Wolves vs Manchester United: Premier League action resumes on Boxing Day with Wolves hosting Manchester United at Molineux. Both teams are struggling to find consistency this season, making this clash vital for their aspirations. Wolves, fighting relegation, will look to build on a rare win, while United aim to recover from their mid-table mediocrity.
Head-to-Head
- Wolves Wins: 37
- Draws: 20
- Manchester United Wins: 56
Last 5 Meetings
- May 2024: Manchester United 1-0 Wolves
- January 2024: Wolves 3-4 Manchester United
- May 2023: Manchester United 2-0 Wolves
- January 2023: Wolves 0-1 Manchester United
- May 2022: Wolves 1-1 Manchester United
Premier League Standings
- Manchester United: 13th (22 points, 6W-4D-7L)
- Wolves: 18th (12 points, 3W-3D-11L)
Team News
Wolves
For Wolves, head coach Pereira may stick with a largely unchanged lineup after a winning start to his tenure, even with Rayan Ait-Nouri available following suspension. Top scorer Matheus Cunha awaits a decision on a potential misconduct charge but remains eligible for now. Mario Lemina could return after missing the Leicester clash, but Boubacar Traore and Pablo Sarabia are still weeks away from a comeback.
Manchester United
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford remains unlikely to feature as speculation surrounding his future continues. Injury woes persist for the Red Devils, with Mason Mount and Victor Lindelof both sidelined after picking up injuries in recent matches, while Luke Shaw faces an extended spell out following another setback. Matthijs de Ligt, who missed the Bournemouth game due to illness, is expected to return, while Tyrell Malacia may be dropped after a tough outing last weekend.
Wolves vs Manchester United Lineups
Wolves
- GK: Jose Sa
- DEF: Semedo, Bueno, Toti Gomes
- MID: Matt Doherty, Joao Gomes, Andre, Guedes
- ATK: Rodrigo Gomes, Matheus Cunha, Strand Larsen
Manchester United
- GK: Andre Onana
- DEF: Mazraoui, Maguire, Lisandro Martinez
- MID: Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes
- ATK: Amad Diallo, Garnacho, Zirkzee
Tactics
Wolves
- Defensive solidity with a three-man backline.
- Focus on counter-attacks utilizing Cunha and Guedes’ pace.
- Vulnerable in transition, especially against quick attacks.
Manchester United
- High pressing and control through Fernandes.
- Overlapping full-backs to stretch Wolves’ defense.
- Weakness in defending set pieces and lapses in concentration.
10 Key Stats
- Wolves have not beaten Manchester United since 2019.
- United have won 7 of their last 13 visits to Molineux.
- Wolves’ home record: 1 win in 8 matches this season.
- Manchester United have failed to score in 3 of their last 8 away games.
- Wolves have lost their last 4 Premier League matches.
- United have conceded in their last 6 games.
- Wolves score 19% of their goals between minutes 0-15.
- United score 29% of their goals between minutes 76-90.
- Average goals in this fixture: 2.4 per game.
- Last season’s meetings ended 1-0 and 4-3 in United’s favor.
5 Tips
- Under 2.5 Goals: Recent matches at Molineux have been low-scoring.
- Manchester United to Win: United’s superior head-to-head record gives them the edge.
- Both Teams to Score (No): Wolves struggle to find the net consistently.
- Bruno Fernandes to Assist: The playmaker’s creativity can unlock Wolves’ defense.
- First Half Draw: Both teams tend to start cautiously.
Wolves vs Manchester United Prediction
Despite their struggles, Manchester United’s quality and depth should see them through against a Wolves side battling relegation. Wolves’ defensive vulnerabilities and United’s superior record in this fixture are likely to prove decisive.
Score Prediction: Wolves 0-1 Manchester United.
Follow Thesportsprince.com for the best previews and football analysis.