Bournemouth vs Man Utd – Analysis, Prediction, Team News
Saturday 20th May 2023
15:00 GMT
Vitality Stadium
As part of our weekend Premier League predictions, we examine Manchester United’s trip to Bournemouth. Having ensured their safety, Bournemouth have now lost back to back games – can United get a huge 3 points? Free betting tips and more with our Bournemouth vs Man Utd prediction.
Premier League Form:
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace
2-0 (A)
Chelsea
3-1 (H)
Leeds
4-1 (H)
Southampton
1-0 (A)
West Ham
4-0 (H)
Man Utd
Wolves
2-0 (H)
West Ham
1-0 (A)
Brighton
1-0 (A)
Aston Villa
1-0 (H)
Spurs
2-2 (A)
Bournemouth vs Man Utd Preview
Bournemouth are now mathematically safe from relegation. However, relegation with four games remaining was never a realistic possibility and therefore, despite losing their last two Premier League matches they are now mathematically safe. After a long, draining season for a relatively small squad, perhaps it’s of no surprise that Gary O’Neil’s men have gone off the boil somewhat. A lacklustre performance all round in a 2-0 away defeat against Crystal Palace was possibly inevitable when placed in its proper context.
Theoretically, Bournemouth do actually have something to play for, both in terms of league position and the associated prize money. Realistically though, they’ve completed their hard work for the season and though it’s something of a cliche, the players have their heads on the beach so to speak. We’re certain that a reaction will be demanded following a performance which saw them register zero shots on target, but at this point, it might be difficult for the players to muster a significant one.
The opposite is true of Manchester United’s situation. Their 2-0 home victory over Wolves was comprehensive and reflected their pressing need for a positive result versus Wolves’ stable, safe situation (one point ahead of Bournemouth). Wolves rarely threatened, and Erik ten Hag’s side were by far the most threatening throughout the match. Unfortunately for United, with both Liverpool and Newcastle picking up crucial victories in midweek they could very well need to win two of their three remaining games to ensure Champions League football for next season.
Man Utd’s chances of Champions League qualification are also buoyed by the respective situations of their opponents in their final two matches. United have lost just once at home all season, and they’re playing Fulham and Chelsea sides with little but pride to play for at this point. We’re not suggesting that qualification for next season’s Champions League is inevitable, but it is a favourable set of circumstances.
Team News
Injuries and Suspensions
Bournemouth:
Might Not Play:
Will Not Play: Fredericks, Stanislas, Tavernier, Traore
Man Utd:
Might Not Play:
Will Not Play: Heaton, Jones, Martinez, Sabitzer, Van de Beek
Bournemouth vs Man Utd Lineups (Predicted)
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Neto; Vina, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Smith; Lerma, Rothwell; Christie, Outtara, Billing; Solanke
Man Utd (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Shaw, Varane, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; Casemiro, Eriksen; Rashford, Fernandes, Antony; Martial
Bournemouth vs Man Utd Analysis
Bournemouth are Lacking Intensity in Their Play
It’s difficult to be critical of a team who, against the odds following their poor start to their Premier League campaign, have staved off relegation and played some coherent, fluid attacking football at times to ensure their survival. The simple truth of the matter though is that Crystal Palace played them off the park from start to finish, with Bournemouth registering zero attempts on target compared with Palace’s five.
Ordinarily, Bournemouth are one of the better teams in the league at using their opponent’s attacking aggression against them. At least since the World Cup break at any rate – over the last 10, 15 matches they’ve been an upper-mid table team. Therefore, the nature of their performance against Crystal Palace and their inability to close out the game for a point against a struggling Chelsea team represents an understandable regression considering their situation. We would not be shocked at all to see Bournemouth produce a similar performance to the one that Wolves gave at Old Trafford last time out.
Manchester United Will Still Be Respectful
What we mean by this is that Bournemouth’s threat in transition still has to be taken seriously and United will have to set their stall out accordingly. This involves retaining their shape, particularly in wide positions where the likes of Shaw and Wan-Bissaka will be expected to retain their positional discipline. Shaw will have more licence to overlap and we saw a couple of good crosses come in from the left-hand side, but Wan-Bissaka will almost certainly be deployed as a defensive full-back for his ability to recover against teams on the break.
This would suggest that although United head into this match as clear favourites – you’re not getting much over 1/2 (1.5) with the vast majority of bookmakers at the time of writing – we’re more likely to see a controlled performance as opposed to an attacking blitz and a flood of goals.
Bournemouth were extremely poor last time out, and they would appear to have little to play for but should they prove able to put in a counter-attacking quality that we’ve come to expect for them since the World Cup break, then United need to be ready for that. Football management is all about preparation, so it’s highly unlikely that the players will be sent out there expecting Bournemouth to effectively roll over.
Our Prediction
If Bournemouth had more to play for and weren’t coming in off the back of a lifeless performance against Crystal Palace, we’d be more inclined to believe that they have the tools to threaten a Manchester United side that isn’t particularly good away from home (like most of the division) and that they could force a positive result.
In any case, we’re trying to read the situation as it actually is, and with Bournemouth already mathematically safe and having shown such a big dip in their performance levels, we have to conclude that we’re likely to see more of the same. We’re certain that United won’t be resting on their laurels, they’ve been unconvincing away from home this season but with Liverpool breathing down their necks and Newcastle taking Brighton apart at St James’ Park, they’ll be by far the more motivated of the two sides here.
Bournemouth 0-2 Man Utd
Bournemouth vs Man Utd Betting Tip – Man Utd Odds:
1.50
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