Man Utd v Bournemouth LIVE: Team news and updates as Michael Carrick drops Bruno Fernandes for must-win Premier League clash

Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly is our man at Old Trafford today and he’s had his say on the United team news

Jamie Carragher has been discussing Man United’s line-up on Sky Sports and admits there’s a lack of quality without Bruno Fernandes.

The front four of Amad Diallo, Youri Tielemans, Mason Mount and Bryan Mbeumo does lack a bit of punch

Michael Carrick has been asked about his decision to drop skipper Bruno Fernandes and insists it was purely for footballing reasons. Whether you believe him is another matter of course.

“Picking the team, the starting XI, you’ve got options to choose from and it’s always a difficult decision,” Carrick told Sky Sports.

“We’ve got to make what we feel is the right one for today, for the team and to try and get that performance that we want.”

“When pushed on whether the decision was for footballing reasons or because of the midweek comments for Fernandes, Carrick insisted: “Pure football, pure football.”

Carrick left his captain, and the reigning PFA Player of the Year, out and instead put him on the bench, signalling the sudden breakdown in their relationship after Fernandes publicly blamed the head coach.

Here’s Richard Jolly’s full report on the situation from Old Trafford:

Former Man United captain Gary Neville said Michael Carrick had “no option” but to drop Burno Fernandes after a “direct attack” on the manager.

He told Sky Sports: “I don’t think there is any way that Carrick can start Fernandes today. I’ve no idea if he is going to start but when I saw Carrick’s face on Friday, you could see in his eyes he was going to embark on something that was going to bring this to a head.

“It’s a direct attack on the manager. If you go back 25 years, these players would never be anywhere near the club, never mind the pitch. They’d be gone. Finished.”

Now it’s official. Bruno Fernandes is only on the bench for Man Untied today after his midweek outburst.

Harry Maguire will captain United instead, while Youri Tielemans is likely to play in the No 10 role, with Amad Diallo and Mason Mount also providing attacking support to Bryan Mbeumo.

Man United XI: Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Heaven, Dalot; Santos, Baleba; Diallo, Tielemans, Mount; Mbeumo

There will be plenty of focus on Manchester United today, and rightly so, but what about their opponents?

Bournemouth are currently living the dream as the latest chapter in their Europa League dream was a 3-0 demolition of European giants AC Milan on Thursday night.

Milan were outplayed on a pitch that hosted League Two football as recently as 2010, leaving Cherries boss Marco Rose delighted but keen for his team to stay humble.

“A big night for us,” said Rose after the win. “I’m happy for the club, for our fans especially. Really proud of my lads. The way they did it was brilliant from the first minute to the last. We played a really good game.

“But I think our club, it suits us to stay humble. We know we are good if we have the whole squad. We know we can compete with everyone.

“But the season is long. We have so many games. Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday. It’s demanding.”

Less than 90 minutes until kick-off at Old Trafford. What will today bring?

It appears that Bruno Fernandes will be dropped by Michael Carrick for the must-win fixture this afternoon, according to reports.

Fernandes is set to start the game on the bench after his midweek outburst against Carrick’s tactics, and the team’s lack of pressing, following the disastrous 4-1 thrashing by Como.

A huge call by the Man United boss. Will it backfire?

Michael Carrick is still in charge of Man United. For now… But defeat this afternoon at home to Bournemouth could really be a hammer blow.

If Carrick is sacked, then who could replace him? We’ve taken a look at the options: