MANCHESTER UNITED broke two unwanted club records following their miserable thrashing at home to Bournemouth to add to their woeful season.
United lost 3-0 to the Cherries at Old Trafford to plummet to 13th place in the Premier League table after goals by Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo.
This marked Man Utd’s heaviest defeat under new manager Ruben Amorim, who took over after the once title favourites endured their worst ever Prem start.
And now two more negative records occurred to pile up on the Red Devils’ troubles.
The Manchester giants have found themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table at Christmas for the first time in their history.
And excluding penalties, United have conceded 17 goals from set-pieces in the English top flight this year.
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That is their most in a single calendar year in the Premier League.
Amorim addressed his team’s weakness while defendiong set-pieces during his post-match interview.
The Portuguese tactician told Sky Sports: “It’s hard. In this context, it’s hard to push for two or three wins. We’re trying. But this game was hard on us.
“Without any situation we suffered again at set-pieces. We were a little bit nervous, the stadium.
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“We controlled the rest of the first half with some clear chances, and then in the second with the penalty and then another goal is really hard on everyone here.
“In this kind of moment, every thing is hard on us. The set-pieces, the penalty, then we want to score again but we are too nervous. We have to fight this.
“We tried to score but in the end, it was a tough match in a tough situation. We need to move on.”
Man Utd ratings vs Bournemouth as Malacia is hooked after horror first half
RUBEN AMORIM suffered his worst defeat of his short reign as Man Utd boss with a shocking 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
And his flops were easily second best all over the park to Andoni Iraola’s Cherries.
SunSport’s Ian Whittell has provided his ratings of the Man United squad…
Andre Onana – 5
Shaky on ball and his nervousness in holding it too long was transmitted to United supporters.
Bad conditions for a keeper but there were also some uncertain moments when he needed two attempts to grasp on to long shots.
Noussair Mazraoui – 4
Complained bitterly about the penalty he gave away but it was hard to make a case in his defence.
Caught out, then panicked and tripped Justin Kluivert from behind to cap what was already an uninspiring display.
Harry Maguire – 4
All too often was second to the ball or simply failed to get hold of his man, with Evanilson too elusive for the United defender to shackle.
Ruben Amorim believes Maguire is perfect for his three-at-the-back formation but the jury is still out on that one.
Lisandro Martinez – 5
Stood watching as Semenyo swept in Bournemouth’s third goal, the latest in a long line of defensive embarrassments from United.
Seems to be struggling, like most of his defensive team mates, with the new system and incapable of doing even the basics.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Made a couple of good blocks and tried to become involved in attacking moments from wing-back, without having a huge impact.
On a day when United’s defence was again found wanting, however, he was not the worst culprit.
Manuel Ugarte
Booked for a cynical foul on Kluivert and too often struggled to cope with Bournemouth runners.
Too much of the game passed him by and did not last even the hour as United chased the game.
Kobbie Mainoo 6
Like most of his team, guilty of some unforced errors but there was no faulting his work rate or drive.
Created a great chance when he hounded Dean Huijsen off the ball and set up Bruno Fernandes but gave up the ball for Bournemouth’s third.
Tyrell Malacia 3
Terrible touch early on drew groans from the home fans, the first of a number of sloppy moments from the fit-again full-back.
Predictable that he should give away the free-kick from which the visitors opened the scoring and hooked at half-time.
Amad Diallo 7
The big winner from the Rashford controversy and could have lit up Old Trafford early on but placed a good chance straight at the keeper.
Not a performance on a par with his derby exploits but still looked United’s best hope of carving out a goal.
Bruno Fernandes 8
Playing higher, and wider, up the field these days and maybe there is a debate over whether that is the best use of his undoubted talents.
But in the last five minutes of the first half alone, he had three good chances which might have brought an equaliser.
Joshua Zirkzee 5
Given the nod ahead of Rasmus Hojlund, a reward for some decent recent performances under his new manager but this was not one of them.
Was the closest Red to Dean Huijsen as he headed Bournemouth in front though United’s defending was such a mess, it was not clear whether he was Zirkzee’s responsibility.
Substitutes
Leny Yoro (for Malacia, 46) 4
Came on as part of a much-needed half-time defensive reshuffle by Amorim but failed to add stability.
Alejandro Garnacho (for Ugarte, 54) 5
Had a chance when clean through just after Bournemouth’s third but hit it straight at Kepa.
Rasmus Hojlund (for Zirkzee, 54) 6
Looked like he might have a goal in him and at least forced Kepa into one good stop.
Substitutes (not used): Altay Bayindir, Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, Antony.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
