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A RARE club start and a clean sheet will do Harry Maguire’s shattered confidence the power of good.Yet the England defender will still fear the writing is on the wall for him at Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire produced a strong display against BournemouthCredit: Reuters
Erik Ten Hag rotated his defensive resources knowing there are bigger tests ahead – meaning Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were given the night off.
And it’s hard to think Maguire will start United’s next couple of Prem games – the derby against City here on Saturday week or Arsenal away a week later.
Rio Ferdinand said on Saturday that the current United captain should be looking for a new club.
Three days later he was given the chance to prove the critics wrong with his first league start since the end of October.
And – on paper at least – he could not have asked for a much better game to ease himself back in.
Bournemouth failed to score in any of their three matches since the World Cup – and are starting to look over their shoulders at the relegation zone again.
Yet here Maguire was grateful to David de Gea and some wasteful finishing for the Cherries goal drought continuing.
No matter who the opponents are, Maguire seems to be a bag of nerves when he pulls on the red shirt.
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He started all five games for England at the World Cup and looked more like the player who persuaded United to part with £80 million in summer 2019.
Back at Old Trafford, it is a different story.
He got his chance here as Erik Ten Hag appeared to prioritise the forthcoming cup games with Everton and Charlton as the club look to end their six year wait for a trophy.
At the weekend the manager suggested Luke Shaw is now an option at centre back after impressing there over Christmas.
The former Southampton man reverted to left back here but still managed to upstage his Three Lions team-mate by getting on the scoresheet – and having a hand in the third.
Both Maguire and Victor Lindelof were drafted in to start with Ten Hag insisting it would have happened sooner but for the illness they both had over Christmas.
He had time and space to play a couple of Hollywood passes early on with the Cherries sitting back.
A sign of his jitters came when he shanked a routine pass to Lindelof and somehow sent it out for a corner. To be fair he cleared up his own mess by nodding the resulting spot-kick clear.
After the break he missed out on headers to Phillip Billing and Solanke but on both occasions De Gea came to the rescue.
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And it was the same story when Billing got ahead of Maguire to flick as pass into Jadon Anthony’s feet with the United keeper saving well.
A move away this month appears unlikely with United going for glory on four fronts – but he may have to be content with a bit-part role for a while yet. More

MANCHESTER UNITED were given the perfect opportunity to strengthen their position in the top four after rivals Liverpool and Tottenham dropped points. And it was a chance they did not waste as Luke Shaw put in a masterclass to help United to a 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
Luke Shaw produced a masterclass back at left-backCredit: Getty
Casemiro proved once again why Utd paid top dollar for himCredit: AP
Casemiro opened the scoring after guiding Christian Eriksen’s superb free-kick into the net.
United combined well with each other and controlled the flow of the game before Donny van de Beek was forced off injured.
A superb Shaw run then saw the Red Devils double the lead in the second half, before the defender then chipped a lovely pass into Bruno Fernandes for him to assist Marcus Rashford.
A good display for United with another important three points to move five ahead of Tottenham.
Here’s how SunSport rated the Red Devils display.
David De Gea – 7
A strong display from the Spaniard which helped earn another clean sheet.
Produced two wonderful saves to deny Jaidon Anthony in the second half and looked generally calm and assured on the ball.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7
Another strong display from the Englishman, who seems to have turned a new leaf since the World Cup.
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Solid both on the ball and off the ball before being replaced by Diogo Dalot.
Harry Maguire – 7
First start since the World Cup, and appeared to bring some of that form with him in this game.
Used his physicality well to clear danger in his new right centre back role, but distribution was found lacking at times.
Victor Lindelof – 6
Partnered well with Maguire throughout but was the quieter of the two defenders.
Hooked for Lisandro Martinez late on.
Luke Shaw – 9
Superb display back at left-back with a goal and a superb pre-assist to boot.
Defensively sound throughout as well.
Shaw was superb throughoutCredit: Getty
Casemiro – 8
United’s spine looks so much stronger with the Brazilian in the middle.
Another strong defensive display by breaking up attacks and stepping in at the right times and added the opening goal.
Christian Eriksen – 7
Helped United control the midfield and whipped in a delicious cross for Casemiro’s opener
Donny van de Beek – 7
Was solid throughout the clash and linked up well with his team-mates – constantly offering a passing option and exchanging good one-twos with the attack.
Forced off just before half-time with a horror injury.
Donny van de Beek was gutted to be forced off through injuryCredit: Getty
Marcus Rashford – 7
A relatively quiet night for the in-form Englishman but still sniffed out of a goal.
Combined well with team-mates throughout the game but Bournemouth’s defence largely kept him at bay until he netted late on.
Bruno Fernandes – 6
Moved out to the wing in favour of Van de Beek in the middle.
A typical performance from Fernandes where he created some great chances, including the assist for Rashford’s goal but also saw a number of passes go astray.
Anthony Martial – 6
A better night for the Frenchman after his struggles at Wolves.
However, still didn’t give United enough of an edge in the final third before he was hooked in the 69th minute.
SUBS
Alejandro Garnacho (on for Van de Beek, 45mins) 6
Came on for Van de Beek and added pace to the game in exchange for a loss of control up the field.
Chipped in with a clever cut-back assist for Shaw’s goal.
Fred (on for Eriksen, 69 mins) 6
Added energy into the midfield but United lost control of the midfield as Bournemouth enjoyed a late period of dominance which United profited from on the counter.
Diogo Dalot (on for Wan-Bissaka, 69 mins) 6
Had one shot which challenge the Bournemouth goal and exchanged some nice passes with team-mates upon his return.
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Anthony Elanga (on for Martial, 69 mins) 5
Gave United legs but offered little else.
Lisandro Martinez (on for Lindelof, 89 mins) N/A
Not enough time to give a fair rating. More

A NEW YEAR and the new dawn under Erik Ten Hag continues to be a bright one.Level with third-placed Newcastle on points in the league and five, seven and ten ahead of Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.
Casemiro opened the scoring for UnitedCredit: Getty
Shaw added a second for Man UtdCredit: PA
Rashford wrapped up the three points four minutes from timeCredit: Getty
After two games this season you wouldn’t have put a quid on such a scenario.
Those opening defeats at home to Brighton and 4-0 at Brentford are a world away.
Ten Hag is working his magic and with the fans behind him and the unwanted distraction of Cristiano Ronaldo ensconced in Saudi Arabia there really is some momentum behind this club now.
Victory last night makes it one defeat in 16 in all competitions, 13 of those wins.
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The goals at a thrilled Old Trafford came courtesy of a fine volleyed finish by Casemiro on 23 minutes and a moment Luke Shaw won’t forget on 49 as he started and finished a flowing move that went the length of the pitch.
And Shaw delivered the ball from deep for Bruno Fernandes to tee-up Rashford for the third on 86.
Ten Hag has really got these players playing for him.
You don’t mess with him either as Rashford found out when he was axed from the starting line-up at Wolves for being late for a team meeting.
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He came on and delivered there and again here.
He was back in the starting line-up. As was Harry Maguire with Ten Hag hoping his confidence is restored after his performances for England in the World Cup.
It certainly looked so early on as he got a great reception when he controlled a high ball with his outstretched boot, did a swift turn and laid the ball off.
Likewise when he spread a great crossfield ball out to Luke Shaw to set a move going.
Not so much however when he miscued a clearance, sending the ball spinning behind him for a Bournemouth corner.
Victor Lindelof was back in as well in a rejigged back four with Raphael Varane rested and Luke Shaw moved back to his more accustomed left back role having played so well in the centre at Molineux.
Anyone who thought this was too much tinkering had their fears calmed early on with United in control in all departments.
De Gea and Casemiro celebrating at full-timeCredit: Reuters
Not least Casemiro who was dictating the game.
Snapping into tackles, setting moves going from deep and scoring the opening goal and what a finish it was.
The delivery from Christian Eriksen was sumptuous as always.
From a position wide on the left midway into the visitors half he curled a ball in towards the near post.
Casemiro read it with a run from behind the Bournemouth defenders connecting with a perfect side foot volley.
It was a half-time advantage that United fully deserved having dominated the opening period.
This is a team that brings roars now when it charges forward with pace.
De Gea made his 510th appearance for UnitedCredit: Reuters
The players know where each other is, what they are going to do next and the moves just flow.
So different from the one-paced clueless football that was served up for much of last season.
Anthony Martial had an early header that flew just wide.
Casemiro chipped through for Donny van de Beek, enjoying a rare start, but the Dutchman’s control let him down.
At the other end David De Gea was making his 510th appearance for the club to move into the United all time top ten appearance holders alongside Joe Spence.
The one he will have in his sights is Alex Stepney’s 539 to become the club’s most played goalkeeper in history.
He showed his very best form when Jaidon Anthony got in one-on-one with an amazing point blank stop.
Ten Hag’s men are level on points with third-place NewcastleCredit: Getty
The offside flag might have gone up but De Gea didn’t know that.
He would later deny Philip Billing and Anthony again with equally impressive stops. New contract should be at the ready.
The one low point for United on the night came right on half time when Marcos Senesi slipped in challenging Van de Beek and injured him leading to the Dutchman limping off.
The man who replaced him Alejandro Garnacho didn’t take long to make an impression with the assist to provide the second just after the break but it was Shaw who was the real star.
It was reminiscent of his goal in the Euro’s final against Italy as he started the move at one end and finish it at the other.
First he swapped passes with Rashford, charged forward and found Bruno Fernandes in a central position.
Shaw kept on into the box as Garnacho was fed and then delivered the perfect square ball for his well-timed finish.
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Then with four minutes left Shaw’s searching ball found Fernandes who volleyed across goal for Rashford to finish.
Good stuff from United – the fans could really get used to this again. More

DONNY VAN DE BEEK “can’t catch a break” with the Dutchman going off injured against Bournemouth in a rare start for Manchester United.The 25-year-old has struggled to find minutes at Old Trafford since his £34.3million move from Ajax in 2020.
Van De Beek got injured after Senesi slipped into himCredit: Rex
Van De Beek looked distraught as he was subbed offCredit: EPA
He even went out on loan to Everton last January in a bid to revive his career in England.
And despite now being managed by his old Ajax manager at United in Erik ten Hag, Van De Beek’s fortunes have not changed.
He has made just four starts this season, with two of those coming in the Premier League, including Tuesday’s home game against the Cherries.
However, Van De Beek’s cameo lasted just 45 minutes as he was forced off through injury after Marcos Senesi clattered into him while slipping.
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The midfielder limped down the tunnel to a brilliant reception and was replaced by wonderkid Alejandro Garnacho.
And United fans are gutted for Van De Beek, who can’t seem to “catch a break”.
One fan said: “Feel sorry for Donny van de Beek.
“That was a nasty challenge and a potential leg breaker.
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“Hope it’s not too serious and he’s back soon.”
Another said: “Donny van de Beek just can’t catch a break.
“He had played really well but can’t continue after that heavy tackle.
“The Stretford End chant his name and he walks down the tunnel.”
United’s push for a top-four finish continued, with Ten Hag’s men winning 3-0.
Casemiro opened the scoring from Christian Eriksen’s free-kick in the first half before Van De Beek was forced off.
Luke Shaw then added a second shortly after the restart.
Marcus Rashford then killed the game off four minutes from time.
A win draws United level on points with third-place Newcastle on 35 points and five points clear of fifth-place Tottenham. More