Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimović raises his hand in triumph after the team's Community Shield win over Leicester City. (Photo : Getty Images)
Last season's lowly finisher AFC Bournemouth is set to face a new and improved Manchester United side at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, August 14 to open their 2016-2017 Premier League campaign.
Bournemouth, who was a newly-promoted squad last season, finished with an 11-18-9 win-loss-draw record last term enough for 42 points, which helped them stay five points above the bottom three relegation area.
The Cherries will still be led by head coach and former player Eddie Howe this coming season and will also feature a few new players in Emerson Hyndman from Fulham, Lys Mousset from Le Havre, Lewis Cook from Leeds United, Jordon Ibe and Brad Smith from Liverpool, and Nathan Aké from Chelsea.
Gone are Tommy Elphick who moved to Aston Villa, Matt Ritchie to Newcastle United, and Lee Tomlin to Bristol City.
On loan players are Glenn Murray to Brighton & Hove Albion, Joe Quigley to Gillingham, Harry Cornick to Leyton Orient, Matt Butcher to Yeovil Town, and Jordan Green to Newport County.
Bournemouth is coming off a 1-0 win over Ligue 1 squad Angers SCO at the Stade des Rives du Thouet last Saturday to complete their six-game preseason run undefeated, as per Vital Football.
Meanwhile, Manchester United is virtually a new team this season with new head coach Jose Mourinho leading the charge alongside new acquisitions Zlatan Ibrahimović, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eric Bailly, and Paul Pogba.
Mourinho had a magnificent summer transfer window in his first year in charge of the Red Devils by snagging all four of his summer targets.
There will be high expectations for his team to perform, though, and it could get even higher as the Special One had recently declared that United will go for no less than the title at the end of the 2016-2017 season.
The team nipped reigning English top flight champions Leicester City, 2-1, during the recent Community Shield match with winger Jesse Lingard netting the opening goal and Ibrahimović scoring the winner with a masterful header, via ESPN.
Pogba was still not around then and the team already showed some promise. The Frenchman will still be absent on Sunday as he is suspended. Still, a huge win for United is expected.
The predicted result is a 3-1 rout for Manchester United.
Bournemouth starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Federici; Francis, Aké, Cook, Daniels; Ibe, Surman, Arter, Pugh; Wilson, King
Manchester United starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Carrick, Fellaini; Mkhitaryan, Rooney, Martial; Ibrahimović
