Manchester United endured a crushing 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday, marking yet another low point in their turbulent season.
The Red Devils, desperate to recover from their Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, were once again outclassed, with the Cherries delivering a decisive blow. This defeat marks United’s third loss in their last four league games, leaving them languishing in 13th place on the table.
The loss also etched an unwanted milestone in the club’s history. For the first time since the Premier League’s inception, Manchester United will sit in the bottom half of the table on Christmas Day. This grim statistic underscores the struggles Ruben Amorim’s side is facing in a campaign that appears increasingly dire.
With mounting pressure and dwindling hopes, United fans are left questioning the direction of their beloved club as they navigate one of their most challenging seasons in recent memory.
How Bournemouth Dismantled Manchester United
Manchester United endured a dismal afternoon against Bournemouth, faltering from the opening whistle with misplaced passes and a shaky defensive setup. The Cherries capitalized on the hosts’ errors, delivering a commanding performance at Old Trafford.
The visitors took the lead in the 29th minute when Dean Huijsen headed in Ryan Christie’s perfectly delivered free-kick, exposing United’s vulnerability on set pieces.
The second half brought further misery for the Red Devils. Noussair Mazraoui conceded a penalty after fouling Justin Kluivert, who calmly converted from the spot in the 61st minute to double Bournemouth’s advantage.
Just two minutes later, Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo sealed the victory by tapping in a third goal, leaving the home side reeling.
Despite some late efforts to stage a comeback, United’s response fell short. The defeat highlighted the ongoing inconsistencies under Ruben Amorim, who has had a rocky start since taking over from Erik ten Hag last month.
“It’s hard. In this context, it’s hard to push for two or three wins. We’re trying. But this game was hard. Without any situation we suffered again at set-pieces. We were a little bit nervous, the stadium,” Amorim said via Sky Sports.
Man United set unwanted records
According to the BBC, Man United will be in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since the 1989/1990 season.
Manchester United will be in the bottom half of the table on Christmas Day for the first time since 1989 😮#MUNBOU #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/OPHFhgHihp
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 22, 2024
Andoni Iraola’s side also became the second team to win successive away matches against Man United at Old Trafford by three-plus goals after Burnley in 1961 and 1962, per Opta Joe.
3 – Bournemouth are just the second team to win consecutive league away games against Manchester United by 3+ goals (both 3-0), after Burnley in 1961 (4-1) and 1962 (5-2). Iraola. pic.twitter.com/EWPJExFdwA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 22, 2024
Moreover, the Red Devils have also conceded nine goals from set-pieces. Only Wolves have conceded more (14), per Who Scored.