Man United hammered by Bournemouth as Rashford left out of Amorim's squad again

Doubts over striker's future increase while Cherries win 3-0 at Old Trafford for second season running

Antoine Semenyo celebrates scoring Bournemouth's third goal in their 3-0 Premier League win against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, December 22, 2024. Getty Images

Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo scores his team's third goal. Getty Images

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim gestures on the touchline during the game. AFP

Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates. Getty Images

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes expresses his frustration during the game. Action Images

Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert scores from the penalty spot to make it 2-0. EPA

Manchester United fans hold up banners in support of Marcus Rashford, who was again left out of Ruben Amorim's match day squad. EPA

Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen scores his side's first goal. EPA

Manchester United's players after conceding the opening goal. AFP

Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen celebrates after scoring his side's first goal. AP

Bournemouth keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga saves from Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes. Reuters

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim heads for the tunnel at half-time. PA

Marcus Rashford may have been missing but all Manchester United's familiar failings were on show as they were thrashed 3-0 at home by Bournemouth on Sunday.

Goals from Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo inflicted another damaging defeat on Ruben Amorim's side. It was the second time in two seasons the Cherries have won 3-0 at Old Trafford.

All the chatter before kick-off was about Rashford being dropped from the Portuguese manager's match-day squad for the third game in a row.

During the week, the England forward, 27, revealed that he is “ready for a new challenge” away from his boyhood club and his omission on Sunday could signal the end of his spell at Old Trafford after nine seasons.

But Amorim, who has stressed that the team must come before the individual, has far greater headaches than merely the fate of his inconsistent forward.

His team were easily dismantled by Andoni Iraola's high-flying Bournemouth.

Following his arrival to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag, Amorim has struggled to find a system that produces consistent results.

His side have now lost their third Premier League match in four and are languishing in 13th place in the table.

In contrast, Bournemouth are fifth and are pushing hard for European football next season.

United fell behind in the 29th minute as Bournemouth exploited their recurring frailty at set-pieces.

The Red Devils shipped two goals from corners against Arsenal, another in their defeat against Nottingham Forest and conceded from a Son Hueng-min free kick as they were dumped out of the League Cup on Thursday.

Whatever drills United's set-piece coach Carlos Fernandes is putting in place on the training ground, they are clearly not paying off as the visitors took the lead through 19-year-old Spain youth international Huijsen, who was left unmarked at Ryan Christie's free-kick to score with a glancing header.

In the 61st minute, Kluivert was brought down in the box by Noussair Mazraoui and sent Andre Onana the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-0.

And two minutes later Semenyo was unmarked as he swept home Dango Ouattara's cross after Kobbie Mainoo had given away possession inside his own half.

United did create chances. On-loan Cherries goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga frustrated Bruno Fernandes with an excellent first-half save and substitute Leny Yoro was also denied late on.

But it was another sobering afternoon for United and Amorim as the result was greeted by boos from the Old Trafford stands.

After the game, Amorim said: “It's hard to push for two, three wins and we are trying. This game was hard on us. We suffered again on set-pieces and we were a bit nervous, I felt it in the stadium.

“The penalty and another goal are really hard here. We tried to score some goals but it was a tough match so let's move on.

“If you look at the game, we were not conceding anything before the first goal, we had opportunities. If we manage to score the first goal then the game should be different. We want to score but we are too nervous. We have to fight this.

“After the penalty, we need to control the game better because we know this situation is really hard. We have to control better this moment.

“We have to focus on the job and not what you feel in the stadium. It's the only way I know how to focus my players. We have to suffer again but we will try to win. We will do it until the end.”

Bournemouth manager Iraola said: “It's an important win for us. We won 3-0 but it was more difficult than it looks when you see 3-0. I think we've been quite solid, it was a mature performance. Kepa's performance has helped us this year.

“He [Kepa] has been very good in possession and with positions. He is confident and in a very young defensive line, we need players with experience.

“I am happy that we were more clinical today. We scored from a set play. I think it was a solid performance. Not amazing, but it was solid. We kept playing the same way and pushing until the end. After half-time we regrouped and we were better in the second half.

“I value the 28 points. I think the amount of points we have is good. At Christmas, it is a good amount.”

And Cherries goalscorer Kluivert said: “It's a massive win, back-to-back winning here at this beautiful stadium is amazing. It's unreal. We've been working hard and we were building last year. It's amazing with this coach.”

On his side scoring in their last 10 games, he added: “It's our philosophy, it's what the manager wants from us and that's why we score every game. We need to keep cruising like this. There's always something after a goal so you have to be sharp and we scored the second.”