United ease past Bournemouth to cement top four credentials

Manchester United continued their fine form in the Premier League following the World Cup break as the Red Devils comprehensively brushed aside Bournemouth 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Goals from Casemiro, Luke Shaw, and the in-form Marcus Rashford helped Erik ten Hag’s side clinch their fourth consecutive victory in the Premier League, taking them into the Champions League places after 17 matches.

The Red Devils are now tied on 35 points with Newcastle United, albeit with an inferior goal difference, and are also just nine points off league leaders Arsenal at the top of the table.

Manchester United headed into this fixture on the back of three home victories in a row in the Premier League without conceding and looked to extend this golden run at Old Trafford against relegation-threatened Bournemouth. Erik ten Hag made four changes to the side that beat Wolves in their previous outing, with Harry Maguire and Donny van de Beek making rare starts while Marcus Rashford returned to the line-up.

The hosts took some time to get going but eventually opened the scoring in the 23rd minute from a set-piece. Christian Eriksen swung the ball in from the left flank, and Casemiro volleyed home from a close distance to score his second goal for the club. Casemiro was at the heart of the midfield throughout the first period, breaking up Bournemouth attacks at every opportunity while also displaying his wide passing range.

United dominated the proceedings after the opener and doubled their lead shortly after the break via Luke Shaw. The Englishman, who had deputised as centre-back in United’s recent matches, drove forward from left-back to start the attack before finding himself at the end of Alejandro Garnacho’s cross to finish the move and put the home side 2-0 in front.

Bournemouth hit back after the second goal, forcing David de Gea into a pair of crucial saves from Phillip Billing and Jaidon Anthony to keep United’s clean sheet. United went close to finding a third when Garnacho struck the outside of the post with his shot, and eventually put the game to bed in the 86th minute after another well-worked goal.

Luke Shaw’s sublime lofted pass found the feet of Bruno Fernandes, who squared the ball for the oncoming Marcus Rashford to score his seventh league goal of the season. With this win, United carve a seven-point gap over Liverpool in sixth place in the league as they registered their sixth successive win in all competitions.

The focus for United now turns to the FA Cup, where they will face Everton at home in the third round on Friday night.