Casemiro starts tonight
Manchester United are back in Premier League action tonight as they face Bournemouth.
Here are the teams for tonight's game:
United: Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo
Bournemouth: Petrovic, Jimenez, Senesi, Hill, Truffert, Scott, Christie, Tavernier, Adli, Rayan, Evanilson
We've got all of the updates LIVE from the Vitality Stadium below, so stick with us:
Key Events
6' BOU 0-0 MUN - Sharp start
That energy Carrick talked about is on show already. A fast start for Bournemouth and they have had a couple of good openings, but when United got their chance it was composed stuff, nice build-up and clever play from Amad to work the space. Was a good shot as well, met with a good save. United will be looking to get a foot on the ball and slow it down when they can.
5' BOU 0-0 MUN - Good chances
Good chances at both ends. First, Amad cuts onto his right and forces a good save from Petrovic. Bournemouth counter and Rayan drills a shot across the face of goal.
2' BOU 0-0 MUN - Corner
A little sloppy from United as Maguire blocks Evanilson's cross behind for a corner.
1' BOU 0-0 MUN - Kick off
We are underway at the Vitality Stadium. It is United kicking us off!
The teams are out. Kick off is just moments away...
We are moments away from the teams coming out at the Vitality Stadium. Can United pick up only their second victory on a Friday night in the Premier League era?
When asked about whether Carrick should become the permanent head coach, Andy Cole told Sky Sports:
If a manager goes in and wins football matches, why not? It is not for me to say.
(Image: Tom Dulat, Getty Images for Premier League)
Speaking ahead of the game to Premier League Productions, Bournemouth defender James Hill believes the Cherries are full of confidence.
We’ll hopefully not concede as many goals as last time, but it’ll be an exciting game tonight. Two teams that are at it, two really good teams a well. It’ll be an interesting game. We’re very confident.
Manchester United are ready for another clash with the Cherries (Image: Stu Forster, Getty Images)
We are just 30 minutes away from kick off on the south coast! Can United enter the international break on a high?
Carrick’s 10th game in charge tonight and seven of the starting XI have started all 10 of them. That tells you how settled this team is at the moment. Had he not been injured, Martinez would probably have started in every game as well. Two of the seven, Maguire and Mainoo, have an England recall to toast tonight. Shaw has started the lot as well and will be disappointed he didn’t get back in. Maybe he will have a point to prove this evening.
(Image: Getty Images)
More from Amad ahead of the game:
Like I say, we have to go game by game and try to win every game, that’s the priority. We are in a good moment. We are really happy with the new manager, since he’s arrived he’s tried to give his best. He’s a winner. We want to be as high as we can at the end of the season.
(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
Amad thoughts
Speaking ahead of the game to Premier League Productions, Amad said:
I think everyone seems happy. We really look happy, we are confident right now. We have to keep going like this and try to win every game. Obviously we have to go game by game. We want to finish as high as we can.
(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
United have arrived at the Vitality Stadium.
The 24-day break will give Martinez an opportunity to recover. United are hopefully the centre-back will return for the clash with Leeds on April 13. In the meantime, it is Yoro and Maguire who are trusted to hold down the defence.
Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez (Image: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Easy team selection
That felt like an easy team to call. Unchanged for United and no surprises about it. Sesko will have his supporters but it’s very clear Carrick likes this flexible front three and I think they were always going to start together again. No Mazraoui in the squad, so the bench looks a little thin. Mount, Zirkzee and Sesko the three ‘game-changing’ subs.
(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Bournemouth team news
And here is how Bournemouth line up:
Petrovic, Jimenez, Senesi, Hill, Truffert, Scott, Christie, Tavernier, Adli, Rayan, Evanilson
Subs:
Mandas, Smith, Unal, Brooks, Diakite, Toth, Gannon-Doak, Kroupi, Milosavljevic
United team news
Here is how the Reds line up tonight:
Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo
Subs:
Bayindir, Fredricson, Heaven, Malacia, Mount, T. Fletcher, Ugarte, Sesko, Zirkzee
This feels like a big opportunity for United. Win tonight and they will get six points clear of Aston Villa in fourth and nine points ahead of Chelsea in sixth. Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea would have a game still to play this weekend but it would be first mover advantage to Carrick’s side and the chances of the other three all winning seem slim. This is a chance to take a big step towards Champions League football.
(Image: Jose Breton/NurPhoto)
Repeat of 2023?
It’s a beautiful day on the south coast and the sun has been shining, just as it was when United last won here. That was in May 2023, a 1-0 win that proved massive in securing a place in the following season’s Champions League. The goal scorer? Casemiro. The way he’s been going, don’t be surprised if the Brazilian is the hero tonight.
(Image: OLI SCARFF, AFP via Getty Images)
Bournemouth’s recent run isn’t the easiest to decipher. They are unbeaten in 10 and haven’t lost since last year, but six of them have been draws, including all of the last four. They have come against West Ham, Sunderland, Brentford and Burnley and it’s fair to say Andoni Iraola’s side would be expecting to win at least a couple of those games. They are a difficult team to play against, however, and play with real energy and intensity, especially at home. They’ve only lost twice here in the Premier League this season.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola embraces captain Ryan Christie following the match against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on 10 February 2026 (Image: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/SmartFrame)
Team news on the way...
We are just 45 minutes away from team news. Who would you like to see start tonight on the south coast?
According to , Iraola is one of the names in contention to be the next head coach of United when the new season begins in August. However, thanks to the form the Reds are showing, Carrick is the overwhelming favourite to become the permanent head coach at the end of the season.
Michael Carrick - 10/11
Oliver Glasner - 5/1
Gareth Southgate and Roberto De Zerbi - 12/1
Julian Nagelsmann and Andoni Iraola - 14/1
Luis Enrique and Roberto Martinez - 20/1
(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Speaking ahead of tonight's match, the Bournemouth boss said:
I think obviously they are doing very well, it’s not just the results, this is evident, and something very objective, it’s just that they are, for me, more solid. Because they have the same threat offensively but they were the same with Ruben [Amorim], they were scoring a lot of goals, having a lot of chances like they are having now, but defensively they look more solid, they haven’t conceded a lot of goals, if you see the chances they concede in some games it’s ridiculous, they don’t concede chances a lot of times, and the improvement in points and feeling from this defensive solidity. I think we will have to be very good to get a draw because they are playing very well, they are one of the best, if not the best team, right now in the Premier League. I think everything is positive, the results are remarkable, I don’t know him [Carrick] personally but I like how he speaks, how he behaves, how he makes everything about the team and the team is playing really well. I think they are doing really well, everything looks fantastic but we have the problem that we have to face them tomorrow. So we will try to find some weaknesses that they have but I’m very happy he’s doing so well.
(Image: Getty Images)
Here is how the Premier League table looks in the race for the top four ahead of tonight's action:
Manchester United GD +13 54pts
Aston Villa GD +3 51pts
Liverpool GD +9 49pts
Chelsea GD +18 48pts
Brentford GD +4 45pts
(Image: Martin Rickett/PA)
Whether anything comes to fruition in regards Guimaraes and United remains to be seen. However, it at least shows the ambition the Reds have. If they reach the Champions League this season and Newcastle don't, the Reds should be looking to cherry pick their best talent. He would also fit this 'plug and play' plan that Wilcox is so fond of.
(Image: PA)
Eddie Howe has dismissed rumours that his captain is in talks with Manchester United. The Brazilian star found himself in the spotlight following the defeat to Barcelona, with domestic and international reports suggesting that United's transfer guru Jason Wilcox has been in contact with the player's agent to discuss contract conditions.
Reuters reported that a move to United for Guimaraes was 'advanced' and that the deal would be worth around £69 million. It was also reported that Reds midfielder Casemiro, a compatriot of Guimaraes, had recommended him to the club ahead of his exit in the summer.
Read on here>>>
Bruno Guimaraes (Image: (Michelle Mercer/Newcastle United via Getty Images))
Tonight's referee is Stuart Attwell. He has taken charge of two United matches this season - the draw at Burnley and the victory over Sunderland. He has been a little card friendly in his last four Premier League matches, dishing out six in three of those. He will be assisted by Craig Pawson on VAR duty.
(Image: Getty Images)
Bournemouth missing key man
As their recent form suggests, this Bournemouth team are not the live wires who played out an eight-goal thriller the last time these two sides met. In truth, United are not the same either but the Cherries are missing Semenyo. Now a City man, Semenyo scored in the reverse fixture and was a constant threat. Without him, Bournemouth have struggled for goals and the Reds will hope this plays into their hands tonight.
(Image: Getty Images)
Form guide
Here's how the two teams stack up ahead of this one:
Bournemouth's last five results
Burnley (A) 0-0 - Premier League
Brentford (H) 0-0 - Premier League
Sunderland (H) 1-1 - Premier League
West Ham (A) 0-0 - Premier League
Everton (A) 1-2 - Premier League
United's last five results
Aston Villa (H) 3-1 - Premier League
Newcastle (A) 2-1 - Premier League
Crystal Palace (H) 2-1 - Premier League
Everton (A) 0-1 - Premier League
West Ham (A) 1-1 - Premier League
(Image: SmartFrame/SportImage)
If De Ligt does miss the remainder of the season that will be a huge concern for United. He was one of the best performers for the Reds before his injury but that seems a long time ago now. Whoever becomes the new permanent head coach will benefit from a fit and firing De Ligt but that is a long way off at the moment.
(Image: Getty Images)