Manchester United continued their busy festive campaign under new manager Ruben Amorim with their final clash before Christmas as they hosted an impressive Bournemouth side. With a huge gulf in terms of on-field quality, tactical understanding of their setup and attacking creativity, United could learn plenty from Iraola’s project at the South coast side as he heads into yet more December football on the other side of Christmas.

This result gives United huge questions to be asked, work to be done in the new year and ultimately highlights yet more concerns and issues within the squad. In terms of the standings, the result means United will be in the bottom half at Christmas for the first time since 1989 as yet more negative records are broken at Old Trafford.

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Teams

Manchester United again had a notable absentee from the squad in Marcus Rashford, as the forwards absence remains an overhanging feature of Amorim’s early tenure. There was another start for Malacia who seems back from injury now for United but was again only given the first 45 minutes. Mainoo and Ugarte played in the midfield with Zirkee leading the line, until changes were made early into the second half as United looked to get a grip on the game.

For Bournemouth, their impressive squad was almost at their full disposal, with only Sinisterra as the notable absentee. Iraola has drilled his side well and produced some gems within the league and all were on display at Old Trafford for this game.

Manchester United: Onana, Malacia (Yoro 46′), Martinez, Maguire, Mazraoui, Dalot, Mainoo, Ugarte (Garnacho 55′), Fernandes, Amad, Zirkzee (Hojlund 54′)

Subs: Bayindir, Evans, Casemiro, Eriksen, Collyer, Antony

Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Smith (Cook 46′), Christie, Adams (Hill 89′), Ouattara, Kluivert (Billing 78′), Semenyo (Brooks 89′), Evanilson (Unal 71′)

Subs: Travers, Aarons, Kinsey-Wellings, Winterburn

Manchester United 0-3 Bournemouth

Bournemouth drew first blood at Old Trafford when Dean Huijsen soared above the Manchester United defence to head Ryan Christie’s free-kick into the net in the 29th minute. United had displayed promising patches, particularly through Bruno Fernandes, who tested keeper Kepa with multiple attempts, but their long-standing frailty from dead-ball situations was ruthlessly exposed again. The Cherries, tactically organised under Andoni Iraola, took a deserved 1–0 lead into the break with United left to rue yet another lapse in defensive vigilance.

Just after the hour-mark, United’s woes intensified. Noussair Mazraoui conceded a penalty by catching Justin Kluivert in the box, Kluivert coolly rolled the spot-kick down the centre in the 61st minute to double Bournemouth’s advantage. Merely 120 seconds later, Dango Ouattara’s incisive pass found Antoine Semenyo, who composedly slotted home to put the game beyond doubt at 3–0. The clinical nature of that two-goal burst epitomised Bournemouth’s efficient execution and United’s growing capacity issues under pressure.

Manager Ruben Amorim accepted full responsibility after the match, acknowledging that United’s defensive frailties, particularly at set-pieces, had left the squad and supporters “tired” and disillusioned. With 23 shots to their name, United’s dominance in territory and possession failed to translate into returns, leaving Christmas positioned uncharacteristically in the league’s bottom half for the first time since the 1989–90 campaign. The omission of Marcus Rashford for the third straight fixture added to the turmoil and will deepen scrutiny on Amorim’s rotations moving forward.

Talking Points

Manchester United’s recurring vulnerability at set-pieces once again reared its head during their 3–0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Dean Huijsen’s opener, a towering header from a Ryan Christie free-kick, marked the 11th set-piece goal United have conceded this season, reinforcing a glaring structural issue in Ruben Amorim’s side. Despite boasting a height advantage and numerical superiority in the box, United’s marking was passive and poorly organised, hallmarks of a defensive unit lacking cohesion and communication. For a club with top-four aspirations, the inability to deal with routine dead-ball deliveries is becoming increasingly costly.

The defeat ensured United will spend Christmas in the bottom half of the Premier League table for the first time since the 1989–90 campaign, an alarming reflection of their domestic regression. With just 22 points from 18 games, Amorim’s side now sits adrift of the European places and facing mounting pressure from a frustrated fanbase. The manner of the performance, blunt in attack, brittle in defence, only served to heighten concerns over the team’s identity and direction under the Portuguese manager. While injuries and inconsistency have played a part, the statistics and results point to deeper systemic issues.

Perhaps the most conspicuous absentee was Marcus Rashford, omitted for a third consecutive match without a clear explanation from the manager. While Amorim has cited tactical decisions in previous weeks, Rashford’s continued absence, despite being fit, has drawn speculation about his form, fitness, or potential off-pitch concerns. In a game crying out for cutting edge and composure in the final third, United’s lack of width and direct running was palpable. The decision to bench one of their most explosive forwards during a critical stretch of the season only adds to the growing scrutiny around team selection and man-management at Carrington.