Coming up for Manchester United: Aston Villa (A, Sun), Newcastle (H, 26 Dec), Wolves (H, 30 Dec), Leeds (A, 4 Jan).

And for Bournemouth: Burnley (H, Sat), Brentford (H, 27 Dec), Chelsea (A, 30 Dec), Arsenal (H, 3 Jan).

Andoni Iraola gives his thoughts: “Difficult to explain – a nice game, it had everything. Moments we thought we had lost, moments we were winning – and we could have won at the end. Just a point, but we can take a lot from the game.”

“Both teams played aggressively; we attacked much better than we defended. The second goal was a cheap one, but we changed things tactically to match up with them. A very up and down game. At the end, could we win it? Could we lose it? We have to take a point.”

Ruben Amorim gives his verdict: “A fun game for everyone at home. We started really well, the result should be completely different. We lost concentration, but we managed to get the lead back and we have to finish the game.”

He doesn’t want to talk about a back three or four, saying only “details” are important. There were “a lot of good things, but a lot of things to work on. We create so many chances, but we need to be more clinical. It’s frustrating, but the performance was decent.”

A hat-tip to Jamie Jackson, who questioned United’s quantity of four-goal hauls in our Premier League preview last week.

“Manchester United have lost just one of their last nine Premier League games and equally encouraging is the fact that Ruben Amorim’s men have grabbed four goals twice, 15 matches into the campaign. Last season’s 4-0 home win over Everton was the sole time this occurred in the league in 2024-25.”

We can make that three times now, although this might not have been the result and performance Jamie was envisaging.

Who’s going to be happier with that result? For Manchester United, there are signs that they’re finding an attacking swagger – but the defence remains a big concern. There have been dispiriting draws at Old Trafford recently, but this wasn’t one of them.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, do not look like a team on a seven-game winless run – they did brilliantly to fight back twice, and had the better chances at the death. Having won 3-0 here in their last two visits, they scored four this time – but didn’t win.

A few stats from Sky: United had 25 shots to Bournemouth’s 14, with nine each on target. The hosts’ xG was 3.27, to the visitors’ 1.86 (which seems a touch low). Possession was 56-44 in United’s favour.

To recap: United flew out of the traps and led through Amad Diallo’s header – but Bournemouth hit back, Antoine Semenyo punishing a defensive lapse to level. Casemiro nodded the hosts back in front just before half time, but things only got more frantic in the second half.

Evanilson netted within 45 seconds of the restart, and Marcus Tavernier’s free kick then put the visitors in front. United fought back, levelling with an even better free kick from Bruno Fernandes – and two minutes later, Matheus Cunha fired them in front.

Bournemouth would not give in, though, and substitute Eli Junior Kroupi struck a leveller six minutes from time – before David Brooks saw two chances saved by Senne Lammens in stoppage time. Phew!

99 mins: Yikes! Semenyo plays in Brooks, who gets a second chance to grab a winner – but again, he’s denied by Lammens! What a ridiculous game …

97 mins: Eek! Zirkzee’s header across goal is hooked away from danger, and now Bournemouth can break one more time …

96 mins: Adam Smith is sent to the touchline because his mouth is bleeding, and is completely livid at having to wait to come back on. In the meantime, Senesi’s shot is well struck, but saved by Lammens at his near post.

95 mins: Ooooof! Instead, he throws it short (if that’s the phrase) to Gimenez, who whips in a brilliant ball across the United area. Brooks gets a head to it and seems certain to score, but Lammens sticks a leg out to save!

94 mins: Brooks’ free kick is headed awkwardly behind by Zirkzee, and Bournemouth have a corner … which is flicked clear at the far post by Mainoo. Semenyo can launch another long throw …

93 mins: Mbeumo is going off, as is Luke Shaw. On come Patrick Dorgu and Joshua Zirkzee.

92 mins: Semenyo heaves a long throw into the box but United clear it and break through Sesko. He finds Amad, who moves it on to Fernandes, whose low cross zips beyond Mbeumo.

90 mins: Tavernier and Kluivert go off, replaced by David Brooks and James Hill, a homegrown centre-back. Pulling down the shutters, Andoni? For shame.

89 mins: Eight added minutes. Buckle up! Cunha tries an ambitious shot from the corner of the area that Petrovic gets behind easily.

88 mins: Both teams have a chance to run at the other’s defence, the whole concept of midfields abandoned. Semenyo, and then Sesko, fail to make the most of the options in front of them.

86 mins: Sir Alex Ferguson is watching on in utter bemusement as both sets of players steel themselves for stoppage time. Does this ridiculous see-saw battle have a knockout blow?

United seemed to have swept this game away from Bournemouth again, but their defence stands off here and get punished. Jimenez prods a ball into the path of Kroupi, under pressure, who drills the ball into the bottom corner and backflips away in celebration. Outrageous, egregious, preposterous.

81 mins: A bit of admin to cover off – Smith and Senesi were both booked for their complaints before Bruno’s free kick, which feels like a long time ago already.

Bournemouth just couldn’t get organised after Bruno’s goal, and Sesko carries the ball down the left. He aims a cross towards Diallo and although Truffert intercepts, he stumbles and presents the ball to Cunha, eight yards out. He takes a touch and drills it home!

78 mins: Iraola makes a change, bringing Eli Kroupi on for Evanilson. Has the pendulum swung again in this game?

76 mins: Bournemouth don’t get the ball away and United get a free kick on the edge of the area after Fernandes’ cross is handled by Smith. Bruno will take it …

75 mins: Another opening for the hosts as Mainoo picks up the ball again and finds Cunha, whose swerving shot stings Petrovic’s palms!

74 mins: Mainoo moves forward and tries to find Sesko, but Senesi does well to nick the ball away.

73 mins: From a Bournemouth corner, Amad leads a charge downfield and crosses for Mbeumo – but his attempted through ball to Shaw is overcooked.

72 mins: Sesko has joined Mbeumo up front, with Cunha dropping to the left. Gary Neville believes this is a proper back four, but I’m not sure – Dalot has moved to the right, but Shaw now seems to be further forward.

70 mins: Cunha’s shot is charged down, leading to big calls for handball – but in the meantime, the rebound lands to Mbeumo, who blazes over from five yards out! He’s had chances tonight but just seems to keep snatching at them.

68 mins: Two more United changes – Lisandro Martínez replaces Yoro, and Benjamin Sesko is on for Mount. The big striker was due back from a knee injury but then suffered a bout of food poisoning.

66 mins: An unconvincing night for Petrovic continues, as the keeper palms Cunha’s cross-shot off the bar and behind. The corner ricochets into his arms, while Smith is left on the deck and looks a little dazed.

64 mins: United are far from resigned to defeat here, still poking plenty of holes in the visiting defence. Mount hooks in a teasing cross that evades Petrovic – but Cunha is just in the wrong place and the ball sails beyond him.

“When was the last time United lost a league game at home after having the lead at half-time?” asks F. “I am thinking it must be close to 40 years.” It’s never happened in the Premier League era, and I think the last time was in 1984, against Ipswich Town.

62 mins: Mainoo’s energy is needed in midfield, where Casemiro and Fernandes have been getting overrun. On the edge of the Bournemouth area, Mount finds Mbeumo, whose hurried shot lacks any real power.

61 mins: Amorim makes his first change, and it’s a popular one with the home fans – Kobbie Mainoo is coming on for Casemiro!

60 mins: At the other end, frustrated home fans urge Amad, then Mbeumo, then Fernandes to shoot from the edge of the area, and groan as the latter tries a scoop pass that doesn’t come off.

59 mins: United give the ball away and Bournemouth have a three-on-three – but Heaven does well to read Kluivert’s pass and clear the danger.

58 mins: Amad sends a cross skipping and bouncing across the area, but nobody is there to meet it and Mount can’t keep it in on the far side.

“To play like Bournemouth requires self-belief,” says Kari Tulinius. “If a lesser side gave up a goal as silly as United’s second, heads could drop. Especially given their run lately. But they back themselves, and now they’re ahead.” Yes, credit where it’s due. The United of the first half don’t seem to be out here now, though.

55 mins: United are trying to haul themselves off the canvas, but Fernandes sends a chipped cross well behind Petrovic’s goal.

54 mins: Gary Neville thinks Lammers should have done better with that Tavernier free kick, suggesting the keeper was caught on his heels. I think he was unsighted by Fernandes and Cunha, who left a big gap between them for some reason.

52 mins: A first half of real promise has unravelled quickly for Manchester United. Somewhere in a content creation bunker, Frank is wiping tears (and his hair) from his eyes.

50 mins: The lively Tavernier races upfield and with the goal in his sights, is tripped by Casemiro on the edge of the area. It’s a textbook yellow card, and a big chance for Bournemouth …

49 mins: Bournemouth win a free kick, which is cleared after a spell of head tennis. Mbeumo leads the charge downfield, but Dalot’s ball inside sells Fernandes short …

“Has there ever been a more inept United era in extending a lead or even holding on to one?” wrote Paul Mallon after Semenyo’s goal, before inviting me to “save my email for later in the game. It’ll no doubt be relevant very soon.”

Another concern for United is that two of their best performers in the first half – Amad and Mbeumo – are heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations tomorrow. Ruben Amorim has a job on to cover for their absence, plus Noussair Mazraoui.

“United suffocated Bournemouth for most of that half,” says Nelson Calvinho. “I don’t think Amorim will change his tactical experiment just because of one individual mistake by Shaw.” Maybe, but then Shaw wouldn’t have been in that position. But yes, there have been positives to the new approach.

47 mins: Casemiro gets his head to it, but the ball bobbles behind off Senesi …

46 mins: Five added minutes, with United getting a free kick as Kluivert clatters Fernandes about five seconds too late.

45 mins: Bournemouth are ending this frenetic first half on top, with Evanilson almost prodding home at the near post and Tavernier’s shot from 20 yards parried away by Lammens.

43 mins: Dalot pushes Semenyo off the ball while the winger is in the air – and he responds by putting his hand on Dalot’s neck. Simon Hooper takes both players aside, and issues a yellow card to both. Semenyo was awfully close to the line there …

Shaw is knocked off the ball by Kluivert and Adam Smith keeps the ball in by the touchline and prods it through to Semenyo. With neither Shaw nor Dalot anywhere near him, he races through down the right, with Mount chasing in vain. Semenyo looks up, sees a lack of options, and sends a low shot crashing in off the far post.

39 mins: United slice through the high Bournemouth line again and Casemiro has Mbeumo to his right, but opts to shoot from a tight angle, finding only the side netting.

37 mins: Another half-chance for Bournemouth as Evanilson is crowded out in the United area. Next goal feels crucial, if you’ll forgive my starting the obvious.

“Has Ruben Amorim just invented the False Back Four (in the cunning guise of 3-4-3)?” asks Justin Kavanagh. “I feel a new Wilson book on the horizon; Perverting the Pyramid?”

I’m sure Fabio Capello tried this sort of lopsided back four in an England game, many moons ago. Does anyone else remember this?

35 mins: Cunha may not be scoring as much as United fans would like, but he’s shown some flashes of brilliance in the first half. Here, he brings a long ball down and crosses for Mbeumo, who can’t keep his acrobatic effort on target.

33 mins: Cunha delivers another excellent diagonal ball from the centre circle, setting Amad free. The winger hares upfield and cuts beyond one defender – but with the goal at his mercy, he’s denied by a terrific block from Adam Smith!

32 mins: Yoro chops down Alex Jiménez, conceding a free kick – but Bournemouth get tangled up and United have a chance to break …

31 mins: Now Kluivert has a go from a similar distance, and his shot bobbles harmlessly across the area. Still, some pushback from the visitors in the last five minutes.

29 mins: A wake-up call for United, then, having dominated the opening 25 minutes but scored just once. Semenyo tees up Evanilson, who skews his volley wide. Just one Premier League goal this season for the Brazilian.

27 mins: Having been under the cosh, Bournemouth should be level here! Semenyo rolls the ball back to Kluivert, whose cross is perfect for the on-rushing Tavernier – but he heads the ball at Lammers, who does well to repel it from close range.

24 mins: No further action after a VAR check, but United keep going, with Amad’s shot blocked before Mbeumo tries to place his effort beyond Petrovic, but doesn’t add the required power.

22 mins: Again, Mount seizes on the ball and United win a corner. Bournemouth look really sluggish, and need to get off the ropes here. They’re helped when Dalot is penalised for a foul; there’s a VAR check on Scott, who was leaning on Casemiro when the ball struck his arm.

“It was reported that Amorim might start experimenting with a back four with Afcon taking Amad and Mbeumo out of the equation,” notes Alan McNamara. “Will it only be a temporary measure though? I like what I see so far.”

20 mins: Mount pounces on slow play out from the back and United move the ball quickly across goal, Amad backheeling smartly to Mbeumo. They’ve been dominant thus far.

19 mins: Back at the other end, Cunha has a go from 20 yards that isn’t too far from finding the top corner.

18 mins: At the other end, Casemiro’s careless pass puts United’s defence at risk, but Kluivert can’t get the ball under control.

16 mins: An early heatmap shows United playing with a back four missing a left-back – Dalot is further forward, dovetailing with Mason Mount ahead of it. It’s a little bit different.

15 mins: There’s a VAR check to determine if Amad was an inch offside when Cunha maybe headed the ball – but Senesi was playing him onside.

It’s not the toughest goal he’ll ever score, heading home a loose ball on the goal line. The goal was created by Dalot, pushing forward again down the left, whose cross is close to Cunha’s head – hard to tell if he got a touch. Either way, Petrovic is wrong-footed and the ball bounces under the keeper and up in the air, allowing Amad to head home.

12 mins: Are United playing a back four? It looks like Leny Yoro is drifting wide, leaving Heaven and Shaw in the middle, with Diogo Dalot dropping back from his usual wing-back slot. So, a back four? Ruben Amorim may argue, but that’s what it looks like.

11 mins: Lammens swats the corner away and it runs out for a throw in. Semenyo’s cross is blocked and when the ball is worked back to him, he’s offside.

10 mins: Bournemouth get upfield for the first time and Truffert gets between Yoro and Heaven, with the late-arriving Shaw sending his cross behind. The first corner is nodded over by Casemiro …

9 mins: Casemiro is the latest player in red to have a go at goal, but his shot is high and wide.

8 mins: The corner is half-cleared but United work the ball down the left and Mbeumo crosses to Mount, whose snap shot at the near post is fended away by Petrovic.

7 mins: A lively start for United, and it continues with Amad cutting inside Truffert and firing in a shot that’s deflected behind.

5 mins: Oof! The corner zips through the penalty box, with Petrovic seemingly distracted by a jumping Dalot in front of him. Alex Scott, dropped to the bench for Adams tonight, is now on to replace him.

4 mins: There’s a delay before the corner is taken as Tyler Adams has stayed down after a collision with Fernandes. It looks like he’s hurt his knee, and will have to come off.

2 mins: The shot deflected off two Bournemouth players at speed, and the VAR sees no reason to intervene. United keep pressing and Cunha has a shot from distance that deflects behind for a corner.

1 min: Early opening for the hosts, as Amad runs on to Cunha’s diagonal with Mbeumo alongside. His pass is just overhit, though, so Mbeumo backheels to Fernandes – whose shot ricochets off a hand …

The players are out at a noisy Old Trafford. It’s go time!

As Peter Oh points out, Bournemouth have their own “hair guy” on their badge. “In a cup tie against United’s ‘hair guy’, the winner would go on to face Barnet.” But did you know that the chap on the Cherries’ badge is based on a real person?

Here’s Football Daily on crisis at Celtic, with the requisite hat-tip to Scottish League Cup winners St Mirren.

In his weekly newsletter, Jonathan Wilson takes a look at Thomas Frank’s fragile tenure at Tottenham.

Remember Sergio Reguilón? The former United loanee has signed for Inter Miami, more than six months after leaving Spurs at the end of his contract. The left-back will wear No 3 and is replacing Jordi Alba, who announced his retirement today.

“Frank (see preamble) is my soul brother,” writes Krishna Moorthy. “In the 90s in India, I announced I would not shave my beard until my steel plant made 16 melts in a day. Two months passed and the general manager warned me that I would trip on my beard soon. In the third month, my colleagues got it done. Hang in there, Frank.”

“I’ll jump in the sea if we play well and win,” roars Paul Moody, who is at least in Brazil. Let’s all just calm down now.

Ruben Amorim gives his pre-game thoughts as he seeks a home win after losing to Everton and drawing 1-1 with West Ham. “We have to have more quality in the buildup, press better … we need to be a more mature team. We’ve made mistakes that have cost us a lot of points.”

One change too from Andoni Iraola, with Tyler Adams replacing Alex Scott – a rumoured summer target for United – in midfield.

“Good memories here, but it’s probably not going to be the same result,” Iraola tells Sky. “United are playing better, they are on a great run, and for us it’s the opposite.” Well, at least he’s honest.

Ruben Amorim makes just one change from the side that beat Wolves, with Noussair Mazraoui out of the squad and off to Afcon duty with Morocco; he’s replaced by Leny Yoro. Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are able to play tonight before flying out for the tournament, though.

And get on to the Guardian app to try out our new daily football game …