Bournemouth welcome Manchester United to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday as both sides aim to get their seasons off to the perfect start.
The home side will be looking to make yet another impression in the league this season, with an eye to improving on their 16th-place finish at the conclusion of last season.
The Cherries will be confident heading into the first competitive match of the season having not lost a match during preseason, winning two and drawing three of their five matches.
Heading into the first game of the new season, new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho prepares to take charge of his first game at the club with the hope the Reds can carry on their form from the Community Shield victory against Leicester City last weekend.
United on the other hand featured only four times during the preseason period, winning three of a possible four games, with a 4-1 loss coming at the hands of German giants Borussia Dortmund.
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Key Battle – Jordon Ibe vs Zlatan Ibrahimović
Former Liverpool man Ibe has produced some eye-catching performances for his new club during preseason and will be hoping to carry this form into the first game of the season. The 20-year-old is sure to have a point to prove this season after struggling for first team opportunities following the sacking of Brendan Rogers last season.
If Ibe is able to get in behind the United defence with his pace, he will cause trouble for the entire match.
Ibrahimović is set to get his first taste of Premier League football this weekend, and an always confident Zlatan will be intent on making a mark on English football from the outset. In his first two appearances for his new club, the recently retired Swedish international scored two goals including the winner in the Community Shield with a towering header.
Team News
Eddie Howe’s men are expected to be without a host of players for the opening matchday with up to five players a chance to miss. Harry Arter, Baily Cargill, Emerson Hyndman, Junior Stanislas and Tyrone Mings are all expected to miss the clash with United.
United are also set to be missing a number of players for their trip to the South Coast with Jesse Lingard and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson to miss the clash through injury.
First choice defender Chris Smalling is sidelined through suspension, having been sent off in last season’s FA Cup final victory against Crystal Palace.
Head-to-Head
The pair have come together on 10 occasions with United winning six of the matches, Bournemouth victorious twice and two draws.
Previous Meeting
The Cherries and Red Devils were due to meet on the final day of the season before the match was postponed due to a bomb scare at Old Trafford. In the rescheduled fixture, United came out on top with a 3-1 victory in Louis van Gaal’s final Premier League game as manager.
Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Ashley Young all got on the scoresheet for the home side before Smalling scored an own goal in the dying stages of the match.
That own goal ultimately cost David De Gea a share of the Golden Glove with Arsenal’s Petr Cech.
Prediction
Bournemouth will be quietly confident of upsetting United, having defeated them in the corresponding fixture last season.
The Cherries will look to use their pace in the wide areas and up front to hit United on the counter-attack.
United’s new-look attacking four is sure to cause trouble for the Bournemouth defence throughout the 90 minutes, and if they can control possession it will go a long way to helping them secure all three points.
AFC Bournemouth 0 Manchester United 2
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