Inkwell & Algorithm Back to Matchweek 8
The breakdown · Sunday 25 October, 14:00

Nothing to split Man United and Bournemouth

We call Man United win, 2–1, with a 44% chance. Here is everything that went into it.

Home
Man United
13th · 7 pts
Our call · confidence: too close to call
2–1
Home win
Away
Bournemouth
15th · 6 pts

Us against the market

Our model
44%
27%
30%

No bookmaker odds for this game yet.

Man United winDrawBournemouth win

Most likely scores

1–1
12%
2–1
9%
1–2
7%
2–0
7%
1–0
7%
How we got to 44%
We start from an average home side against an average visitor, then add or take away for each factor. Hover a bar for the detail.
Pushes towards our call Pushes against it Starting point
Average home side v average visitor
40%
Man United's attack
+8
Bournemouth's defence
+5
Bournemouth's attack
−5
Man United's defence
−3
Man United team news
−3
Bournemouth team news
+1
Our call: Man United win
44%
0%30%60%

The reasons

1 · Chances created and allowed

Man United are creating far more at home

Expected goals (xG) measures the quality of chances. Over their last 5 home games Man United created 2.7 and allowed 1.6 a game. Over their last 5 away games Bournemouth created 1.3 and allowed 1.6.

xG per game, last 5 at this venue
Man United created (home)
2.7
Man United allowed (home)
1.6
Bournemouth created (away)
1.3
Bournemouth allowed (away)
1.6
2 · Team news

Man United without Shaw

Man United: Shaw (injured), Mainoo (injured), Martinez (doubtful, 75% to play), Rashford (doubtful, 75% to play). Bournemouth: Scott (injured).

PlayerStatusImpact
Man United ShawInjuredMedium
Man United MainooInjuredSmall
Man United MartinezDoubtful, 75% to playSmall
Man United RashfordDoubtful, 75% to playSmall
Bournemouth ScottInjuredSmall
3 · Form

Bournemouth arrive in better form

Last five league games: Man United took 4 points, Bournemouth took 5.

Man United
DLDDD
Bournemouth
DDLLW
Last 5 league games, most recent on the right
4 · Results vs performance

Bournemouth's results undersell them by 5 points

Bournemouth have 11 points from their last 10 league games, but their chances were worth 16. We rate teams on their chances, so Bournemouth get more credit than their results.

5 · Head to head

Tight when they meet

3 of the last 4 meetings were drawn or won by one goal. Past meetings count for little in the model.

  • Mar 2026Bournemouth 2-2 Man United
  • Dec 2025Man United 4-4 Bournemouth
  • Apr 2025Bournemouth 1-1 Man United
  • Dec 2024Man United 0-3 Bournemouth

What would change our mind

The biggest single factor is Man United's attack. If Man United's attack were only average, the home win chance would drop to 36%.

Verdict

Man United 2–1 Bournemouth, home win, too close to call