Ruben Amorim expects Manchester United to face a tough test when they take on a ‘top team’ in Bournemouth as they look to continue their good Premier League form on Monday.
United are unbeaten in their last three games and have lost just one of their last nine matches in the top flight, but have slipped to eighth place after other results this weekend.
However, they are winless in their last two home games, losing 1-0 to Everton and letting a lead slip in their 1-1 draw against West Ham.
After winning 4-1 against Wolves last time out, United could go fifth with a win over Bournemouth, but they have lost their last two against them at Old Trafford, and Amorim knows it won’t be easy.
“I think it is a top team, a top manager with a special player,” Amorim said.
“I don’t look at the results. I look at the way they face each opponent. They press very strongly, they are very direct in the game.”
“They can play with different options up front, and that gives us a lot of options to work and prepare for the match.
“So I expect another Premier League game that will be very tough, but we have to win, especially at home, and that is the goal.”
Let’s bring it tomorrow pic.twitter.com/SHHYqxBkIb
—Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 14, 2025
Bournemouth, meanwhile, are in fifteenth place, having failed to win any of their last six games after a very strong start to the season.
After two consecutive defeats, Bournemouth earned a 0-0 draw against Chelsea last Saturday, keeping their first clean sheet since October, although it was their second game in a row without scoring.
Andoni Iraola noted that defensive stability was their focus against Chelsea after conceding 13 goals in the five games beforehand.
“[Before the past two games] We score a lot, but we also concede a lot, and sometimes that happens,” Iraola said.
“We have to concentrate on our defensive side, and then you stop scoring, and it’s difficult to do well on both sides. But we have to keep going.”
“I hope we can continue like this because I think the demands of the game will be just as difficult, if not more so, because we are playing away against United.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has created more chances than any other player in the Premier League this season (45).
He also leads the way in assists this season (six), despite not recording his first until October 19 against Liverpool.
Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo
Among players who have played more than 2,000 minutes in the Premier League for Bournemouth, Antoine Semenyo has had the most shots (3.1) and shots on target (1.2) per 90 minutes of any player.
The Ghanaian has also scored in each of his last two matches against United, scoring once in each match.
Working pic.twitter.com/y4NnF2qG9o
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) December 13, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED WIN
Man Utd are winless in their last four Premier League games against Bournemouth (D2 L2), more winless games than in their first twelve games against the Cherries (W9 D1 L2).
And Bournemouth have won their last two top-flight away games against United, beating them 3-0 on both occasions. No team has ever beaten the Red Devils three times in a row in the top flight, while scoring at least three goals each time.
However, Bournemouth have gone winless in their last six Premier League matches (D2 L4), with the last time they went through a longer run of such matches between December and February in the 2023/24 season (seven games).
This is a run that doesn’t sit well with United’s run of just one defeat in their last nine league games (W5 D3), when they lost 1-0 at home to Everton. They have scored more points in these nine games (18) than in their previous 17 games combined (16 – W4 D4 L9).
United have kept just one clean sheet in their 15 Premier League games this season, but Bournemouth have failed to score in their last two matches. They have failed to score in their last three games of the 2022-2023 season.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Manchester United – 48.8%
Draw – 25.7%
Bournemouth – 25.5%
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