Manchester United v Bournemouth LIVE: Result and reaction as dismal United thrashed by Cherries

In his pre-match press conference, Ruben Amorim told the media that he thinks his side “are improving near the opponent’s box. We have had some games where we were without real threat but we can shoot, we are near the goal and you really feel it. It is a good thing in our team.

He added that his team are “faster, pressing more and both the physicality and the understanding of the game is improving.”

When asked what would help his players to further improve, he said: “Training. That’s simple. We are rotating players and when you rotate players then it is hard to work on every connection.

“If you always have a different guy next to you in that position, then it is hard to work with them. If we have more time, we will use it to train the team. That’s all.”

A reminder of how both sides are doing in the league, with just three points separating them.

United sit in 13th, with just 22 points from 16 games, though they could climb as high as eighth with a win – they would go above Bournemouth on goal difference with any win today.

It’s Bournemouth who currently occupy eighth place, with 25 points, and the Cherries could go as high as fifth win a win – they’d leapfrog Aston Villa into what could be a fifth Champions League spot come the end of the season.

Manchester United failed to win either of their Premier League meetings with Bournemouth last season, losing 3-0 at Old Trafford in December.

Bournemouth have lost five of their seven Premier League away games against Man Utd (W1 D1), though did win this exact fixture 3-0 last season.

Mason Mount faces another “several weeks” on the sidelines as Ruben Amorim vowed to help the Manchester United midfielder through his injury nightmare.

Mount was substituted just 14 minutes into last weekend’s Manchester derby and the former England international has completed 90 minutes just once during his 18 months at the club.

Amorim confirmed that Mount will see a specialist after his latest set-back in an attempt to get to the bottom of his fitness troubles but said he will support the 25-year-old through his recovery.

These two sides have met just 14 times before, though the first meeting did take place in 1982. Overall, United have won nine matches, the Cherries have won three, and two have ended as draws.

Last season, Bournemouth were victorious away against United, winning 3-0 at Old Trafford before a 2-2 draw at the Vitality in April.

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is pleased to be back at Old Trafford for Sunday’s fixture with Bournemouth and eager to put smiles back on the faces of supporters before Christmas.

It has been a gruelling period for United, with three consecutive away matches since a shock 3-2 loss at home to Nottingham Forest on December 7.

Back-to-back wins at Viktoria Plzen and Manchester City appeared to have the Amorim regime up and running, but they were brought back down to earth with a 4-3 loss at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Thursday.

Andoni Iraola has made just one change to the side that drew 1-1 with West Ham on Monday, with American midfielder Tyler Adams coming into defensive midfield as a replacement for Lewis Cook.

Enes Unal will remain on the bench despite his goal in that match, with Evanilson leading the line once again.

Perhaps the biggest team news is the continued absence of Marcus Rashford from the United squad following his comments earlier in the week.

Amorim has made six changes to the side that lost 4-3 to Spurs in midweek, with Andre Onana returning in goal.

In defence, Leny Yoro and Victor Lindelof drop out, with Noussair Mazraoui dropping into the back three, Diogo Dalot moving to right wing-back, and Tyrell Malacia coming into the starting line-up.

In midfield, Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo return, and they replace Christian Eriksen and Antony.

Upfront, Joshua Zirkzee comes in for Rasmus Hojlund.

Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazroui, Maguire, Martinez; Dalot, Fernandes, Ugarte, Malacia; Amad, Mainoo; Zirkzee.

Subs: Bayindir, Evans, Yoro, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Collyer, Garnacho, Hojlund.

Bournemouth XI: Kepa, Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson.

Subs: Travers, Cook, Hill, Unal, Brooks, Philip, Aarons, Winterburn, Kinsey.

The line-ups should be released within the next few minutes...