Prediction: Correct Score – 2-2
Odds: 14/1
Bookmaker: Bet365
Manchester United will be aiming to notch their fourth away victory in a row this weekend as they face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have completely reversed their form in recent weeks and will hope to carry that into the Premier League and could potentially rise up to fifth with a victory but have a tough task in store.
AFC Bournemouth
The Red Devils will be confident travelling to the South Coast considering their recent form. Eddie Howe’s Cherries have not won in any of their last five games in all competitions, last battling to a 0-0 draw with bottom club Watford away from home. That means that they have not scored in any of their last three games in all competitions. They could now notch three consecutive 0-0 draws for the first time in over 30 years. Should results go against them this weekend, then Bournemouth could find themselves in the lower reaches of the Premier League table. One aspect that will give them encouragement though is their form on home soil. The Cherries have only lost one game at home in their last seven in all competitions and even that was a 3-1 reverse to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. Should they draw against the Red Devils this weekend, it will be the first time they’ve notched three consecutive stalemates since February 2015.
Team News
David Brooks and Charlie Daniels are still ruled out for the hosts but the former could be set to return to action within the next few weeks. Midfielder Dan Gosling could also take to the pitch after making his return from a groin problem. However, wideman Junior Stanislas is still restricted to the sidelines.
Manchester United
Considering the Red Devils’ prior horrendous form away from Old Trafford, they have done remarkably well to turn their form around. Solskjaer’s troops now have three consecutive away wins in all competitions, the most recent coming via the 2-1 midweek success against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. They now have a brilliant chance to make notch four away wins in a row for the first time since March. Their problems most recently now has been their defence, with the team only having managed to keep one clean sheet in their last five games in all competitions and that came in the Europe League win over Partizan Belgrade. Despite that, it is their form in the Premier League that continues to suffer. Their win over Norwich was positive but they need to build on it with another and that could be difficult considering that the Red Devils have not won consecutive Premier League games since March.
Team News
Marcus Rashford will hope to be key to another victory this time around having scored four goals in as many games. The Englishman will once again line up against Anthony Martial after the fit-again Frenchman combined with his strike partner to put on an excellent display against Norwich. Elsewhere, the Red Devils still have quite an extensive injury list. Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba, Axel Tuanzebe, Nemanja Matic and Luke Shaw all remain ruled out, whilst Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Diogo Dalot are all not yet fit to play.
Key Facts To Consider
- Manchester United have the far better all-time head-to-head record of the two sides (W11, D3, L2)
- The Cherries last beat this weekend’s opponents in December 2015
- Manchester United won the last game between the two 4-1 in last December
- Bournemouth have only scored 13 goals in 16 games against the Red Devils
- The Red Devils have scored one goal or fewer in five games against Bournemouth
Conclusion
The Red Devils are still not playing at their best and it will be another severe test against the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium. However, their record against this weekend’s opponents should give them some encouragement and an entertaining game could well be in prospect. There could be a thrilling draw produced on the South Coast.
Prediction: Correct Score – 2-2
Odds: 14/1
Bookmaker: Bet365
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