The First Game Of The New Year And It Couldn’t Be Much Harder

The last game of 2022 was one to forget for the Cherries fans with a woeful home performance from our team in front of our new owners. Our first game of 2023, is a visit to Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United on Tuesday 3rd January at 8 pm. It has been an unhappy ‘hunting’ ground for the Cherries over the years. In our clubs nine visits to their place, we have never won. On the last two occasions, in 2019-20 and 2020-21, we suffered heavy defeats. AFCB have lost six of their last seven Premier League games, United have won five, drawn one and lost one. So the start of 2023 couldn’t be much harder.

In the 2019-20 season when AFCB last met United, it was at Old Trafford when their manager was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. His time in charge came to an end in November 2021 and one month later they appointed the German Ralph Rangnick on an interim basis until the end of the season. After he left United he became the Austrian National Team manager. Their present manager is Erik ten Hag who was appointed manager on the 1st July this year, he was previously at Ajax where he did very well, but decided to leave and join Manchester United.

In the Summer United signed two players from Ajax, Brazil midfielder Anthony for £86 million and Argentina defender Lisandro Artinez for £56.7 million. Another Brazil player is midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid for £70 million. Dutch Left back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord for £14.7 million. The Denmark international midfielder Christian Eriksen from Brentford on a free transfer.

This season at home in the league, Manchester United have lost once, in their opening game 1-2 against Brighton. Then had some good results, beating Liverpool 2-1 and then three London clubs, Arsenal 3-1, Spurs 2-0 and West Ham 1-0. Their last home game was a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest. They have only drawn one, 0-0 against Newcastle United. On their travels, United have beaten Southampton, Leicester City, Everton and Fulham. Drawn once against Chelsea. Their defeats have been at Brentford (game after Brighton), and their neighbours City and Aston Villa. Their most recent game was a 0-1 win against Wolves. They are 4th in the table after 16 games with 32 points.

The Cherries last encounter at Old Trafford ended in a 5-2 defeat. After AFCB took the lead in the 15th minute through Junior Stanislas, United scored twice in a six-minute spell, goals from Mason Greenwood in the 29th minute and Marcus Rashford after 35 minutes from the penalty spot and in first-half injury time Anthony Martial made it 3-1. The second half was only four minutes old when Josh King narrowed the margin from the penalty spot. But the home side hit back five minutes later with two goals in four minutes from Greenwood again and Bruno Fernandes.

In all our five away league games at Old Trafford, AFCB have D 1, L 4.In all competitions home and away, AFCB have W 3, D 3, L 12.Manchester United Team NewsScott McTominay has been out with a virus. Axel Tuanzebe and Diogo Dalot through injuries. Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood also missing. They have Lisandro Martinez available again after his return from Argentina.

Manchester United Player To WatchTheir form player is Marcus Rashford, their leading scorer with 6 league goals, plus 3 assists, who scored in his last two league games. He has a good record of scoring against AFCB at Old Trafford. Rashford has scored in three of our five visits, including 2019-20 and 2018-19.

AFCB Team NewsProbably Marcus Tavernier, Junior Stanislas and Ryan Fredericks will be still missing through injuries. David Brooks and Neto are also still not available. Philip Billing was substituted against Crystal Palace through injury, so must be a doubt.

AFCB Player To WatchBe good to be able to say, Marcus Tavernier, because he has been badly missed since his injury. Without him, in the side, we haven’t scored a goal. Before his injury in his last three games, he had scored two goals with four assists and our side had scored in all three games. With United winning five of their last six home games and drawing the other, our defence will be under scrutiny after two soft goals conceded in the last game. Up until missing through illness, Chris Mepham had been playing well in our defence, so wouldn’t be surprised to see him back.

The RefereeMichael Salisbury is in charge of this game. He has taken two of our games previously this season, away at Norwich in the League Cup and the home Premier League game against Leicester City.

Source: bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk