Team News
Marcus Rashford was once again absent from the Manchester United squad for their EFL Cup clash with Tottenham, continuing his exclusion following the trip to the Etihad. Despite Rashford’s public declaration of wanting to leave the club, Ruben Amorim insisted post-match that a reconciliation remains possible. His availability for Sunday’s encounter remains unclear and will likely only be confirmed when the official team sheets are unveiled.
Victor Lindelof’s status is similarly uncertain after he picked up another injury during the first half of Thursday’s defeat. Meanwhile, Luke Shaw (calf) and Mason Mount (leg) are confirmed absentees for Amorim, while Matthijs de Ligt—missing on Thursday due to illness—remains doubtful.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, emerged physically unscathed from their 1-1 draw with West Ham. However, manager Andoni Iraola is expected to remain without five sidelined players: Luis Sinisterra (thigh), Alex Scott (knee), Julian Araujo (thigh), Marcos Senesi (thigh), and Marcus Tavernier (thigh). Only Sinisterra is expected to return before 2025. Iraola may also consider reshuffling his attack, with Enes Ünal scoring in back-to-back appearances while Evanilson has gone five Premier League games without a goal.
Form Guide
Manchester United endured a dramatic 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, while Bournemouth secured a 1-1 draw against West Ham earlier in the week, courtesy of Ünal’s stunning free-kick.
Despite the loss, Amorim appeared in relatively good spirits after the final whistle, perhaps buoyed by last weekend’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Manchester City. However, United’s struggles in the Premier League persist. Failure to win on Sunday would see the Red Devils enter Christmas in the bottom half of the table for the first time in the Premier League era. Still, their record of scoring at least two goals in each of their last five home matches offers some encouragement.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s draw with West Ham ended their three-match winning streak but kept them in a strong position. Iraola’s men currently sit seventh, just two points off Manchester City in sixth, and remain committed to their attacking style, registering the second-most shots in the league behind Pep Guardiola’s side. A win at Old Trafford would mark their third consecutive top-flight away victory, a feat they last achieved in December 2023. Coincidentally, that run included a 3-0 win over United at Old Trafford and a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium in April, meaning Bournemouth could avoid defeat in three straight matches against United for the first time.
Predicted Outcome
Manchester United are tipped to edge this contest 2-1. Bournemouth’s attacking intent—evident in their 29-shot display against West Ham—has often gone unrewarded due to a lack of clinical finishing. Such inefficiency could prove costly at Old Trafford.
While United’s defensive frailties remain a concern, their ability to score consistently—combined with the return of fresh legs to the starting lineup—should see Amorim’s men secure three crucial points. A narrow but vital victory could spread some much-needed festive cheer at the Theatre of Dreams.
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