English Premier League is BACK! Preview Bournemouth vs Manchester United Aug 14th
One of the most anticipated English Premier League games of the opening round will be taking place this Sunday, August 14th when Bournemouth hosts Manchester United at Dean Court on the south coast. Fans are anxious to see how United will fare with a new manager and after spending a record transfer fee during the offseason. Bournemouth proved they won’t be pushovers as they took United down 2-1 at home last year. United is coming off of their 2-1 Community Shield win over Leicester City at Wembley Stadium last Sunday.
Bournemouth vs Manchester United – 5Dimes Soccer Betting Line:
- 5Dimes currently lists Manchester United as the favorite to win the game at -1/2 (1.813) with Bournemouth +1/2 (2.080)
- Money Line: Man United 1.833, Bournemouth 5.010, Draw 3.650
- Total Goals Scored: 2.5, Over 2.100, Under 1.800
Bournemouth vs Manchester United – Head to Head:
The two sides met twice in league action last season with Bournemouth earning a 2-1 home win in December and United winning 3-1 in May. The clubs have met just 10 times in the past with United winning six, losing two and drawing the other two. Six of the meetings were FA Cup affairs and two were League Cup matches.
Bournemouth – A Closer Look:
Bournemouth managed to survive their debut Premier League season last year by finishing in 16th place in the 20-team league with a record of 11wins, nine draws and 18 losses for 42 points. They finished 39 points behind champions Leicester City and just five above the relegation zone. The club scored 45 goals in the 2015/16 campaign and allowed 67 against. Bournemouth is expected to be without midfielders Junior Stanislas and Emerson Hyndman along with defender Tyrone Mings as they’re all on the injury list.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe made a few moves during the current summer transfer window as he signed 20-year-old midfielder Jordon Ibe from Liverpool along with Ibe’s Anfield teammate, defender Brad Smith. Howe also acquired striker Lys Mousset from Le Havre of France and midfielder Lewis Cook from Leeds United in England. Defender Nathan Ake is at Bournemouth on Loan from Chelsea this season and midfielder Hyndman was signed as a free agent. Several players left the club during the summer as well and these include Sylvain Distin, Tommy Elphick, Matt Ritchie, Stephane Zubar, Glenn Murray, Lee Tomlin and Harry Cornick.
Manchester United – A Closer Look:
The big news at Old Trafford during the offseason was the hiring of manager Jose Mourinho of Portugal to replace former boss Louis van Gaal. Mourinho then acquired Swedish international striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Paris Saint Germain as well as Armenian international midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund of Germany and Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal. The biggest signing though was French international midfielder Paul Pogba from Italian champions Juventus for a world record fee of about 105 million euros. United won their first preseason outing 2-0 over English side Wigan FC, but were beaten 4-1 by Borussia Dortmund of Germany in China in the International Champions Cup tournament.
They also beat Galatasaray of Turkey 5-2 and drew fellow Premier league team Everton 0-0 in Wayne Rooney’s testimonial game. Left-back Luke Shaw is back after missing most of last season with a broken leg, but German international Bastian Schweinsteiger has been told by Mourinho that he doesn’t fit in his plans. Man United placed in fifth the Premier League last season with 66 points from 19 victories, nine draws and 10 defeats. They scored 49 goals and allowed 35 against. The team tied in points with fourth-place Manchester City, but City had a better goal difference. This enabled City to qualify for the European Champions League while United qualified for the second-tier Europa League. United finished the season 15 points behind league champions Leicester City.
Bournemouth vs Manchester United – Takeaway:
This is a huge season for United with Mourinho in charge. The club has been heavily criticized for paying a world record fee for Paul Pogba after selling him four years ago for just 1.5 million pounds as well as signing Ibrahimovic, who’s about to turn 35 years old. Bournemouth will be happy just to stay above the relegation zone.
by Ian S. Palmer