Man Utd can sink Bournemouth in rescheduled final Premier League encounter
Published:
Manchester United v Bournemouth
- Premier League
- Tuesday, May 17th
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Old Trafford, Manchester
- Live on Sky Sports 1
Red Devils clash with Cherries
After having their initial match-up at Old Trafford abandoned on Sunday, Manchester United will wrap up this season’s Premier League by facing Bournemouth in a rescheduled meeting on Tuesday night, in a fixture which Eddie Howe’s Cherries won last December.
The Red Devils were previously hoping to secure a Champions League position for next season but, after their recent defeat to West Ham United and rivals Manchester City beating Swansea City, top four ambitions have been shelved for another term .
Louis van Gaal’s men can still mathematically claim that coveted fourth place from their city rivals, but only if they secure a 19-0 victory over Bournemouth. Such an astronomical scoreline is 5001/1 with Coral to occur, though more promising odds of 9/5 can be had on the hosts winning to nil.
The Cherries will be out to enjoy themselves in their final fixture having successfully avoided dropping immediately back down to the Championship this campaign, and the south coast club are 4/1 to prevail. Man Utd only need a draw to leapfrog Southampton into fifth and a sharing of the spoils is 16/5.
Stars to be rested ahead of FA Cup final
With an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace taking place this upcoming weekend, Dutch boss Van Gaal is sure to rest a host of top names to avoid any injury scares, though he will look to end the campaign on a high in what could potentially be his final domestic game in charge.
Speculation has been rife all season regarding Jose Mourinho replacing the under-fire coach in the Old Trafford dugout and, having likely missed out on Champions League football, such rumours surrounding his future will not go away.
Anthony Martial has been Man Utd’s star this season and the Frenchman is 9/2 to open proceedings, while fellow youngster Marcus Rashford is the same price to net last, after recently being called up to Roy Hodgson’s preliminary England squad.
Skipper Wayne Rooney is 6/5 to dispatch anytime, while Adnan Januzaj (4/1 anytime), Ander Herrera (7/2), Patrick McNair (20/1) may all feature in the final league game at Old Trafford this term. Memphis Depay is also likely to gain minutes and the Dutchman is 7/4 to fire in on home soil.
Can Cherries cause Manchester misery?
For the Cherries, goal threats Callum Wilson and Joshua King are both 5/1 to get on the scoresheet, while midfielders Matt Ritchie (7/1 anytime), Junior Stanislas (8/1) and Juan Iturbe (8/1) could cause trouble from deep.
Howe’s men currently sit in 16th position in the table but a victory would see them finish the season in 14th, though the south coast club will just be happy to have survived the drop and can now focus on building for next term.
Providing Man Utd don’t rally to a remarkable Premier League scoreline, they will miss out on a top four position this term, a failure which could see switching of the managerial guard at Old Trafford this summer, though Van Gaal will hope an FA Cup win this weekend will be his saving grace.
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Coral’s top tip: Back Memphis Depay to strike anytime for Man Utd at a tasty 7/4.
