Football
Manchester United vs Bournemouth Preview: Odds, Tips and Predictions
Two teams who have showed incredible quality and incredible inconsistency this year do battle at Old Trafford on Saturday, 22nd December. Manchester United welcome Bournemouth for a Premier League encounter which could be a rather entertaining affair. SportsBoom offers our betting preview and prediction for the game!
Rasmus Hojlund celebrates after scoring his team's goal//Getty Images
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: United Clear Favourites
Home: 43/50 (1.86) – 52%
Draw: 29/10 (3.9) – 24%
Away: 29/10 (3.9) – 24%
Head-To-Head Record
Last five meetings (Premier League)
13/04/2024: Bournemouth 2–2 Manchester United
09/12/2023: Manchester United 0–3 Manchester United
09/12/2023: Manchester United 0–3 Manchester United
20/05/2023: Bournemouth 0–1 Manchester United
03/01/2023: Manchester United 3–0 Bournemouth
04/07/2020: Manchester United 5–2 Bournemouth
Manchester United Current Form – WWLLW
As a point of departure, just before we get into the nitty gritty of United – the jury is still out regarding the (well, you might be able to say) honesty with which Sir Jim Ratcliffe has approached the media these past few weeks.
Ruben Amorim has barely found the salt and pepper in the kitchen at Carrington and Sir Jim hasn’t stopped telling everyone how ‘mediocre’ the side are!
The truth about United is simply they are still the same team who struggled under Erik ten Hag. Yes, they have a clearer identity, possibly a bit more confidence and a manager who seems to be matching the intensity required to do the job…but outside of that, they really are the same United.
The last time the Cherries visited Old Trafford they ran rampant and won 3-0, the stadium emptied, and boos rang out after both halves…surely the hosts will be seeking revenge here.
Key Players to Watch
- Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United’s club captain is nothing if not consistently intense and incredibly passionate about the club. Love him or hate him, he continues to add incredible value to that midfield engine room time and time again.
- Noussair Mazraoui: This is a player who has seriously impressed since joining United. The adaption of the shape under Ruben Amorim has seemingly brought the best out of him, but either way, Mazraoui has been absolutely fantastic.
- Marcus Rashford: This might be a surprise inclusion, but to deny the ability of Marcus Rashford is simply naïve. His pace and aggression going forward is undeniably an asset for United, the only question and concern would be his commitment to fight for consistent buy-in this season.
Manchester United Team News
Luke Shaw (muscle injury) and Jonny Evans (unknown) will miss this encounter due to injury.
Bournemouth Current Form – LLWLW
Yes, we suggested that Bournemouth was somewhat inconsistent – the exception to this statement is only their ability to create chances. The Cherries rank amongst the upper echelons of the league for chances created, and so it’s no doubt that they enjoy 8th place on the league table.
Andoni Iraola’s influence of the way in which the Cherries play has been fantastic to enjoy. They are hard to stop once they go forward and have visibly improved in every area of the game.
When you consider the fact that this is a team who were promoted just two seasons ago, they now (at the time of writing) rank as the 6th best side in England when you consider their last 44 games!
Key Players to Watch
- Justin Kluivert: Justin Kluivert has been brilliant for Bournemouth, driving the team forward during attacking transitions, carrying the ball forward with authority and playing directly at opposing defences! Are we really surrised though? He is a Kluivert after all!
- Antoine Semenyo: For many, Semenyo has been integral to the season Bournemouth is currently enjoying. Under Andoni Iraola, the Cherries have looked to attack with speed always, never shying away from having a go directly at their opponent…well, in Semenyo, the Cherries have (at the time of writing) a player who has contributed to every match by way of a goal, assist or both!
- Kepa Arrizabalaga: Since joining Bournemouth on a season long loan, Kepa has swiftly established himself as the first-choice keeper at Bournemouth. He has had to deal with a few minor injuries, but the Spaniard has been brilliant for the Cherries pushing for a European place finish this season.
Bournemouth Team News
Marcus Tavernier (hamstring strain), Marcos Senesi (thigh injury), Alex Scott (meniscus injury), Julian Araujo (hamstring strain) and Luis Sinisterra (knock) all make up the injury list for Bournemouth.
Predicted Line-Up
Manchester United: 3-4-2-1
Onana, Martinez, de Ligt, Yoro, Diallo, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dalot, Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund.
Bournemouth: 4-2-3-1
Arrizabalaga, Smith, Zabarnyi, Hujsen, Kerkez, Christie, Cook, Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier, Evanilson.
Suggested Bets
How we see this encounter unfolding…
Manchester United Win: United have shown structural improvement under their new manager and we think it is only a matter of time that we see the best of those players on a more consistent basis. 43/50 (1.86) with Betway and 1xBet
Both Teams to Score: We still have reservations about United’s ability to keep a clean sheet week in and week out…coupled with the creative and attacking data the Cherries have begun to produce, backing both teams to score may be the play here. 6/10 (1.5) with Betway and 1xBet
1st Goal + Manchester United (Manchester United / Manchester United): They have gotten off to flyers in games since Amorim has taken over. We are backing United to score first and then go on to win the game from there! 27/25 (2.08) with Betway and 1xBet
Value Bets
Multiscores (2:1, 3:1 or 4:1): We think this game ends with a 2-1 score line. However, given the value about the multiscores market, back either of these scores at 59/20 (3.95) with Betway and BetWinner
1st Goal: For the punter who wants to remain somewhat conservative, leaving out the result of the match and simply backing United to score first earns you enough value at 6/10 (1.6) with Betway and BetWinner.
Antoine Semenyo (Assist) + Ramsus Hojlund (Goal): Backing these two players to register an assist and a goal respectively as part of a build-a-bet comes in at a tasty 5/1 (6.0) with Betway and 1xBet
Prediction: Manchester United Win
We think United win this, but for the brave punter among you, we wouldn’t put you off adding both teams to score onto this prediction! United have a squad of undeniable quality and have begun to show moments of brilliance under the guidance of Ruben Amorim.
Back the Red Devils to find a touch of revenge when the Cherries visit Old Trafford.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.