Man Utd take major step towards Champions League as Michael Carrick blueprint becomes clear
Chris Wilson was at United’s last game too; here’s how that unfolded…
It all started with a set-piece, as so many Premier League games seem to these days, but by the end Manchester United’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa had become an advert for the benefits of good old fashioned wingers and number nines.
Flo Clifford20 March 2026 18:30
Bruno Fernandes reaches 100 assists as Man Utd beat top-four rivals Aston Villa
In case you missed it, here are those record-threatening assists:
Bruno Fernandes reached 100 assists in all competitions as the ever-impressive Manchester United captain set up two goals in what could prove a crucial 3-1 win against fellow Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa.
Fernandes was, like so often, the architect as the skipper saw his second-half corner headed home by Casemiro, before providing an exquisite pass from which Matheus Cunha restored their lead after surprise starter Ross Barkley had levelled for Villa.
Flo Clifford20 March 2026 18:20
Can Bruno Fernandes really break the Premier League’s weirdest record?
One of the subplots for tonight concerns United captain Bruno Fernandes, and whether he can continue his sparkling run of form and break a Premier League record.
Here’s Jamie Braidwood: “The race for the most assists across a single Premier League season is weird and unpredictable, often influenced by factors outside the control of its competitors. It is also a record that has stood for more than 20 years, or since Thierry Henry notched his 20th assist of the 2002-03 season. Since then, only Kevin De Bruyne has matched Henry’s figure over 38 games, in 2019-20, but it has been threatened on an almost annual basis over the past two decades.
Flo Clifford20 March 2026 18:10
Bournemouth XI: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Christie, Scott; Rayan, Kroupi, Tavernier; Evanilson.
Man Utd XI: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko.
Flo Clifford20 March 2026 18:00
Cherries midfielder Tyler Adams will face a late fitness test after missing the 0-0 draw at Burnley, while Julio Soler, Lewis Cook and Justin Kluivert are sidelined.
For the visitors, Noussair Mazraoui will face a late fitness test after missing training due to illness in midweek. Lisandro Martinez will miss this match, though the Argentine should be back for the visit of Leeds next month.
Patrick Dorgu and Matthijs de Ligt are both sidelined for a longer period, while Mason Mount will once again be available despite not featuring against Villa.
Flo Clifford20 March 2026 17:52
Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 7.30pm.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Flo Clifford20 March 2026 17:46
When is Bournemouth vs Man Utd?
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8pm GMT on Friday, 20 March at the Vitality Stadium.
Flo Clifford20 March 2026 17:41
Bournemouth vs Manchester United
And it means Carrick’s side head to the south coast with the chance to put real daylight between them and their rivals ahead of the weekend, in what is their last game for 24 days ahead of taking on Leeds on 13 April.
However, they’ll face a difficult test against a Cherries side who are currently on the league’s longest unbeaten run, with Andoni Iraola’s side having gone 10 games without a loss as they look to launch their own late bid for European football.
Flo Clifford20 March 2026 17:36
Hello and welcome to tonight’s Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Manchester United.
Can Bournemouth kickstart their late bid for a spot in Europe this season? Or will Michael Carrick’s high-flyers finally put an end to the Cherries’ 10-game unbeaten run? We’ll have all the answers to those questions shortly…
(Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Flo Clifford20 March 2026 17:30