Manchester United vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
Old TraffordAttendance74,363.
Tuesday 17 May 2016 21:38, UK
Manchester United entertain Bournemouth in their rearranged final-day fixture on Tuesday night, live on Sky Sports 1, with fifth place in the Premier League up for grabs.
The original game on Sunday afternoon was abandoned after a suspect package was found in the Old Trafford toilets.
Greater Manchester Police subsequently confirmed the device described as a "life-like" bomb was accidentally left by a private company at the stadium following a training exercise held last Wednesday.
United are currently sixth, level on points with fifth-placed Southampton, and only an unlikely 19-goal swing against the Cherries will result in Louis van Gaal's side overtaking Manchester City into fourth place after their 1-1 draw with Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
Either way, United - who take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday - have already qualified for next season's Europa League regardless of what happens against Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, have exceeded expectations following their promotion from the Championship and a draw at Old Trafford will see Eddie Howe's team finish 15th. A victory, unless it is by ten goals or more, would earn them a place higher.
"When you look at the size of the clubs that have gone down, their history, their fan base, the size of the grounds, it does bring home the size of the achievement that our players have done," said Howe.
Team news
United are expected to be without Matteo Darmian again due to an ankle injury while Marouane Fellaini is serving the final game of his three-match suspension.
Luke Shaw and Bastian Schweinsteiger remain out through injury.
Howe has no fresh injury or suspension worries. Adam Smith is unavailable due to a groin injury which forced him off in the 4-0 defeat to City at the beginning of April.
Sylvain Distin (back), Tyrone Mings (knee) and Tokelo Rantie (muscular injury) remain long-term injuries.
Opta stats
United have conceded fewer goals than any other team in the Premier League on home soil this season (eight).
Bournemouth have lost just three of their last 12 Premier League away matches (W5 D4 L3).
Bournemouth have visited Old Trafford four times in all competitions, losing all four without scoring.
Wayne Rooney has scored just seven Premier League goals this season; he has never before failed to reach double-figures in a top-flight campaign with United.
The Red Devils have netted just 46 top-flight goals this season; their lowest goal tally in a completed Premier League campaign is 58 in 04/05.
United have won just 18 league games this season. If they don't beat Bournemouth, they'll set a new club record for fewest wins in a full Premier League season (current record is 19 in 13/14).
Merson's prediction
United need to win. They were really poor against West Ham, but I think they will get the three points. Bournemouth have had a great season but they have not been that good lately and United must win and hope Swansea do them a favour.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Betting
United are Sky Bet's odds-on favourites for the victory on Tuesday night, with Bournemouth up against odds of 17/4 to complete the double over Van Gaal's men, while a draw is priced at 16/5.
Marcus Rashford is Sky Bet's 3/1 favourite to score first as he looks to continue to impress England boss Roy Hodgson, while Callum Wilson is considered the visitors' biggest threat at 10/1 to break the deadlock.
Sky Bet are enhancing the odds on the in-form Anthony Martial to score in a United win from 6/4 to 2/1 in their pre-match Price Boosts.
