Bournemouth vs Man United preview: Red Devils face Chelsea-topplers with fresh injury problems

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Ahead of Saturday’s 5.30pm kick off, read our Bournemouth vs Man United preview…

Manchester United are favourites to beat Bournemouth in this weekend’s Saturday Night Football, but the Red Devils are far from dead-certs.

Punters can back Louis van Gaal’s side at a chunky 13/10 to beat last season’s Championship winners.

There are two factors behind United being odds-against;

1) Form – Bournemouth are unbeaten in three Premier League games and they won away at Chelsea last time out. Meanwhile, United are winless in four games in all competitions and have failed to score in five of their last 10.

2) Injuries  – Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling both picked up fresh injuries in United’s 3-2 defeat to Wolfsburg on Wednesday. Smalling, who pulled his groin late on in Germany, has been United’s star man this season, while Darmain’s absence – due to a hamstring problem – leaves the Red Devils understaffed in the full-back positions.

Van Gaal is likely to turn to teenager Cameron Borthwick-Jackson or winger Ashley Young to fill in at left-back, while inexperienced 22-year-old Guillermo Varela looks set to continue on the right side of United’s defence.

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Bournemouth too have injuries – key men Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings and Max Gradel are all long-term absentees – but the Cherries are coping well, as their recent upturn in form shows.

Despite United boring their fans senseless in recent weeks, they are still well in contention to win their first Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

United begin the weekend fourth in the table, just three points behind leaders Leicester City.

Leicester don’t play until Monday night, when they take on Chelsea, so United can climb above the Foxes if they beat Bournemouth by at least two goals.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth can rise as high as 14th with another victory, if results elsewhere go in favour of Eddie Howe’s side.

More Stories Ashley Young Cameron Borthwick-Jackson Chris Smalling Guillermo Varela Louis van Gaal Matteo Darmian