Bournemouth welcome Manchester United to the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League’s early kick-off on Saturday.
The two teams find themselves level on 13 points and both have a record of W3/D4/L3 in the league this season. Both sides have also scored 13 goals, while Man Utd sit two places ahead of Bournemouth in the table having conceded three fewer goals.
The hosts come into this match on the back of three draws in four league matches. Eddie Howe’s men have registered back-to-back goalless stalemates with Norwich and Watford, with their last victory coming back in September against Southampton.
The Cherries will be desperate to find the back of the net on Saturday, but Manchester United will be full of confidence heading into this game.
Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s side are on a run of three straight wins in all competitions. After winning away at Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League, United beat Norwich in the Premier League before claiming an impressive EFL Cup win over Chelsea in midweek.
I mean... it's just ridiculous really, isn't it? 🤯#MUFC @MarcusRashford pic.twitter.com/cGUtHp3oAb— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 31, 2019
I mean... it's just ridiculous really, isn't it? 🤯#MUFC @MarcusRashford pic.twitter.com/cGUtHp3oAb
A penalty and a stunning free-kick from Marcus Rashford sent the Red Devils through to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night. The England forward has scored four goals in his last four games.
Anthony Martial also scored in the wins against Partizan and Norwich, so Bournemouth must defend well to keep the Man Utd forward line quiet on Saturday.
Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson had scored five goals in four games prior to the Cherries’ meeting with Arsenal. The 27-year-old is now without a goal in three matches.
Joshua King has two goals and two assists to his name this season, but Bournemouth’s over reliance on Wilson’s goals means that when he doesn’t score, the team often doesn’t win.
Bournemouth have missed the creativity of David Brooks this season. After a phenomenal breakthrough 2018/19 campaign, the Welshman has found himself sidelined through injury so far this term. Dan Gosling, Charlie Daniels and Junior Stanislas are also unavailable for selection.
Manchester United will be without Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Eric Bailly and Luke Shaw for the trip to the south coast.
Bournemouth’s last win in this fixture came back in 2015. Manchester United have won six of the last seven meetings between the two teams since then, with one game ending in a draw.
However, given the Cherries’ home advantage and United’s shaky start to the season, we could be heading for a draw this time around.
Forebet predicts that both teams will get on the scoresheet and that the match will end level.