Manchester United will be travelling to the Vitality Stadium for their Premier League clash against AFC Bournemouth. An upset is always on the cards especially after the 0-1 loss for Jose Mourinho’s men to a bottom-placed West Brom team.
The Red Devils struggled to get going offensively end and somehow looked more lacklustre than the visitors have all season. A shocking outcome especially after the inspiring 2-3 win against their next-door neighbours at the Etihad itself.
Mourinho was expected to at least close the 16-point gap behind Manchester City in the last few games of the season but instead handed over the tie in the most unexpected manner.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, are coming off a 3-goal thrashing from Liverpool in their previous Premier League tie and are placed in the 11th spot of the points table.
Their concerns of relegation are distant for the time being but lose all 4 of the last league fixtures in the season, the possibility of the drop to the Championship rises significantly.
Eddie Howe has strategically collected points wherever possible to transcend the club into mid-table status over the past two seasons. Fixtures like these are always a gamble for smaller clubs like Bournemouth which tends to pay very low dividends.
However The last time Bournemouth matched up against United was back in December which ended 1-0 in the favour of the Red Devils. Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal but Howe’s men always pushed for the equalizer and made life hard for the United backline.
With the league season already over a top-four spot secured, Mourinho will expend all his resources on the weekend FA CUP Semi Final draw against Tottenham Hotspur. He might rest a few of his key players and here is how United might lineup on gameday.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Defence
David de Gea will have to resume his duties in between the sticks with Sergio Romero still recovering from an injury. The Spanish shot-stopper should feature behind the defensive quartet of Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia.
Midfield
Ander Herrera is expected to hold the anchor role along with Scott McTominay. Nemanja Matic might be given a breather with Jesse Lingard taking up the attacking midfield role.
Anthony Martial might appear on the right flank with Marcus Rashford on the left.
Attack
Romelu Lukaku is the predicted starter in the lone striker role.
