MAN UTD 0, AFC BOURNEMOUTH 3
Lightning struck twice as Manchester United were beaten 3-0 at home by AFC Bournemouth for the second successive season.
The Cherries had never at Old Trafford until December 2023 and now they have triumphed there twice in 12 months.
Goals from Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert’s penalty and Antoine Semenyo earned Bournemouth three points which lifts them to fifth place as they added United to the scalps of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City.
It was a deeply disappointing result and performance from the Reds who head into Christmas in 13th place, the first time they head into the festive break in the bottom half of the table for the first time since 1989/90.
And fans voted with their feet as hardly any remained to hear the final whistle which put them out of their misery.
New coach Ruben Amorim said: “We have to address a lot of things which we will do. We knew it was a tough challenge.
“You could feel the anxiety from the fans from the first minute and the first goal kick from Andre {Onana].
“After losing by three goals, we are all suffering the fans in the stands, the players.”
Amorim added it is frustrating as they created more chances than Bournemouth, but not scoring which also needed addressing as does conceding goals from set pieces.
“At the moment everything is so hard, For a club like Manchester United to lose 3-0 at home is tough.”
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said: “It doesn’t happen a lot to come to a stadium like this and win 3-0.
“I think we were more mature and more solid than the win here last year.
“When it was 3-0, you do not feel safe as you know their threats – Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hoijlund, Amad [Diallo] and Bruno [Fernandes].”
Marcus Rashford was left out of Amorim’s matchday squad for the third game running.
Amorim made six changes from the starting line-up beaten at Tottenham on Thursday but there was still no place for the England forward.
In-form Diallo was among those to return with full-back Tyrell Malacia also included as Noussair Mazraoui moved into the defensive three as Leny Yoro dropped to the bench while Matthijs de Ligt was still absent through illness. Joshua Zirzkee replaced Hojlund as the central striker
Embed from Getty ImagesIraola made one change to the side that drew with West Ham on Monday as Tyler Adams came in for Lewis Cook who dropped to the bench. Bournemouth had an incredible 29 shots against the Hammers but needed a brilliant last-minute free kick from Enes Unal to rescue a point.
United created the first clear-cut chance in the sixth minute when Kobbie Mainoo helped set up Amad whose low shot forced a smart save low down by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Fernandes had a shot from distance which brought Arrizabalaga to his knees.
The early promise was undone as the Cherries stole ahead just short of the half hour when Huijsen, signed from Juventus for £12.8million, found the net with a looping header from Ryan Christie’s free kick as the centre back eluded marker Zirkzee.
It might have been worse moments later when a snapshot from Evanilson forced a smart low save from Onana.
United three times came close to equalising, all falling to Bruno Fernandes. The first effort was a shot dragged wide, the second a shot well beaten out by Arrizabalaga and a third a shot which flashed past the upright.
United made a change for the restart as Malacia made way for Yaro. The eight minutes into the new half it was time to call for the cavalry as Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte were replaced by Hojlund and Garnacho.
They failed to improve fortunes as Bournemouth doubled their lead just after the hour when they conceded a penalty as Noussair Mazraoui tripped Justin Kluivert who scored from the spot, his sixth goal of the season.
And three minutes later it went from bad to worse for the Reds who conceded a third on the break.
Dango Outtara cut the ball back to Antoine Semenyo who fired home a low shot from 12 yards for his fifth of the campaign
United had chances to made inroads into the deficit as Garnacho burst clear to be denied by Arrizabalaga who then made a fine fingertip save to keep out an effort from Hojlund who also dragged another effort narrowly wide.
They helped to take the Reds’ total number of goal attempts to 23 to Bournemouth’s 10, but their conversion rate again left much to be desired.