Manchester United are on the verge of clinching a top-four place in the Premier League and a return to the UEFA Champions League next season after a 1-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday.
With Liverpool drawing Aston Villa 1-1 on the same day, Man United need just one point from their final two matches (both at home) to give them a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage in 2023/24. Liverpool have just one game remaining at last-place Southampton.
A Casemiro spinning volley in the box gave his team an early lead, and the Red Devils managed the result the rest of the way, keeping a limited Bournemouth side at bay. The Cherries, who had previously secured Premier League safety, were missing influential midfielder Philip Billing who was not in the side, and it showed on the field.
However, Man United did need a sensational save by goalkeeper David De Gea on Bournemouth's best look of the afternoon. The Spaniard, who clinched the Premier League Golden Glove award, denied forward Kieffer Moore on a 1-on-1 with four minutes remaining in the match.
MORE: Updated Premier League table and the top-four chase
| Pos | Team | Points | Matches Played |
Goals Scored |
Goal Difference |
Next Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Man City | 85 | 35 | 92 | +61 | vs. CHE, May 21 |
| 2. | Arsenal | 81 | 36 | 83 | +41 | @ NOT, May 20 |
| 3. | Newcastle | 69 | 36 | 67 | +35 | vs. LEI, May 22 |
| 4. | Man United | 69 | 36 | 52 | +11 | vs. CHE, May 25 |
| —— | ——————— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ——————— |
| 5. | Liverpool | 66 | 37 | 71 | +28 | @SOU, May 28 |
Bournemouth vs Man United final score
| Final | Goal scorers | |
| Bournemouth | 0 | — |
| Man United | 1 | 9' Casemiro (Eriksen) |
Lineups:
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1, right to left): Neto (GK) — A. Smith (Vina 66'), Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly — Cook, Lerma — Brooks (Moore 55'), Christie (Ouattara 66'), Anthony — Solanke
Man United (4-2-3-1, right to left): De Gea (GK) — Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw — Casemiro, Eriksen (McTominay 86') — Antony (Fred 86'), Fernandes, Sancho (Garnacho 72') — Martial (Weghorst 57')
What do Manchester United need to finish Top 4?
Thanks to the 1-0 win over Bournemouth, Manchester United only need one more point from their final two matches, and the good news for Red Devils supporters is that both will be played at Old Trafford, where Man United have shown title-calibre form.
The two matches come on Thursday, May 25 vs. Chelsea, and then on Sunday, May 28 against Fulham.
With a Carabao Cup victory, an FA Cup final against Manchester City set for June 3, and a Champions League berth, it would mark a sensational first season in charge for Erik ten Hag.
How did Manchester United play vs Bournemouth?
Ten Hag fielded an unchanged side against the Cherries with Marcus Rashford missing out again, this time due to illness. And as was seen last weekend, United aren't much of a threat without Rashford's driving runs.
But Casemiro brought the magic in Rashford's absence, with a sensational spinning volley after a Christian Eriksen ball lobbed into the box was deflected by a defender, setting it up perfectly for the Brazilian who took it out of the air.
Besides the goal, Man United did not impress in attack despite being given several opportunities by Bournemouth's countless giveaways. Antony was not sharp, Jadon Sancho was invisible, Anthony Martial was not impactful, and Wout Weghorst was quiet outside of a lone shot on goal.
Man United sleepwalked through portions of that match and they are fortunate that De Gea saved them on the best Cherries chance of the afternoon.
Alejandro Garnacho or Jadon Sancho?
The match will only fuel the cries for the teenage Argentine winger to take over for Sancho, who could not make a mark on the match.
Garnacho eventually came on for Sancho, but outside of a few runs, he didn't do much in his 20 minutes on the field, but it still felt more than Sancho's contribiution. On one occasion he was easily muscled off the ball, showing perhaps why Ten Hag wants to continue to bring him on slowly.
The 23-year-old Sancho still has three more seasons left on his United contract (through June 2026), but without the bursts of speed and dribbling inventiveness that have gone missing, it's unclear how he can help Ten Hag's Red Devils moving forward.
Bournemouth vs Man United live updates, highlights from Premier League
Full-Time: Bournemouth 0-1 Man United
93rd min.: Chance Bournemouth! Marcos Senesi with a volley from the top of the box that grazes the top of the Man United net. The attempt was just high, and it would've made for a sensational equaliser.
90th min.: Four minutes of stoppage time. Bournemouth are making one final push in their final home game of the campaign.
84th min.: Chance Bournemouth! Forward Kieffer Moore is 1-on-1 against David De Gea, but the Spanish 'keeper makes the stop. Then Man United are thwarted in transition on the other end. Man United are minutes away from clinching a top-four spot.
76th min.: Chance Man United! It's a beautiful volley off a set-piece delivery, but Neto once again comes up with a stop. Bournemouth's giveaways have given United several bites at the apple, but the visitors can't capitalise.
70th min.: Yellow card Bournemouth. Lewis Cook gets it for a lunging challenge on Christian Eriksen with studs exposed. It's a fair yellow, and if he didn't get to that ball first, it could've been trouble for him.
Man United are bringing on teenager Alejandro Garnacho for Jadon Sancho, who was invisible in this game.
63rd min.: Chance Man United! Good save by Bournemouth 'keeper Neto. Weghorst with a driven shot in the box that goes between the legs of a defender, but Neto swats it away.
Shortly after a Bruno Fernandes shot toward goal was deflected for a corner. United are pushing hard for the second goal. Bournemouth subs Matias Vina and Dango Ouattara coming on. Vina, a left-back, will play at right-back for Adam Smith.
59th min.: Chance Man United! It's Antony with a shot that crosses the Bournemouth goalmouth. Moments before Wout Weghorst came into the game for Anthony Martial, who trudged off the field after failing to impact the match.
55th min.: Chance Bournemouth! It's Dominic Solanke with the tight-angle effort and his ball goes right across the six-yard box.
Meanwhile, the big forward Kieffer Moore comes on in place of the returning David Brooks, who gets a heartfelt ovation. Bournemouth manager Gary O'Neil is going with two forwards in a hope to chase an equaliser.
46th min.: We're off again. After less than a minute it's David Brooks with the left-footed shot that De Gea tips over the bar.
It's worth noting that De Gea has officially won the Premier League Golden Glove for 2022/23.
HALFTIME: Bournemouth 0-1 Man United
Half-Time: Manchester United started strong, got an early goal, and managed the rest of the match. Bournemouth were sloppy with the ball, but still had a period of 10-15 minutes to close out the half to show they can still be a threat.
Neither team has much urgency and bite to their game under the Bournemouth sun, and it's understandable. With the Cherries assured of their Premier League status, and Bournemouth not troubling United all too much, there's not much need to panic from either side.
40th min.: Chance Man United! It's Casemiro pushing up again and his shot from the top of the box forces a stop from Bournemouth 'keeper Neto.
38th min.: News of Liverpool losing at home to Aston Villa has Man United fans thinking they can wrap up a top-four place today. If things stay like this, Liverpool will not be able to catch the others in the top four.
| Pos | Team | Points | Matches Played |
Goals Scored |
Goal Difference |
Next Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Man City | 85 | 35 | 92 | +61 | vs. CHE, May 21 |
| 2. | Arsenal | 81 | 36 | 83 | +41 | @ NOT, May 20 |
| 3. | Newcastle | 69 | 36 | 67 | +35 | vs. LEI, May 22 |
| 4. | Man United | 69 | 36 | 52 | +11 | BOU 0-1 MUN |
| —— | ——————— | ——— | ——— | ——— | ——— | —————— |
| 5. | Liverpool | 65 | 37 | 70 | +28 | LIV 0-1 AVL |
35th min.: It's been a fine 10 minutes or so from Bournemouth. David Brooks had a go on a free-kick, and after strong combination play Ryan Christie had a go from inside the box to earn the Cherries' first corner. Nothing comes of it, but the home team is on the ascendancy.
27th min.: Chance Bournemouth! It's the first shot of the match for Bournemouth and it's on target. Man United's David De Gea has to make the diving save on a shot in the box by Cherries forward Dominic Solanke that was destined for the far side netting.
21st min.: Chance Man United! A dummy move by Casemiro at the top of the Cherries' box leaves the ball bouncing invitingly for Christian Eriksen, who unleashes a first-time, left-footed shot but misses the mark.
18th min.: Man United have started strong and decisively, and the ball is flowing nicely. But Bournemouth have numbers in their own box and they've been able to clear the ball. But Cherries are giving the ball back way too easily.
9th min.: GOAL! It's Manchester United finding the back of the net. Christian Eriksen lofts a ball into the box for Casemiro and after a defensive deflection, the Brazilian applies a sensational volley finish while falling back.
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7th min.: Bournemouth lining up in more of a 4-4-2 with Ryan Christie and Dominic Solanke up top.
KICKOFF: We're off. Bournemouth in their home colours, while Man United in green.
5 mins to KO: Teams are out of the tunnel and kickoff is moments away.
30 mins to KO: The start for Bournemouth's David Brooks is significant. It comes after a long spell on the sidelines including treatment for stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma. He's cancer-free.
1 hour to KO: Lineups are out. Confirmation that Marcus Rashford is out of the squad, while Bournemouth will be without influential midfielder Philip Billing. Dango Ouattara is also on the bench for the Cherries.
1 hour 15 mins to KO: Marcus Rashford is confirmed out of the squad by the Manchester Evening News. It's a blow to United's goal-scoring ability, especially after labouring against Wolves last weekend.
1 hour 30 mins to KO: It's confirmed that Man United will be wearing their green kits for this final road match of the league season.
2 hours to KO: We'll see whether Alejandro Garnacho has cemented his position as a productive super sub, or whether he'll get a start for Manchester United in the handful of matches remaining.
Bournemouth vs Man United lineups
Regulars Joe Rothwell and star midfielder Philip Billing are not in the squad. In-demand Colombian midfielder Jefferson Lerma (broken nose) is starting and is expected to wear a mask, while Hamed Junior Traore (foot injury) trained this week, but has still been ruled out of this match.
Antoine Semenyo (shin surgery), Marcus Tavernier (hamstring), Ryan Fredericks (calf), and Junior Stanislas (back) will not play again this season. Soon-to-be-free-agent Jordan Zemura has not featured for the squad in weeks as he gets set to depart the club.
Bournemouth starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13-Neto (GK) — 15-Adam Smith, 27-Ilya Zabarnyi, 25-Marcos Senesi, 5-Lloyd Kelly — 4-Lewis Cook, 8-Jefferson Lerma — 7-David Brooks, 10-Ryan Christie, 32-Jaidon Anthony — 9-Dominic Solanke
Bournemouth subs (9): 1-Mark Travers (GK), 18-Matias Vina, 6-Chris Mepham, 3-Jack Stephens, 17-Jack Stacey, 11-Dango Ouattara, 21-Kieffer Moore, 49-Dominic Sadi, 51-Daniel Adu-Adjei
Star Man United forward Marcus Rashford fell ill and missed training on Friday and he is out of the squad against Bournemouth.
But United will have Scott McTominay available after he returned to training earlier in the week after a prolonged absence. The timing of the Scotsman's return is key given on-loan midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Man United starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1-David De Gea (GK) — 29-Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 19-Raphael Varane, 2-Victor Lindelof, 23-Luke Shaw — 18-Casemiro, 14-Christian Eriksen — 21-Antony, 8-Bruno Fernandes, 25-Jadon Sancho — 9-Anthony Martial
Man United subs (9): 31-Jack Butland (GK), 20-Diogo Dalot, 5-Harry Maguire, 12-Tyrell Malacia, 17-Fred, 49-Alejandro Garnacho, 39-Scott McTominay, 28-Facundo Pellistri, 27-Wout Weghorst
MORE: Where Marcus Rashford ranks among Premier League top scorers
Bournemouth vs Man United live stream, TV channel
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Sat, May 20 | 10 a.m. EDT | USA Network, Universo |
Fubo, NBC site/app, Telemundo app |
| Canada | Sat, May 20 | 10 a.m. EDT | — | Fubo Canada |
| UK | Sat, May 20 | 3 p.m. BST | — | — |
| India | Sat, May 20 | 7:30 p.m. IST | Star Sports Select | Hotstar VIP, JioTV |
| Australia | Sun, May 21 | 12 a.m. AEST | — | Optus Sport |
| New Zealand | Sun, May 21 | 2 a.m. NZST | Sky Sport 4 | Sky GO |
| Hong Kong | Sat, May 20 | 10 p.m. HKT | Now Premier League (Ch. 620-621) |
Now E, Now Player |
| Malaysia | Sat, May 20 | 10 p.m. MYT | Astro SuperSport | Astro GO, sooka |
| Singapore | Sat, May 20 | 10 p.m. SGT | Hub Premier (Ch. 221) |
StarHub TV+ |
USA: The match will be televised on USA Network (English) and Universo (Spanish), with both channels streaming on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
Canada: Every Premier League game streams live and on-demand on Fubo Canada.
UK: The match will not be televised per Saturday 3 p.m. blackout restrictions.
Australia: Every Premier League match streams live and on demand on Optus Sport.