How the 4-4 played out: United’s first-half dominance
It was more evolution than revolution but there were definitely tweaks to Ruben Amorim’s much-discussed system. Though they initially lined up with the usual back three, it became a back four whenever Bournemouth were in possession as Diogo Dalot dropped back.
It certainly worked going forward as United put in one of the better first-half displays of the season – their six shots inside the opening 10 minutes were their most in a Premier League game in more than three years – and they had had 12 attempts at goal before Bournemouth mustered their first in the 29th minute. They would rue their failure to finish off a Cherries side who initially looked unnerved by what they faced.
Jamie Braidwood16 December 2025 01:00
Mainoo’s brother displays ‘Free Kobbie’ t-shirt at Old Trafford in message to Ruben Amorim
Kobbie Mainoo’s brother wore a t-shirt displaying the message ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ to Old Trafford during Manchester United’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth in a clear message to head coach Ruben Amorim amid the uncertainty over the player’s future.
Mainoo has struggled for game time under Amorim and has yet to start a match in the Premier League this season after the midfielder’s loan request was rejected in August.
The 20-year-old academy product, who scored the winning goal for United in the 2024 FA Cup final and started for England in the Euro 2024 final, was loudly cheered onto the pitch when he was brought on by Amorim as a second-half substitute on Monday night.
Jamie Braidwood15 December 2025 23:58
Man United’s next task is clear as dramatic intervention leads to game of the season
On the night Ruben Amorim delivered the surprise of the season by jettisoning his beloved 3-4-3 formation, Manchester United contrived to put part of his new shape in the scoreline. A 4-4 was not a tribute to Amorim’s unexpected switch to 4-4-2 as much as the consequence of an extraordinary evening of frenzied attacking, poor defending and flawed goalkeeping as two sides traded free kicks and comebacks.
Richard Jolly15 December 2025 23:25
What is Ruben Amorim’s new Manchester United formation and how did it work?
Ruben Amorim appeared to deviate from his trusted 3-4-3 for the first time as Manchester United manager as he experimented with a new-look system for the Premier League match against Bournemouth.
At first glance, a chaotic 4-4 draw against Andoni Iraola’s side does not suggest that the tweak brought much improvement. But Amorim’s side were far sharper in attack and were a constant danger throughout the game.
Amorim said before kick-off that United will need to “adapt” when Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui depart for the Africa Cup of Nations and notably said that his team “need to learn from some mistakes we did in the past”.
Critics of the Portuguese head coach have said he has stayed too attached to his 3-4-3 system since replacing Erik ten Hag last November. It was the system he used to great success at his previous club Sporting Lisbon but it has been ineffective so far at Old Trafford.
Amorim joked in September that not even the Pope could persuade him to change his formation. “This is my job. This is my responsibility. This is my life. So, I will not change that,” he said.
Jamie Braidwood15 December 2025 23:07
Andoni Iraola: ‘Entertaining, but it’s just a point!’
Fair to stay Andoni Iraola was happier with his side’s attacking than defending during this 4-4 draw at Old Trafford.
“I suppose it was entertaining for everyone. Two teams that attacked much better than we defended. We played quite open, both teams,” he told BBC Sport.
“We struggled in the first 15-20 minutes. We made some adjustments but we were losing 1-0. From there I was quite happy with how the game was.
“The last two were massive chances, great saves from Lammens. We take a point. We can use a lot of good things from today but things to correct.”
(AP)
Jamie Braidwood15 December 2025 22:52
Ruben Amorim: ‘It was fun for the fans – but we should have won’
A difficult game for Ruben Amorim to summarise. He tried while speaking to BBC Sport:
“It’s really disappointing. We are really disappointed. Crazy game. It might look like we lost the two points in the second half but I think we lost them in the first half.
“We dominated and created so many chances. We had to go to half-time with a different result.
“In the end we deserved more. It was a fun game for eveyone at home.
“People especially at Old Trafford want to win but they want to be inspired to see a team play good football. We did that well in certain moments.
“It was a good performance but we need to be more clinical because created so many chances.”
Jamie Braidwood15 December 2025 22:39
What could have been for Bournemouth
Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens made five saves tonight, and three of them came after the 95th minute.
Two of them came against David Brooks, who had a header and a left-footed shot from inside the box to win it at the death.
(REUTERS)
Jamie Braidwood15 December 2025 22:26
Gary Neville highlights Man United concern despite praising performance
“Absolute madness,” Gary Neville says on Sky Sports. “End-to-end. Punch for punch, especially the second half. It’s a game that you could not call. I’m not sure who’s going to be happiest at the end.
“I said partway through that game, I could live with how Manchester United played through that game but you can’t get away from it’s seven points dropped from their last three games at home.”
(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood15 December 2025 22:22
Unreal free-kick from Bruno Fernandes!
Of the eight goals tonight, this was the pick of the bunch from United captain Bruno Fernandes. It made it 3-3.
Jamie Braidwood15 December 2025 22:19
Between them, Manchester United and Bournemouth had 18 shots on target (the most in the Premier League this season) and scored eight goals (with an xG of over 5.0). Brilliant entertainment.
On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher praises United for their “best performance of the season”. It certainly looked that way in spells – and yet they could have lost it 5-4!
(REUTERS)
Jamie Braidwood15 December 2025 22:17