Bournemouth vs Manchester United LIVE
Before the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao in Spain on Thursday, Manchester United face Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Qualifying for the Champions League by winning the Europa League is the priority for United after a disastrous domestic campaign, but Amorim named a strong team at the Vitality Stadium including returning captain Bruno Fernandes. Amorim has stressed the importance of a positive result for United ahead of their trip to Bilbao next week.
United lost to Wolves last weekend and face a Bournemouth side targeting a European spot after an impressive season under Andoni Iraola. Bournemouth won 3-0 at Old Trafford in December and could become the sixth side this season to complete a Premier League double over United, which would be the most against them in a single season since 1933-34. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
10 mins: First sight at goal for United as Mainoo drives into the area and shoots straight at Kepa.
9 mins: United are having a bit more possession now after that early Bournemouth pressure. Still nothing in the way of a goal threat.
5 mins: Bournemouth are on top early on here. United are yet to get anything going in attack.
3 mins: Another dangerous ball into the box from Ouattara that Evanilson just can’t quite get on the end of.
2 mins: Positive start from Bournemouth. A long throw and then a cross into the box causes problems to the Manchester United defence.
1 min: Underway at the Vitality…
Here come the two teams…
Only the bottom three and Tottenham have accrued fewer Premier League away points this season than Manchester United, who have 17 on the road.
Can they improve that record today? Kick-off is on the way at a sunny Vitality…
Gary Neville believes Ruben Amorim could start to come under pressure a few months into next season.
Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of kick-off, Amorim said: “October, or November next year, three months into the new season and having had a transfer window and a full pre-season, getting the players in to suit that system.
“That’s when they can’t be anywhere near where they are now.
“They’ll have to be pushing into the top six. There’ll be a big overhaul of players to get the ones he wants.”
Ruben Amorim has said he wants to see “intensity” from Manchester United today.
Asked what he expects this afternoon, Amorim told Sky Sports: “Intensity, we need to be focused because if you look at the last games, and you take away Newcastle because of the context between the Lyon games.
“In Nottingham [at Forest] we had control but we lost the match through one set-piece, we lost to Wolves because we missed big chances and again through set-pieces.
“We need to be focused in the game and we need to improve our intensity, not just because of this game but because Bilbao is also going to be very intense.
“We will face a Spanish coach in same system, so we can use everything to win games in the Premier League and prepare for the next one.”
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