Manchester United bidding to avoid unwanted first against Bournemouth

Bournemouth will be bidding to record their first-ever league double over Manchester United when the two teams lock horns at the Vitality Stadium in Saturday's late start.

The Cherries recorded an incredible 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in the Premier League back in December, with Dominic Solanke making the breakthrough in the fifth minute, before Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi went on to score in the second period for the away side.

The win was Bournemouth's fourth success over Man United in 21 meetings, with the 20-time English champions leading the head-to-head record 14 victories to four.

The Cherries first overcame the Red Devils in January 1984 in the FA Cup, while their first Premier League success against Man United was in December 2015 - a 2-1 win at the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth also beat Man United 1-0 at home in November 2019, but their success at Old Trafford earlier this season proved to be their first victory in the famous stadium.

The Red Devils will therefore be aiming to avoid an unwanted first this weekend, as Bournemouth look to complete a league double over the famous team for the first time in their history.

Man United have won four of their six away Premier League games against the Cherries, though, including a 1-0 success last term, with Casemiro netting the only goal of the contest.

Ten Hag's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the league last weekend, with the result leaving them sixth in the table, 11 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

The Red Devils have only won one of their last six league fixtures, but they will be aiming to secure a positive result ahead of their FA Cup semi-final with Coventry City next weekend.

Man United facing injury crisis on Saturday

Ten Hag's team are facing being without the services of as many as 10 players for Saturday's contest.

Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez and Anthony Martial are definitely out, while Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans and Scott McTominay are also set to miss the contest.

Neither Marcus Rashford nor Sofyan Amrabat have been pictured in training with the team this week, and the duo are also seemingly huge doubts for the game at the Vitality Stadium.

Amrabat featured in the latter stages of the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, while Rashford had to be substituted in the second half of the same match after picking up a minor problem, and it remains to be seen whether the England international will recover in time for the clash in Dorset.

Ten Hag will provide an update on his squad during his press conference on Friday afternoon.