The 17 shots that Manchester United registered in the first half against Bournemouth this evening are the most of any side in the Premier League this season.

Only two of them found their way past Djordje Petrovic, but it was undoubtedly a breath of fresh air for supporters to see the side so unrelenting in their attacks on goal.

United vs Bournemouth: What happened in the first half?(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Amad Diallo broke the deadlock in the 13th minute to net his second goal of the campaign, and it took until the 40th minute for Bournemouth to respond via United-linked talisman Antoine Semenyo.

In injury time, Casemiro, who we can no longer say is an unlikely scorer given his stellar record, headed home from a corner to restore the Reds’ lead.

A win tonight would have United amongst the Champions League places ahead of a gruelling clash on Sunday, when they travel to the West Midlands to lock horns with an in-form Aston Villa side in their last pre-Christmas fixture.

For this weekend’s contest, Ruben Amorim will also be without Amad and Bryan Mbeumo, both of whom have been absolutely influential in attack since play got underway at Old Trafford tonight.

How will Amorim navigate the festive period without integral attackers?(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

There has been speculation that the coach might look to switch up his 3-4-3 system by operating with four at the back in the absence of his AFCON representatives.

Ruben Amorim looking at adapting formation to more like 4-3-3. He told players ahead of Wolves a change would come + work has since been done at Carrington in that shape.

"[AFCON] is a good opportunity for us to try to play in a different way." #MUFChttps://t.co/jZ917WPlLx

— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) December 15, 2025

He has been granted a substantial boost in the form of Benjamin Sesko returning to the matchday squad to face the Cherries, and the Slovenian will be chomping at the bit to play his first minutes of football since November and add to his tally in a red shirt.

Read more: Confirmed — Why Amorim has been forced to omit Red who’s ‘amazing every time he plays’ hours before Bournemouth clash