Man Utd 4-4 Bournemouth: Ruben Amorim's experimental side in 'game of the season' thriller against Cherries
Report and free match highlights as Man Utd and Bournemouth play out one of the Premier League games of the season; Ruben Amorim experimented with a back four in a departure from his 3-4-3 system
Tuesday 16 December 2025 08:51, UK
Manchester United and Bournemouth traded blows in a thrilling 4-4 draw that saw Ruben Amorim make the first changes to his formation since taking over at Old Trafford.
In a riveting, rollercoaster contest, that Jamie Carragher subsequently hailed as "the best game of the Premier League season so far":
- United raced out of the blocks, taking a deserved lead and produced 17 first-half shots - the most by any Premier League team in the first 45 minutes of a game this season
- But Bournemouth responded with two goals straight after half-time before a Bruno Fernandes free-kick then made it 3-3.
- United took the lead again through a sharp finish by Matheus Cunha before Eli Junior Kroupi equalised again for the visitors. And there was still drama in added-on time with United goalkeeper Senne Lammens denying David Brooks a late winner.
- Significantly, the game also featured formation changes from Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, with United deployed in a 4-4-2 formation for the first time since Amorim took charge at Old Trafford over a year ago.
Amorim changes shape as United produce first-half fireworks
Amorim has staunchly defended his 3-4-3 system, but looked to be playing a tweaked or even entirely altered formation from kick-off. And the middle of the second half, he had thrown caution to the wind and gone for a 4-2-4.
The changes certainly worked with Manchester United dominant in the first half and making a deserved breakthrough in the 13th minute when Amad Diallo nodded home on his final appearance before the Africa Cup of Nations.
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But their good play going forward was undone when Luke Shaw was too easily barged out of the way, allowing Antoine Semenyo to power forward. He then swept home, with the goal coming against the run of play.
Deservedly though, Casemiro nodded Manchester United back in front on the stroke of half-time from a corner - the hosts' seventh from the set piece this season, with only Arsenal (9) scoring more.
But just seven minutes after the break, the Red Devils somehow found themselves 3-2 behind. Bournemouth equalised with a brilliant finish from Evanilson 38 seconds into the second half, before Marcus Tavernier curled a wonderful free-kick into the bottom left corner.
Then it was Manchester United's turn to score two quick goals to restore their lead as the pendulum swung back the other way. Bruno Fernandes scored a wonderful free-kick to level, before Cunha turned home inside a packed box as the ball fell kindly his way.
But the drama wasn't over yet.
Bournemouth hit back again to round off an incredible eight-goal thriller. Eli Junior Kroupi - just on as a substitute - added to the raft of high-quality goals as he squeezed through the central defenders before arrowing home his effort.
The result moves Manchester United into sixth place on 26 points - level with Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Sunderland. Bournemouth are nudged up into 13th spot.
'Best I've seen Man Utd play under Amorim'
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football:
"We have just seen the best game of the Premier League season so far. That's what makes the Premier League the greatest league, the greatest product or whatever you want to call it, in the world."
"I think it's the best I've seen Manchester United play, certainly in the first half, under Amorim, maybe going back to the first game of the season with Arsenal.
"Manchester United were fantastic in those first 25 to 30 minutes. It was almost a throwback to Sir Alex Ferguson - fast, attacking football, people being energetic, making runs forward, being positive, being on the front foot, winning the ball back early. There was lots of that.
"Bournemouth were not at the races in the first half but they were fantastic in the second half."
Amorim: The result should be different
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim to Sky Sports:
"A fun game. We started really well, did a very good first half. The result should be completely different.
"We lost the concentration and they scored two goals. But we managed to get back to the game, we scored two goals again and then we have to finish the game.
"We need to think about not to go again, but to take calm and to close the game. A lot of good things, but a lot of things to work.
"We are not winning games sometimes in the details because it's a back four, back three, back five. It's the details that we need to work, understand the momentum of the game. You need to be more clinical, because today against a very good team we create so many chances to win the game.
"We need to focus on the performance today, different from the last two at home. That is also a point that we pay attention to. The result is the same and at one point, it's frustrating, but the performance is different."
Iraola: A game that had everything
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola to Sky Sports:
"It had everything. Moments where you think it's a loss, moments where you think we have this one, we are comfortable.
"Even at the end, at the last minute, two clear chances, and I was thinking, 'maybe win this one'. It's just a point, it's not a lot in the standings, but I think we can take good and bad things from today.
"We are two teams that play quite aggressively, quite open and probably today we attacked much better than we defended. The second goal is a cheap goal, a cheap one for us to concede. The corner is not even a great header.
"We finished really well the first half. When we scored the 1-1 we were feeling comfortable and were finishing the half much better. That's why the goal we conceded just from the corner has hurt me because we were in a good moment.
"You didn't even know if we were happy finishing the game, or give us one minute more."
Story of the match in stats...
