BOSS Eddie Howe insisted he would never place elevated importance on certain Premier League games ahead of Cherries' tough festive run.

Howe's men face Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City in the top flight before Christmas, while a trip to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup quarter-final also awaits.

Cherries are three points clear of the drop zone and will be keen to avoid being pulled back into trouble over the next fortnight.

With that in mind, Howe is keen to take as many points as possible from a hugely testing run of league fixtures.

He said: “It’s very difficult to earmark games. We try to get something from every game.

“In our first season in the Premier League, part of the reason we stayed up was that we beat Chelsea and Manchester United.

“Without those wins, it would have been really difficult for us so I think we need to have the mindset that we need to try to beat one of the big guns and we have them all coming so that is going to be our aim."

Cherries' win over Manchester United in December 2015 remains their only victory over the Red Devils in the league. The Dorset club have never won at Old Trafford in league or cup competition.