BOURNEMOUTH VS MAN UNITED: PREVIEW

Manchester United travel down to Bournemouth for the early game on Saturday, with the visitors looking to build on last weekend's win over Everton.

United narrowly seen off Everton on Sunday, with goals from Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial enough for Jose Mourinho's team.

Bournemouth continued their brilliant start to the campaign with a rampant 3-0 win at struggling Fulham.

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TEAM NEWS:

Bournemouth striker Joshua King is to be monitored by the Cherries to see if he can face his former side.

King has been nursing an ankle injury which has kept him out of Bournemouth's last two games.

Source: AFC Bournemouth

Manchester United manager Mourinho has a decision to make on whether to call on striker Romelu Lukaku, who was dropped to the bench in last weekend's win over Everton.

Jesse Lingard made his return to the team as a late substitution against the Toffees, and Mourinho will also have to decide whether the England forward comes back into the team.

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THE MANAGERS:

Despite Bournemouth's impressive form leading up to the clash, Cherries boss Eddie Howe has insisted United are still favourites for Saturday's game.

"Every time you play Manchester United as Bournemouth; Manchester United are favourites for the game, I've got no problem for that," Howe insisted.

"Players need to know to get anything out of the game, they are going to have the excel, perhaps even above what we have done this season, to get a positive result.

"That's the message to the players. Whenever you play the elite teams, the big guns, you have to outperform your levels.

"You have to hit your very top to get a result. We have found that before, you can't play below your best and expect to win. The challenge is to win and go harder."

Despite their underwhelming start to the campaign, United boss Jose Mourinho still believes his side will get into the top four at the end of the season.

"When you are outside the top four, I don't believe you should speak about the title," Mourinho said.

Source: Fox Sports

"When you are in the top four - which I believe we are going to be - you can look up, see the distance, see the fixtures, you can look at the situation at that moment with injuries, suspensions and form, then you can feel it.

"In this moment, we are outside the top four so I think the point now is to get the points we need and to try to be in a better position by the end of December, like I expect to be."

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MATCH STATS:

- United have beaten Bournemouth in their last two trips to the Vitality Stadium, scoring five and conceding only one in the process.

- If Bournemouth manage to keep a clean sheet on Saturday afternoon; it will be the first time the Cherries have kept four clean sheets in a row in the top flight.

- United, however, have only kept the single clean sheet this season - with only Fulham having a poorer defensive record.

- Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson is one goal involvement short of equalling his goals and assists tally from the whole of last season (Eight goals, two assists).

- Lukaku has scored six times in his last three games against the Cherries, scoring in both fixtures against them last season.

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BETTING ODDS:

Bournemouth: 13/5

Draw: 13/5

Manchester United: 19/20