Bournemouth vs Manchester United – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Sreya

Manchester United begin a new era under Jose Mourinho when they take on AFC Bournemouth at Dean Court on 14th August, Sunday in their first English Premier League fixture of the season. The Manchester-based club finished outside Champions League positions last season but are the front-runners for the Premier League title this season with a variety of new signings and a new manager at helm.

AFC Bournemouth managed to stay up in the top flight last season by finishing in the sixteenth position with forty two points and will be expecting a more difficult battle for survival this season.

Team News

Tyrone Mings and Junior Stanislas are ruled out with injuries for Bournemouth but Jordon Ibe could make his debut. Manchester United will be without their record signing Paul Pogba and Chris Smalling, both of whom are suspended. Manchester United’s other new signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly could make their Premier League debuts.

AFC Bournemouth Possible Starting Lineup: Artur Boruc, Simon Francis, Steve Cook, Nathan Ake, Charlie Daniels, Jordon Ibe, Harry Arter, Andrew Suman, Max Gradel, Bennik Afobe, Callum Wilson.

Manchester United Possible Starting Lineup: David de Gea, Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw, Michael Carrick, Morgan Schneiderlin, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“I think the quality of the league has gone up when you look at the quality of managers that have come in, the players that have been attracted to the league and the money that has been spent.

I think we have improved but I think everybody else will have at the same time so the challenge is going to be tougher – and we need to make sure we respond.”

– Eddie Howe, AFC Bournemouth.

“We feel that we are candidates to win the title. Many more think the same way as us but they are afraid to say it. They prefer to play a defensive game in words.

I think Manchester United has to say we want to win the title. At the end of the season if we are not champions because someone is better than us then great, that’s football.”

– Jose Mourinho, Manchester United.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, Manchester United have won once and lost once in their last two meetings with AFC Bournemouth. AS Bournemouth have failed to win five of their previous six Premier League matches, Jose Mourinho’s men are likely to win 3-0 tomorrow.