Manchester United were booed off as they suffered a three-goal home defeat by high-flying Bournemouth for the second year in a row as Ruben Amorim’s men lost for the third time in four Premier League games.
United will celebrate Christmas in 13th position after another below-par display that leaves them with just seven points from Amorim’s six games in charge.
In contrast, Bournemouth are fifth, which could be enough to qualify for a place in next season’s Champions League given the results of English clubs in European competition so far this season.
United never recovered from Dean Huijsen’s 29th-minute header as Bournemouth exploited the home side’s defensive weaknesses at set-pieces.
Justin Kliuvert sent Andre Onana the wrong way from the spot after the forward had been tripped by Noussair Mazroaui.
And two minutes later Antoine Semenyo was unmarked as he swept home Dango Ouattara’s cross after Kobbie Mainoo had given away possession inside his own half.
It was another sobering afternoon for United and Amorim, who for the third time omitted Marcus Rashford from his matchday squad.
Rashford was at Old Trafford to watch events unfold. On this evidence, United need Rashford back on top form – and a lot more else besides.
Man Utd’s set-piece shocker
It was noted that United practised defending set-pieces during the pre-match warm-up. Clearly the message is not getting through.
At the start of this month, they conceded two goals at Arsenal from corners.
Another followed in the match after, the home defeat by Nottingham Forest, while on Thursday, Tottenham skipper Son Hueng-min scored direct from a corner to confirm United’s EFL Cup elimination.
There was nothing particularly strategic about United’s latest set-piece calamity as Ryan Christie floated a free-kick to the near post after Tyrell Malacia had needlessly chopped down Adam Smith by the touchline when the ball was bouncing out of play.
Joshua Zirkzee was supposed to be marking Huijsen but the 19-year-old Spain youth international did not need to do too much to wriggle free and flick his header into the far corner.
At a time of redundancies and cost cutting at Old Trafford, the repeated failures in this facet of the game do not reflect well on United’s set-piece coach Carlos Fernandes.
United did have chances. On-loan Cherries goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga denied Bruno Fernandes with an excellent first-half save after Huijsen had given the ball away inside his own half.
Substitute Leny Yoro was also denied late on, although by then the home side were merely looking for some kind of consolation.
While they knew there would be issues adapting to a new boss who would bring in a new formation, the new-manager bounce United had been hoping for from Amorim’s arrival has proved to be all too brief. Christmas will not be a comfortable one for the Portuguese.