Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim. Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim.

Ruben Amorim is pleased by Manchester United's improvements but urged his players to put their EFL Cup defeat behind them against Bournemouth on Sunday. (More Football News)

United avoided a third consecutive Premier League defeat last weekend as two late goals saw them beat rivals Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

However, they were then knocked out of the EFL Cup after a 4-3 defeat to Tottenham in the quarter-final on Thursday, with a late Son Heung-min strike directly from a corner securing their fate after a spirited attempt at a comeback.

While Amorim admitted it was hard to see the positives after that loss, he was impressed with the work his players had put in so far.

"I think we are improving near the opponents' box. We had some games that we are near the box, but without a real threat," he said.

"You could see different things, and you can see that we can shoot. We are near the goal, and you feel it.

"I feel that our team is faster, are pressing more, the physicality is improving, the understanding of the game, and you can see it by the controlling of the game, and you see it more.

"We understand more [about] the position and the movement that we should do. So, there are a lot of things, but it's hard to think of the good things [after the EFL Cup exit]."

Meanwhile, Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches, though they were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham after three wins on the bounce.

Andoni Iraola may feel his side should have made it four consecutive wins after having 29 shots with an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.01 in that game, and he acknowledged they could be even more clinical.

"The way we play, it makes our forwards arrive more tired to finish our chances - it is not the same chance you have as if you just waiting for a chance as a nine," he said.

"You have to do all of the work, and maybe you don't arrive with your mind as clear to finish in same way."

Who's looking forward to this one? pic.twitter.com/5F26cYgZpQ

— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) December 19, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester United – Amad Diallo

Amad Diallo has either scored or assisted a goal in each of his last five Premier League starts (one goal, five assists), netting the winner against Man City last time out.

Overall, the 22-year-old has been involved in seven goals during Amorim’s tenure, scoring two and assisting five goals in all competitions.

Bournemouth – Ryan Christie

Ryan Christie was directly involved in 11 of Bournemouth’s 29 shots against West Ham, having six shots and creating five chances.

It was only the third time a Cherries player had both had 5+ shots and created 5+ chances in a Premier League game, after Jordon Ibe vs. Brighton in January 2018 (seven shots, five chances created) and Josh King vs. Chelsea in January 2019 (five shots, five chances created).

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED WIN

Manchester United failed to win either of their Premier League meetings with Bournemouth last season, losing 3-0 at Old Trafford in December, but they have never lost back-to-back home meetings with the Cherries.

Indeed, Bournemouth have lost five of their seven Premier League away games against United (W1 D1).

However, Bournemouth have won their last two Premier League away games. They last won more consecutively on the road in December 2023, a run of four in which the third game came against United.

On Tuesday, deep inside Chinese Mongolia, the Harmanpreet Singh-led Men in Blue did just about enough to beat a spirited Chinese side. The occasion: the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024.

Only Man City (282) have had more shots in the Premier League this season than Bournemouth (270), with the 29 they attempted against West Ham last time out their second-most in a Premier League game, behind the 32 they had against Sheffield United in March 2024.

United have conceded a higher share of their goals from corners than any other side in the Premier League this season (42% - 8/19). Indeed, four of their seven goals conceded under Amorim so far have come from corners.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Manchester United – 50.1%

Draw – 23.6%

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Bournemouth – 26.3%ssbet77