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Man United – Bournemouth
Man United’s New Year’s resolution is surely to continue in the Premier League just as the past calendar year ended. The process of further development under Erik ten Hag is in full swing and successfully so. The Red Devils benefited from Spurs’ defeat to Aston Villa and moved past Tottenham in the table with their own 1-0 win away at Wolverhampton.
With another three-pointer in their upcoming home game against cellar-dwellers and promoted Bournemouth, United can now jump up to 3rd place, as Newcastle have already played a game more and are only two points ahead. A win over the Cherries would make it four wins in a row.
For Bournemouth, on the other hand, the aim this year is still to avoid direct relegation. With Gary O’Neil as new head coach, this mission should succeed. However, the Cherries lost two games in a row with 0:2. A relegation place is only two points away, so the turnaround is urgent. Read our Man United – Bournemouth tip to see if the clear underdogs can surprise us at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Man United – Bournemouth Info:
– Date & Time: 03.01.2023, 21:00.
– Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
– Competition: Premier League, Matchday 19
– TV coverage: Sky
Man United Form & Balance Check
Manchester United currently have legitimate hopes of celebrating the New Year with a place in the Champions League this summer. The Red Devils are on the right track under coach Erik ten Hag. Ronaldo, who was more a source of unrest than stability, is gone and Man United are focusing on the sporting side of things. Even though the Glazer family put the club up for sale, there is only one defining topic of conversation at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag and his team picked up four wins from their last five games, including three in a row, and have a chance to move up to 3rd place.
Scoring and will to win
The Red Devils scored a strong eight goals in their last five league games to pick up a full twelve points. Above all, their effectiveness is astonishing. Against Wolverhampton (1-0), West Ham (1-0) and Fulham (2-1) United won by only one goal each. While these results sound close, the recent visit to Wolves in particular proves otherwise. The Red Devils had more possession, won more duels and gave twice as many shots on goal. Man United are no longer lucky to win under ten Hag. Not high, but dominant and convincing, United are currently getting threes. Marcus Rashford, who has been on the bench lately, has also rediscovered his scoring touch. The attacker scored the golden goal at Wolves.
Man United facts & analysis
– Man United are in 4th place in the table with 32 points.
– The Red Devils have won three games in a row.
– United lost only one of their last nine matches.
Bournemouth form & balance check
To avoid going straight back to the Championship, the Cherries recently changed head coach. Gary O’Neil took over and initially got the promoted side back on track. After six unbeaten games in a row at the beginning of his tenure, which resulted in ten points, the form curve flattened rapidly. A 2-2 draw at Fulham on Matchday 11 was followed by four straight defeats before Bournemouth beat Everton 3-0 on Matchday 16. The big problem is that, far from building on that success, the Cherries lost 2-0 to Chelsea and Crystal Palace again.
Balance sheet of a relegated team
The 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve saw Bournemouth slip to 15th in the table. For the Cherries to avoid relegation will be a difficult task, with exactly one point on average coming under O’Neil after 13 games as head coach. In addition, the promoted side have already conceded 20 goals in those 13 games. With 36 goals conceded, Bournemouth have the worst defensive record in the Premier League. On average, 2.1 goals are put into their own net per game.
Bournemouth facts & analysis
– Bournemouth are 15th in the table with 16 points.
– The Cherries have lost two games in a row.
– Bournemouth have won only three of 13 games under manager O’Neil so far.
Predicted line-up – last update on 2 January 2023
Erik ten Hag is still sticking to the 4-2-3-1 system with a clear striker. Most recently, this role was taken by Martial, who, however, did not score a goal. Therefore, it is to be expected that Rashford will replace the Frenchman in the starting eleven after his joker goal at Wolves and thus take up his usual position again. Wan-Bissaka also played his way back into the first eleven recently after the right-back was subbed out.
Bournemouth will also rely on the switching game in a 5-3-2 system at Old Trafford. The Cherries will operate very defensively with a five-man backline to keep the nil for now. On the offensive, Solanke and Moore are mostly left to their own devices and have to run out long balls.
Man United – Bournemouth Direct comparison & Statistics
Manchester United have only played Bournemouth ten times. The Red Devils have won seven times and lost only twice. The last duel United won clearly at home with 5:2.
– Manchester have won 4 of their 5 home games against the Cherries so far.
– United have won all of their last 3 home games against Bournemouth.
– The penultimate encounter went to the Cherries 1-0 in Bournemouth.
