Manchester United's race for Champions League football next season continues on Saturday when they take on Bournemouth in the Premier League.
After two defeats in a row, United got back on track with a convincing 2-0 win over Wolves in their last outing. The victory kept them one point ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand, with two wins in their last three enough to confirm a top-four finish.
Next up for United is a trip to the south coast against Bournemouth, with the Cherries confirming their place in the Premier League next season last week. The reverse fixture ended in a 3-0 win for Erik ten Hag's side, with Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford getting on the scoresheet.
READ MORE: United give team news for Bournemouth
So, could United pick up an important three points in their race for Champions League football? We simulated Bournemouth vs Manchester United to get a score prediction.
To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.
We predict that Bournemouth could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Neto; Smith, Mepham, Senesi, Vina; Lerma, Rothwell; Christie, Billing, Ouattara; Solanke.
We predict that United could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes; Antony, Martial, Rashford.
United were finding it hard on the south coast in the opening stages, with Bournemouth having a few dangerous chances of their own in the opening 30 minutes. Rashford should've made it 1-0 when he missed the target after surging through one-on-one with the 'keeper, but United did take the lead moments later through Casemiro.
A Bournemouth goal kick was headed back towards the 'keeper by Casemiro on the halfway line, with the ball falling to the feet of Anthony Martial just outside the box. The Brazilian continued his run forward to receive a return pass from the striker, and a powerful strike saw the ball nestle in the top corner to make it 1-0.
United took their lead into the break, but they started slowly in the second half, with Bournemouth piling the pressure on the United backline. And, just nine minutes after the restart, the hosts scored twice in quick succession to turn the game on its head.
The first goal was unlucky from United's point of view, with Ryan Christie's drilled cross into the box smacking the leg of Raphael Varane and ricocheting through the legs of David de Gea. Four minutes later it was 2-1, with Jefferson Lerma playing a one-two with Philip Billing before firing into the roof of the net from close range.
The physicality of the Cherries midfield was seeing the hosts control the game, with United barely having a sniff of goal in the second half. And the situation went from bad to worse in the 73rd minute when Dominic Solanke made it 3-1.
Christie was involved again on the left, playing a one-two with Billing to round Shaw and reach the byline. The Scotsman's cross into the box was perfectly placed for Solanke, and the ex-Liverpool man volleyed past De Gea to confirm the three points for the Cherries.
FIFA 23 predicted score: Bournemouth 3-1 United
Here are the full-time match stats:
FIFA 23 predicts that United could fall to a shock defeat against Bournemouth, losing 3-1 in the simulation. It was a lacklustre display from Ten Hag's side who struggled to get going in attack, and some defensive fragility allowed the hosts to create plenty of chances and grab three goals.
What do you think the final score will be? Let us know in the comments
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