Bournemouth v Manchester United
Manchester United seemingly have little left to play for this season, but a midweek clash with Bournemouth could prove hugely significant. Jose Mourinho’s side collapsed against rock-bottom West Brom at the weekend, and the manager will undoubtedly be looking for a reaction from his team at Dean Court.
The aforementioned defeat effectively handed neighbours Manchester City the Premier League title, but United are likely to make a number of changes for this next outing, particularly with an FA Cup tie against Tottenham looming on Saturday.
"If I play someone against Bournemouth and he is phenomenal, he plays the semi-final," said Mourinho at a press conference on Tuesday. "The word is not rotation. This is an opportunity for some people to play and to try to get a place in the team. Some of the guys who played [against West Brom], they don't have a place in that team.”
For their hosts, sitting 10 points above the relegation zone with just five games remaining, this match offers an opportunity to secure their top-flight status, something manager Eddie Howe noted when he addressed the media this week.
"You can see down the bottom of the league how tight it is, with everyone scrambling to get above the 40-point mark," he said. "One or two disappointing results and you can tumble down the league; from our perspective we've been consistent in our league position for a while, due to our form and being difficult to beat, we've been picking up points all the way through, and we don't want to lose that position.”
Howe has continued to impress with both his tactical acumen and his ability to bring the best from his players, repeatedly changing formation as he tailors his approach to each specific opponent. Whatever their shape, Bournemouth have been a resilient side, losing just once at home in their last nine matches in all competitions this term.
He is expected to deploy a 4-4-1-1 system here, focusing on stopping United out wide while trying to protect and maintain a compact backline. Callum Wilson should return to the starting XI after only making the bench against Liverpool on Saturday, but Adam Smith and Junior Stanislas are still injury concerns for the Cherries. Tyrone Mings lack match fitness and it is doubtful he will be given chance to improve that here.
Mourinho has almost a full squad to choose from, with backup goalkeeper Sergio Romero his only absentee after the Argentina international picked up a back injury while representing his country last month. Changes are expected here for the visitors however, with Paul Pogba, Alexis Sanchez, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata all at risk of being dropped for Manchester United's FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
United have only failed to score in one of their previous 13 meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions, while – after winning their first Premier League meeting with Man Utd (2-1 in December 2015) – the Cherries have lost three and drawn one of the subsequent four.
Bournemouth (4-4-1-1): Begovic; Francis, Steve Cook, Ake, Daniels; Fraser, Lewis Cook, Gosling, Pugh; King; Wilson
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Young, Bailly, Jones, Shaw; Fellaini, Matic; Martial, Lingard, Rashford; Lukaku
