester United
Result: Bournemouth 0-1 Manchester United
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