Manchester United were held to a 4–4 Premier League draw by Bournemouth at Old Trafford in a match that highlighted their attacking depth but reinforced ongoing concerns over defensive control and game management.
Goal timeline
13’ — Amad Diallo (Manchester United) — 1–0
40’ — Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) — 1–1
45+4’ — Casemiro (Manchester United) — 2–1
46’ — Evanilson (Bournemouth) — 2–2
52’ — Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth) — 2–3
77’ — Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) — 3–3
79’ — Matheus Cunha (Manchester United) — 4–3
84’ — Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth) — 4–4
Analysis
United’s attacking response was immediate whenever they fell behind, but the recurring issue was defensive structure rather than individual moments. Bournemouth repeatedly found space between the defensive line and midfield, particularly in transition and during second-ball situations.
The concession immediately after half-time again pointed to poor concentration and organisation, while the late equaliser underlined United’s inability to control games once ahead. Twice leading in the final 15 minutes, they failed to slow the tempo or protect central areas.
Set-piece defending and wall positioning were also exposed, with Bournemouth capitalising on static defending and slow reactions. United’s back line remained narrow, leaving wide channels unprotected and forcing emergency defending inside the box.
The draw summed up United’s season pattern:
- Goals scored: not a problem
- Game control: inconsistent
- Defensive stability: unresolved
Until United can manage phases of play without turning matches into open exchanges, results like this — high-scoring, entertaining, but costly — are likely to continue.
