Manchester United face a key home clash against Bournemouth this weekend as they seek to arrest a slide in form. The Premier League fixture at Old Trafford on Sunday comes with the hosts sitting 13th in the table with just seven points from seven games, having recorded only one win and four draws so far this season.
Erik ten Hag's side have not won in their last five matches across all competitions, a run that includes three draws and two defeats. Their most recent outing was a 4-1 loss away to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday, a match in which Nico Paz scored twice for the hosts and Joshua Zirkzee netted a late consolation. At home in the league, they are winless in three consecutive games and have conceded in each of those fixtures. Bryan Mbeumo, their top scorer with four goals this season, and Bruno Fernandes are expected to lead the attack again with a clean bill of health available to the manager. United's recent league form reads as three draws and a loss from their last four, including 1-1 stalemates with Leeds, Tottenham and Fulham. They have scored and conceded exactly 10 goals in the Premier League this season, leaving them with a goal difference of zero and 14 points adrift of leaders Manchester City. Their overall recent form across the last five matches is zero wins, three draws and two losses, following the sequence of a loss to Atletico Madrid, a draw with Leeds, and the heavy defeat to Como.
Bournemouth arrive in Manchester with some momentum, having scored in four consecutive matches and coming off a 3-0 Europa League win over AC Milan. They sit 15th, one point behind United, but their options are restricted by injuries to Alex Scott, Julian Araujo, Eli Kroupi and Veljko Milosavljevic. Cherries head coach Marco Rose anticipates a fired-up opponent. "We know they will be angry, they will be intense," Rose said. He added that his team must be prepared for a physical battle and match United's energy from the first whistle, while also capitalising on any defensive fragility shown by the hosts in recent weeks.
Head-to-head history
Manchester United hold a strong historical record against Bournemouth at Old Trafford, with nine wins from 13 meetings. The last encounter between the sides, however, ended in a 2-2 draw. In that match, Bournemouth came from behind twice to secure a point. The corresponding fixture last season saw United secure a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half goal from Fernandes.
Looking ahead, United's next fixture after the Bournemouth clash is a midweek Carabao Cup tie away to Championship side Ipswich Town on Wednesday. The match against Bournemouth kicks off at 14:00 BST on Sunday and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The immediate focus is on securing three points at home to Bournemouth on Saturday 24 October to begin climbing from 13th place.
