Manchester United are seeking a morale-boosting win against Bournemouth, in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Reds return to domestic duties after the chastening 4-1 reverse to Como in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League tie, expecting a response back at Old Trafford.
The visitors, who host AC Milan in the UEFA Europa league tonight (Thursday), drew 4-4 in this fixture last term and have a good recent record against us on our home turf.
Both matches were high-scoring draws in 2025/26. The aforementioned
4-4 thriller came last December, with Amad, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha all finding the net.
It finished 2-2 at the Vitality Stadium in March, in a controversial clash. Fernandes netted a penalty and James Hill put through his own goal but Amad was denied another spot-kick, while the hosts were awarded one of their own, and Harry Maguire was sent off. Kroupi fired it past Senne Lammens late in the game, with Ryan Christie also on target.
Casemiro had a great record against the Cherries, scoring our last winner against them in May 2023, and three times in total.
Marco Rose took over the reins as head coach when Andoni Iraola departed, ultimately for Liverpool.
It was a tough start for the German, as several points were dropped due to conceding late goals, beginning with the opening 2-1 defeat at Manchester City, despite leading with only six minutes left.
However, a first-ever appearance in Europe resulted in a brilliant away win at Real Sociedad, followed up by seeing off Sturm Graz 3-0 at home in the UEFA Europa League. Last weekend brought a much-needed first win of the league campaign, 2-0 over 10-man Sunderland, to leave Rose’s men a point behind us in the table.
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We will have to wait for Michael Carrick’s press conference on Friday to discover who of the long list of absentees in midweek are available.
Leny Yoro is free from suspension, though, after serving his one-game European ban, and Matthijs de Ligt hopefully came through his first outing in almost 11 months unscathed, so there should be more options in defense.
Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte are set to remain on the sidelines.
Bournemouth have received a major boost with the news that highly-rated forward Eli Junior Kroupi, who bagged the equaliser in last season’s Old Trafford goalfest, is potentially in line to feature at the weekend.
The French youngster underwent foot surgery in pre-season but is pushing to be back way ahead of schedule.
Influential England midfielder Alex Scott is still out, though, with a thigh problem, and Julian Araujo is also expected to be absent.
