Manchester United need to beat Bournemouth on Sunday and hope for a favour from Swansea City in order to finish above Manchester City in the final Champions League position in the Premier League this season.
As it stands, Louis van Gaal's side are fifth in the table on 63 points and will need Man City to lose at Swansea to stand any chance of making the top four and potentially keep Van Gaal in a job.
Man United
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After Man City drew with Arsenal last weekend, Man United knew that two wins from their last two matches would see them finish above their rivals and take the final Champions League position.
An emotional night at the Boleyn Ground saw Man United lead 2-1 against West Ham United during the week, but the home side turned it around late on to collect all the points and leave the Red Devils in fifth spot in the table.
Despite all of the criticism aimed at Man United and indeed Van Gaal, the 20-time English champions have taken 19 points from a possible 21 in their last seven Premier League games at Old Trafford. What's more, they have only conceded eight times on home soil all season.
Those numbers are impressive, but there have been just 32 goals scored in the Premier League at Old Trafford this season, fewer than on any other ground in the top flight. They might have tightened defensively, but have only hit 46 top-flight goals this season, which is 12 short of their lowest ever tally, which came in the 2004-05 season.
Speculation that Jose Mourinho will take charge has once again gathered pace in recent days, but Van Gaal could still finish in the top four and win the FA Cup, with the final of that competition due to take place against Crystal Palace on May 21.
Ten Premier League defeats shows that it has been a very disappointing campaign for Man United, who are currently 17 points off champions Leicester City and seven from second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Man City have been far from convincing in recent weeks, however, and it is not against all possibilities that Manuel Pellegrini's side could lose at Swansea and open the door for Man United to claim fourth.
Recent form: LWWDWL
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDWL
Bournemouth
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Eddie Howe's task at the start of the season would have been to keep newly-promoted Bournemouth in the Premier League, and that is something that the 38-year-old managed to achieve in comfortable fashion.
Newcastle United, Norwich City and Aston Villa have all dropped down to the Championship, while two of last season's newly-promoted clubs - Bournemouth and Watford - managed to survive in the top flight of English football.
Eleven wins, nine draws and 17 defeats have brought Bournemouth 42 Premier League points and they could still finish as high as 12th on the final weekend despite currently sitting down in 16th position in the table.
The Cherries have lost just three of their last 12 away games in the Premier League, but have managed just one win in their last seven overall, which is an indication of their struggles in recent weeks.
Howe's side did pick up a point in a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion last weekend, but they entered that match off the back of three successive defeats to Liverpool, Chelsea and an out-of-form Everton side.
Bournemouth actually have the second-poorest home record in the division behind Aston Villa, but have collected 22 points on the road, which is just three fewer than Man United have managed on their travels.
Recent form: LWLLLD
Team News
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Van Gaal revealed at his pre-match press conference that Adnan Januzaj would miss out after picking up an injury in training, while the match will also come too soon for Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Luke Shaw both remain on the sidelines, meanwhile, leaving Van Gaal with almost the same set of players that were available for the West Ham match.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial will both keep their spots in the final third, while Michael Carrick and Jesse Lingard are both pushing for returns after starting on the bench at Upton Park.
Marouane Fellaini, however, will serve the second game of his three-match suspension.
As for Bournemouth, Howe has no fresh injury concerns from the draw with West Brom last time out, but Sylvain Distin and Adam Smith are both still on the sidelines.
Howe has vowed to 'pick his strongest team' at Old Trafford and that could mean returns for Joshua King and Callum Wilson, while Matt Ritchie is also expected to return to the XI.
Man United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Carrick, Rooney; Mata, Lingard, Martial; Rashford
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Boric; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Gradel, Arter, Surman, Ritchie; King, Afobe
Head To Head
Man United and Bournemouth have only ever locked horns on nine previous occasions.
Man United have recorded five wins, Bournemouth two, while the remaining two games have finished level.
The reverse match earlier this season, which Bournemouth won 2-1, was the first time that the two sides had met since an FA Cup clash in February 1989, when Man United recorded a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
We say: Man United 2-0 Bournemouth
Bournemouth will be able to approach this game with freedom and all of the pressure will be on the home side. That said, Man United have been strong at home all season and we expect the Red Devils to record a routine three points. It will then be up to Man City to see whether they can gain the point that they need in Wales.
No Data Analysis info
