It has been a dismal season for Manchester United, but the lowest point of all may have been a 3-0 humbling at home by Bournemouth back in December.
The Cherries took full advantage of a United side that were way off the pace and things could have actually been even worse for Erik ten Hag's side. Dango Ouattara had the ball in the back of the net deep into second-half stoppage time to make it 4-0, but VAR intervened and spared United any further humiliation.
The Red Devils were met with a wave of criticism in the immediate aftermath. Fans and pundits alike quickly weighed in on United's dismal display to offer their own damning take, including none other than club legend Gary Neville.
Taking to social media after the game, Neville wrote: "Consistently Inconsistent! An abysmal result." He wasn't the only one to take aim at United though, with ex-Red Devils forward Michael Owen issuing an even more damning assessment.
Come full-time, Owen claimed: "I just can’t see any positives for [United] at present. Knocked out of the cup, about to go out of the Champions League at the group stage, no chance of winning the league, average signings, shocking performances, manager falling out with players, no identity on the pitch, poor team selections. Things need to change as this team is going nowhere. Oh, and up next is Bayern Munich followed by a trip to Anfield."
Now, five months later, Ten Hag has a chance to avenge that embarrassing defeat and show United's critics that at long last, the club are starting to head in the right direction. Saturday night sees the Red Devils make the trip to the Vitality aiming to get revenge.
The United boss addressed the miserable afternoon against Bournemouth before Christmas ahead of the second meeting between the two teams. Ten Hag made clear what his players must do to avoid the same fate this time around.
"It was after a very good performance against Chelsea in the week," the Dutchman explained. "We were mentally not ready for that game. They battled us and we lost the battles. Tomorrow will not be different, that is the way they want to play. They want to fight with you.
"So you go into that fight, have the conviction, the belief and you need to support each other to win battles, to outplay them, outrun them and defending to match the runs."
With Newcastle getting the better of Tottenham earlier on Saturday afternoon, United now sit seventh in the table. A win at Bournemouth would keep the Red Devils' faint hopes of European football next season alive.