Manchester United vs Bournemouth Preview – Premier League Monday Night Football
Manchester United return to Monday Night Football for a second successive week after an emphatic 4–1 win away at Wolves. That result extended their solid recent run, but a tougher challenge awaits tonight as Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth travel to Old Trafford, hoping to repeat last season’s memorable 3–0 victory at the Theatre of Dreams.
Recent Form & Team News
Manchester United, by contrast, are unbeaten in three, winning twice in that spell and losing just once in their last nine league fixtures overall. That sole defeat did come at home to Everton, though, and was followed by another frustrating Old Trafford draw against a West Ham side currently in the relegation zone. Those results have raised lingering doubts over United’s consistency when installed as favourites – a role they once again occupy tonight at an enhanced price of 4/5.
Before those slip-ups, Ruben Amorim’s side had won four consecutive home matches, and they will be eager to reassert their authority in front of their own fans against a Bournemouth team that has lost their last three away games and is winless in five on the road.
Key Players to Watch
Bournemouth made a bright start to the Premier League campaign, suffering just one defeat in their opening nine matches. However, the Cherries have struggled for momentum in recent weeks and are now winless in six league games.
Bruno Fernandes was outstanding in last week’s victory at Molineux and continues to be United’s creative heartbeat. The Portuguese midfielder now boasts eight goal involvements in his last eight matches (two goals, six assists) and is priced at 9/4 to register at least one assist again tonight.
Bournemouth’s attacking output has dipped significantly of late. Their goalless draw with Chelsea was respectable given their downturn in form, but it marked a second straight match without scoring. Across those two fixtures, the Cherries managed just 18 shots – a stark drop of 28 compared to their previous two games.
That said, Bournemouth will feel there are opportunities against a Manchester United defence that has managed just one clean sheet in 15 Premier League matches this season. Injury doubts remain over Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez, while youngster Ayden Heaven has been trusted in recent weeks.
Heaven endured a difficult outing against West Ham, collecting a needless booking before being substituted at half-time, though he faced little pressure at Wolves. If selected again, Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo will fancy his chances, having scored both home and away against United last season. Semenyo is priced at 5/2 to record two or more shots on target.
AFCON Considerations
Although December 15 marks the mandatory release date for Africa Cup of Nations players, Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) have not been ruled out of featuring tonight.
Mbeumo has arguably been United’s standout summer signing, scoring six goals in 15 Premier League appearances, while Diallo’s direct running and energy have added a spark in recent weeks. Both will be keen to sign off in style before joining their national squads.
Match Verdict & Betting Tips
Bournemouth have conceded two or more goals in six of their seven away Premier League matches this season, and when combined with their recent travel struggles, this looks like a strong opportunity for Manchester United to build momentum and apply pressure in the race for the top four.
While United have faltered in their last two home games, confidence should be high after last Monday’s demolition of Wolves. Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are both hitting encouraging runs of form and could once again prove decisive.
Clean sheets remain a concern for the hosts, however, and even if defensive reinforcements return, a lack of match sharpness could give Bournemouth a route to goal.
Best Bet
Manchester United to win & Both Teams To Score
Price Boosted to 5/2
Bet Builder
- Match Result: Manchester United @ 10/13
- Both Teams To Score: Yes @ 4/9
- Assists: Bruno Fernandes 1+ @ 9/4
Total Combined Odds: 19/4
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