Michael Carrick's Manchester United face a defining Premier League fixture against an in-form Bournemouth side on Sunday, with kick-off set for 2:00pm GMT at Old Trafford. The match is available live on Sky Sports in the UK, Peacock in the US, and Stan Sport in Australia, while viewers in Brazil can watch for free on CazéTV's YouTube channel.

United's turbulent week

The pressure on Carrick has rarely been greater. On Wednesday, Manchester United were beaten 4-1 by Italian side Como in the UEFA Champions League — a humbling result that prompted captain Bruno Fernandes to publicly criticise the manager's tactics after the final whistle.

It was the second successive week in which a senior player aired grievances following a European defeat. Seven days prior, Lisandro Martinez had spoken out after the loss to Atletico Madrid. United now find themselves on a seven-game winless run across all competitions, and a draw at Leeds United last weekend underlined their struggles in the Premier League.

Carrick must now decide whether to drop Fernandes entirely after his public remarks. His selection headache is deepened by an extensive injury list that includes Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Benjamin Sesko, and Patrick Dorgu. However, Marcus Rashford, Martinez, and Ayden Heaven are among those who could return to the squad.

Bournemouth arrive full of confidence

Bournemouth, by contrast, arrive at Old Trafford on the crest of a wave. On Thursday night, they dismantled AC Milan 3-0 in the UEFA Europa League — a result that manager Marco Rose described as one of the most memorable nights in the club's history. That followed a composed 2-0 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League seven days ago, their first league win of the season.

The Cherries have now scored eight goals without reply across their last three matches, having found a decisive rhythm under Rose. Eli Junior Kroupi, last season's top scorer, is set to make his first appearance of the campaign after recovering from a foot injury, giving Bournemouth an additional boost ahead of the trip north.

What to expect on Sunday

On paper, United's home advantage and desperation for a result make this a contest. Yet Bournemouth's momentum and confidence are formidable, and the Cherries must be regarded as the stronger side heading into the weekend. FourFourTwo's prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Bournemouth.