Paul Pogba's man-of-the-match display helped bring Manchester United's turbulent year to a positive end, with Bournemouth comprehensively defeated as caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw another morale-boosting performance.
The exciting post-Jose Mourinho era continues apace at Old Trafford, where players are now displaying freedom, fluidity and cohesion sorely lacking towards the end of the Portuguese's reign.
Pogba has enjoyed the starkest change in fortunes. A fortnight on from being an unused substitute in Mourinho's final match, the midfielder scored twice and set up another as United beat Eddie Howe's Cherries 4-1 in the final Premier League match of 2018.
United appear liberated by Solskjaer, whose side have scored 12 goals and picked up nine points since his appointment as caretaker manager. Sir Matt Busby and Mourinho are the only others to have won their first three league games as manager of the club. Re-live the action below:
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Manchester United vs Bournemouth.
The teams are in!
And here they are written down...
Man Utd: De Gea; Young, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw; Ander Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Lingard, Rashford, Martial.
Bournemouth: Begovic; Cook, Ake, Daniels; Ibe, Rico; Brooks, Surman; Stanislas, Wilson, King.
Four changes by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Ashley Young, Eric Bailly, Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial replace Diogo Dalot, Phil Jones, Fred and Juan Mata. Eddie Howe opts to leave Ryan Fraser on the bench, with a powerful attacking duo of Callum Wilson and Josh King leading the line.
After wins for Manchester City and Chelsea earlier today, we now turn our attention to the last game of the day: Manchester United host Bournemouth at Old Trafford looking for a third successive win under new coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Cherries have lost their last six away games and face a United side in confident mood after big wins over Cardiff and Huddersfield. Expect another positive performance from the hosts.
The teams are out to a great reception at Old Trafford. We're moments away from kick off.
Manchester United 0-0 Bournemouth
2 minutes
United are quickly onto the front foot. They win a free kick in Bournemouth's half and Ashley Young floats in a cross. It evades everyone, though, and rolls out for a goal kick.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
7 minutes
Begovic has to be alert to get to the ball before Martial, who was racing onto Matic's through ball. United, under Solskjaer, are not going to stop attacking.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
9 minutes
Rashford has a spring in his step. He closes down Begovic at some speed and very nearly gets a foot to the ball before the goalkeeper can clear.
It hasn't got any easier for Bournemouth.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
12 minutes
First attack of note for Bournemouth, who win a corner after some neat interplay on the edge of the box. The set piece is cleared and United counter. Begovic has to be strong to beat Pogba to a floated ball into the box.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
15 minutes
Very nearly 2-0. Pogba nods the ball down for Rashford, who catches a half volley sweetly. Ake blocks with his head and it deflects just wide with Begovic stranded.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
18 minutes
Who would have thought that playing on the front foot, attacking with fluidity and freedom, might prove successful for a team full of talented players. That is what United are doing now, and they look like they could score a few today.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
21 minutes
There are still question marks over United defensively, of course, but they haven't given Bournemouth much of a sniff so far. Ibe drives a ball across goal but there's no one on the end of it and De Gea watches it go harmlessly wide.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
23 minutes
Stanislas drives forward down the middle of the pitch and lines up a shot. He gets his shot wrong, though, dragging it wide of the left post.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
25 minutes
Bournemouth are coming into the game now. King curls a cross in and Stanislas waits for what would have been a tap in. Herrera gets back and intercepts crucially.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
26 minutes
Another chance. Ake wins a header from a corner, which looks on its way in. But it hits De Gea and United manage to clear. The away side have been on top in the last few minutes.
Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth
30 minutes
Pogba, surging forward, makes another late run into the box. Martial dinks the ball in his direction, but he can't quite reach it this time.
