Manchester United vs. Bournemouth – EPL December 2018 Preview and Scores

Match Preview

Manchester United

Manchester United are set to host Bournemouth in what is the last Premier League match of 2018 this Sunday at Old Trafford. They are looking to continue their recent good form.

The Red Devils have defeated their last two opponents since the sacking of Jose Mourinho, and take on a Bournemouth side who were recently defeated 5-0 defeat by blazing-hot Tottenham Hotspur.

United have been somewhat “re-invigorated” under Solksjaer and no one knows whether it is due to the departure of Jose Mourinho or the new manager’s tactics.

They scored three or more goals on just two matches in Mourinho’s final 23 league games in charge, but they have managed it in both matches of Solskjaer’s tenure so far, netting eight goals and conceding just twice in that time.

Solskjaer’s side have so far outscored opposition in his fledgling reign, and if they manage that again on Sunday then he would become only the third manager in the club’s history to win his first three league games at the helm – after Matt Busby and Mourinho himself.

Should United taste defeat on Sunday, it would see them equal an unwanted club record of 10 Premier League losses in a calendar year, but there will be a lot more optimism around 2019 now than there was just a couple of weeks ago.

Manchester United Team News

Lukaku is in line to start against Bournemouth – but he is unlikely to risked unless he is fully fit with Marcus Rashford having led the line in both games under Solskjaer so far.

Paul Pogba is expected to start again following his brace against Huddersfield, but Solksjaer could also look to rotate his squad, with the likes of Ander Herrera and Ashley Young.

Chris Smalling remains injured and will not play, meaning that Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof are expected to continue as the centre-back partnership.

Manchester United provisional starting eleven:

De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw; Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Lingard, Rashford, Martial

Bournemouth

Bournemouth sit 14 points clear of the bottom three and this also means that they will be able to keep their recent form in their minds as they’ve lost 8 games so far of 10 matches in all competition.

And just recently, they conceded five goals without reply against a rampant Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day, their heaviest ever Premier League defeat.

Now the Cherries must ralky round amd consolidate on their fine form that was so apparent earlier in the season.

Bournemouth Team News

Captain Simon Francis is out injured and will not play for Bournemonth for the remainder of the season after he suffered a serious knee injury during the defeat to Tottenham.

Francis joins fellow long-term absentee Lewis Cook on the sidelines, while Dan Gosling and Adam Smith also remain out of action for the foreseeable future.

Striker Callum Wilson is likely to start the match as Eddie Howe seeks to name a strong side to face United.

Bournemouth provisional starting eleven:

Begovic; Rico, S Cook, Ake, Daniels; Brooks, Surman, Lerma, Fraser; Wilson, King

Head to Head

Both have played each other nine times in the Premier League: United have won five of those, with Bournemouth winning once and one draw being shared.

Scores
Manchester United 4 – 1 Bournemouth
Pogba 5′
Pogba 33′
Rashford 45′
                                            Nathan Ake 45′
Lukaku 72′

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