EPL · Game Review

EPL game reviews – 2025-12-16

Wild Finish in the EPL: Bournemouth vs Manchester United Ends 4–4

If you like your Premier League football chaotic and full of goals, today’s clash between Bournemouth and Manchester United was right up your alley. The only match on the slate served up an eight-goal thriller, finishing 4–4 after a rollercoaster of momentum swings, big attacking performances and some nervy moments at the back for both sides.

Across 90 minutes, both teams traded blows relentlessly. United looked sharp going forward with four different scorers, while Bournemouth matched them stride for stride thanks to a clinical display from their front line and a standout shift from Marcus Tavernier. Corners, shots and goals all pointed to an end-to-end contest where neither side ever really got full control.

Below, we’ll break down how the game unfolded, who delivered when it mattered, and which stats stand out from an odds and betting perspective – all driven purely by the numbers in the official score records.

Bournemouth vs Manchester United: 4–4 Draw in a Goal-Heavy Classic

The score records tell a clear story: this was a wide‑open clash where attack beat defence on both sides. The “standard” metric for full time shows the home side (listed in the data as “home”) scoring 4, and the away side also on 4. That’s backed up by the player goal records – multiple names on the scoresheet for both Bournemouth and Manchester United, in a game that never settled down.

Final Score and Scoring by Half

From the match summary lines in the JSON:

  • Full-time standard score: Home 4 – Away 4
  • First half: Home 2 – Away 1
  • Second half: Home 2 – Away 3

United (home in the records) went into the break 2–1 up, but the second half turned into a full-throttle shoot‑out, with Bournemouth (away in the data) winning the half 3–2 and dragging themselves back into the contest. Bettors on over goals markets would’ve been laughing early, with three first‑half strikes and the pace only lifting after the interval.

Manchester United Attacking Output

On the Manchester United side of the stats (home team in the JSON), four different players found the net, a good sign of shared attacking responsibility:

  • Amad Diallo: 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on target
  • Bruno Fernandes: 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 shot on target, 1 assist, 2 “score or assist” contributions
  • Casemiro: 1 goal, 3 shots, 1 shot on target, 1 “score or assist” contribution
  • Matheus Cunha: 1 goal, 4 shots, 3 shots on target, 1 “score or assist” contribution

The big headline from an attacking metrics standpoint is Matheus Cunha, who led United for pressure on goal:

  • 4 total shots
  • 3 shots on target
  • 1 goal

Those numbers show he was heavily involved every time United pushed into the final third. For anyone backing Cunha in shots or shots-on-target markets, this was exactly the kind of performance you’d hope for – volume plus accuracy, not just a single half-chance.

Bruno Fernandes continues to be the heartbeat of United’s creative play. His stat line:

  • 2 total shots
  • 1 shot on target
  • 1 goal
  • 1 assist
  • 2 total “score or assist” contributions

That combination of goal and assist reflects what punters often look for with Bruno: high involvement in both scoring and creating. Any “to score or assist” markets built around him would have landed comfortably here.

Casemiro also showed up in dangerous areas:

  • 3 shots
  • 1 shot on target
  • 1 goal
  • 1 “score or assist” contribution

For a player primarily known for his defensive work, that’s solid attacking output, and it highlights just how stretched and open this match became. Even the holding midfielder was getting regular looks at goal.

Rounding out United’s scorers, Amad Diallo chimed in with:

  • 1 shot
  • 1 shot on target
  • 1 goal
  • 1 “score or assist” contribution

One chance, one finish – perfect return for those on Diallo anytime goalscorer tickets or long‑odds first‑goal plays. While his overall shot volume was low, his conversion rate was impeccable.

Bournemouth’s Response: Tavernier Leads the Charge

Bournemouth’s attack matched United stride for stride. Four players registered goals for the visitors:

  • Marcus Tavernier: 1 goal, 4 shots, 3 shots on target, 1 assist, 2 “score or assist” contributions
  • Antoine Semenyo: 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on target, 1 “score or assist” contribution
  • Evanilson: 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 shot on target, 1 “score or assist” contribution
  • Eli Junior Kroupi: 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on target, 1 “score or assist” contribution

The standout performer was Marcus Tavernier. His numbers jump off the page:

  • 4 total shots (joint‑highest in the match alongside Cunha)
  • 3 shots on target
  • 1 goal
  • 1 assist
  • 2 total “score or assist” contributions

That’s exactly the kind of all‑action stat line that drives value in multiple markets – shots, shots on target, goals, assists and any “goal involvement” props. Tavernier was at the heart of Bournemouth’s best attacking moments, and the numbers confirm it.

Antoine Semenyo, Evanilson and Eli Junior Kroupi each delivered tidy, efficient performances:

  • All three finished with 1 goal from 1 shot on target.

That kind of ruthless finishing is exactly why Bournemouth stayed in the contest. They didn’t need a huge volume of chances; they simply made the most of the key ones they had.

Elsewhere, Alex Scott chipped in with 2 shots (none converted), showing some attacking intent from deeper areas, while Marcos Senesi also registered a shot and a shot on target from the back, reminding everyone of his threat at set pieces.

Shots and Threat on Goal

Looking purely at total shots and shots on target for standout individuals:

  • Most shots (4 each): Matheus Cunha (United), Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth), Bryan Mbeumo (United)
  • Most shots on target: Matheus Cunha and Marcus Tavernier (3 each)

It’s worth noting Bryan Mbeumo for United:

  • 4 shots
  • 2 shots on target
  • 0 goals and 0 assists

From a betting lens, that’s a classic case of a player who did everything but score. Punters on Mbeumo shots or shots-on-target would be delighted, even though goals and “score or assist” markets didn’t land. His underlying involvement is something to keep in mind when weighing up future player props, as volume like that often converts over a larger sample.

Creative Contributions and Assists

Only a handful of players registered official assists in the record:

  • Bruno Fernandes (United): 1 assist
  • Adam Smith (Bournemouth): 1 assist
  • Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth): 1 assist

The assist numbers really underline Tavernier’s influence – combining scoring and creativity. For Bournemouth, Adam Smith’s assist reflects his impact from a wider or deeper role, chipping in to keep Bournemouth moving forward.

Corners: Set-Piece Pressure at Both Ends

The corners summary gives a good sense of how much each side was able to sustain attacks and force defensive actions:

  • Full-time corners: Home 5 – Away 4
  • First half corners: Home 4 – Away 2
  • Second half corners: Home 1 – Away 2

United edged the overall count 5–4, with a heavy tilt in the first half where they led 4–2 on corners. That aligns nicely with the first‑half scoreline of 2–1 to the home side – more pressure, more set pieces, and an early upper hand.

The second half saw Bournemouth grow into the game, winning the period 3–2 in goals and 2–1 on corners. For total corners bettors, the final tally of 9 corners lands in that mid‑range band, and the split by half shows a clear momentum swing as Bournemouth worked their way back.

“Score or Assist” Markets: Who Drove Attacking Value?

The “player score or assist” metric in the JSON is particularly handy for evaluating players in combined markets – one of the most popular ways to bet modern football.

Key contributors:

  • Bruno Fernandes (United): 2 score/assist contributions (1 goal, 1 assist)
  • Matheus Cunha (United): 1 score/assist contribution (1 goal)
  • Casemiro (United): 1 score/assist contribution (1 goal)
  • Amad Diallo (United): 1 score/assist contribution (1 goal)
  • Marcus Tavernier (Bournemouth): 2 score/assist contributions (1 goal, 1 assist)
  • Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth): 1 score/assist contribution (1 goal)
  • Evanilson (Bournemouth): 1 score/assist contribution (1 goal)
  • Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth): 1 score/assist contribution (1 goal)
  • Adam Smith (Bournemouth): 1 score/assist contribution (1 assist)

For punters who like to back players for “goal or assist” instead of an outright goalscorer, these are exactly the names that delivered. Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Tavernier in particular offered excellent value, each contributing to two separate goals.

Defensive Side and Non‑Scorers

On the defensive and deeper-lying side, the data is more about who didn’t show up on the scoresheet:

  • United defenders like Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martínez, Tyrell Malacia, and keeper Senne Lammens registered 0 goals, 0 assists and no shots.
  • For Bournemouth, players such as Tyler Adams, Adrien Truffert, Bafodé Diakité, James Hill and others also posted zeros across goals, assists and shots.

That’s not a knock on their performances – the JSON doesn’t include metrics like tackles, interceptions or saves – but from a betting perspective it tells you who stayed out of attacking markets entirely. If you’d floated long‑shot defender goals, this wasn’t the game for it, aside from Senesi’s single shot on target.

What the Numbers Say About the Match Overall

Summing the main attacking stats from the score records:

  • United key shooters: Cunha (4 shots, 3 on target), Mbeumo (4 shots, 2 on target), Casemiro (3 shots, 1 on target), Fernandes (2 shots, 1 on target)
  • Bournemouth key shooters: Tavernier (4 shots, 3 on target), Evanilson (2 shots, 1 on target), Alex Scott (2 shots), David Brooks (2 shots, 2 on target)

Both sides had multiple threats, but United’s volume came mostly through Cunha and Mbeumo, while Bournemouth spread the danger a little more evenly across Tavernier, Evanilson, Scott and Brooks.

With eight goals, nine corners and a stack of individual attacking contributions, this fixture was tailor‑made for overs punters and those chasing value in shots and “score or assist” props rather than a simple match result.

Conclusion: Big Attacking Numbers and Plenty to Learn for Bettors

Today’s only EPL clash between Bournemouth and Manchester United delivered exactly what neutral fans and overs‑backers love: goals everywhere, high shot counts from key forwards, and attacking midfielders pulling strings on both sides. The full‑time 4–4 scoreline, a 2–1 first half followed by a 3–2 second half, and a 5–4 corners split highlight just how open and end‑to‑end the game was.

From a betting perspective, the score records underline a few clear themes:

  • Players like Matheus Cunha and Marcus Tavernier with high shots and shots-on-target tallies are gold for prop markets.
  • Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Tavernier again stand out in “score or assist” metrics, ideal targets for combined markets.
  • Volume shooters such as Bryan Mbeumo can land shots-based bets even when they don’t score, which is crucial when you’re digging deeper than just anytime goalscorers.

If you’re serious about finding value, leaning on detailed stats like these – not just the final score – is essential. Before your next flutter on the EPL, use our odds comparison tool to line up the best prices across goals, shots, assists and “score or assist” markets. The data is there; comparing the odds properly is what turns that information into an edge.

Check the latest markets, shop around with our odds comparison, and make sure the next 4–4 thriller works in your favour.