Manchester United’s board recently decided that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be leading the club for the rest of the season. Solskjaer was brought over from Norwegian side Molde after Manchester United made the decision to relieve Jose Mourinho of his duties as manager. Since his appointment, the Red Devils have been in fine form, and they played like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders in his two games on the sidelines. He will look to start his tenure at Old Trafford with his third straight win against Bournemouth this weekend.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Old Trafford in Manchester at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, December 30, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
English Premier League Betting at BookMaker.eu
Manchester United -276
Bournemouth +711
Draw +421
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
Bournemouth capitalized on a relatively light schedule in the first two and a half months of the season. The Cherries were threatening to claim a spot in the Europa League, and they hung in the top six for quite some time. However, the wheels started to come off the first time they faced Manchester United. They lost that match 2-1, due to a Marcus Rashford extra time goal, and the Cherries have now lost seven of their last nine games. Bournemouth were rocked on Boxing Day, giving up five goals to Tottenham Hotspur, and they should have a bad taste in their mouths. They are now down to 12th in the table with 26 points.
It’s been a very interesting season for Manchester United. The Red Devils are crossing their fingers that two of the clubs above them will start to stumble as they are six points behind Arsenal, eight points behind Chelsea, and a dozen or more points behind the Premier League’s top three teams. Since sacking Mourinho the club has looked much livelier on offense, and they have scored eight goals in wins over Cardiff City and Hudderstield Town. Those are two of the worst teams in the league to be fair, but United need all the help they can get.
Key Injuries
There have been a rash of knee injuries at Bournemouth, and now a second player is expected to miss the rest of the season. Lewis Cook was already declared out for the year after suffering a torn ACL earlier this month, and now Simon Francis will be out the remainder of the season too with the same injury. Adam Smith will be out for another two months with a knee injury, while Dan Gosling is out for an unspecified amount of time.
Chris Smalling and Scott McTominay have both been ruled doubtful for Manchester United. Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku are both considered questionable to play, while Anthony Martial is listed as probable.
Player to Watch
The Cherries have been really hurt in the back by injuries and not having Francis going forward might result in the club playing more aggressive in order to secure goals. That would put the spotlight on Ryan Fraser, and he has already proven himself repeatedly this campaign. He is second in the Premier League with eight assists, just one behind Eden Hazard.
Prop Bet of the Game – Manchester United & Over 2.5 -147
This is essentially a parlay considering the type of bet it is, but it also leads to you getting the total at a half-goal lower than the regular line. Manchester United should continue to barnstorm through bottom of the table teams with their newfound confidence, yet I think Bournemouth will change tactics enough to get a goal too.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Paul Pogba should be able to create a lot of chances against a decimated back line. He is playing a more attacking role under the new manager, and he looked like his old self with a brace in Manchester United’s last game. That should lead to a Manchester United victory.
English Premier League Odds: Manchester United 3, Bournemouth 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
