Manchester United will host Wolves in the Premier League on Tuesday night for what is an essential game in the Red Devils’ surprising title challenge.
United saw their 100% away record halted by Leicester in a 2-2 draw this weekend, but can still benefit from a game where they created plenty of clear chances and won a point against one of the top four rivals.
Wolves also drew this weekend, leaving him late to punish Tottenham who did their best to sit down to a 1-0 lead at Molineux but eventually gave in in the playoffs. They struggle without Raul Jimenez talisman, but have managed to draw in three of their previous four meetings with United.
Here is 90 minspreview of the clash.
When does the kick-off take place? Tuesday, December 29
What time is the kick-off? 8:00 p.m. (GMT)
Where is it played? Old Trafford
TV channel / live broadcast? Amazon Prime Video
Arbitrator? Jonathan moss
Bruno Fernandes made his debut on Wolves’ last visit to Old Trafford in the Premier League
in February 2020, and has since become United’s go-to man for creativity and goals, creating one and scoring the weekend.
A back injury forced Victor Lindelof to face Leicester, so he’s unlikely to play against Wolves, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka also remains in doubt, leaving United short of options at right-back.
Long-absent Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo remain out of the fold, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a choice of a full squad.
Visitors will be without Raul Jimenez and Jonny for the trip. Jimenez continues to recover from a fractured skull, while Jonny has an ACL injury.
Raul Jimenez is back at Wolves for the first time since he broke his skull last month? pic.twitter.com/RsOW5zE4wL
– Football B / R (@brfootball) December 27, 2020
Marcal came out late against Spurs with an injury that made him doubt the game, while Leander Dendoncker and Willy Boly are also expected to be missing.
Manchester United: De Gea; Tuanzebe, Bailly, Maguire, Telles; Fred, McTominay; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani.
Wolves: Patricio; Semedo, Coady, Saiss, Ait-Nouri; Neves, Moutinho; Traoré, Podence, Neto; Silva.
United have enjoyed a generally strong 2020 despite losing three semi-finals and have found their bearings after a troubling start to December.
The losses to Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig saw Solskjaer’s side unexpectedly escape the Champions League earlier this month, but the Red Devils bounced back and regained their marks.
A late flurry at Everton sent them to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and while a point seems disappointing for Leicester, it is by no means a bad result. Marcus Rashford was on target against the Foxes for his sixth league goal of the season, but could have had more than one and needs to be more clinical in front of goal against Wolves.
The visitors didn’t quite have the start to the season they would have liked and place 11th, but can head to 2021 in the first half with a win.
The loss of Raul Jimenez to injury and Diogo Jota’s summer transfer to Liverpool hurt Nuno Espirito Santo’s side who seem less threatening in front of goal, but they still have a squad filled with talent and have managed to frustrate United in the latter. time. times.
Here’s how each team has performed in their last five games.
Manchester United
Leicester 2-2 Manchester United (26/12)
Everton 0-2 Manchester United (23/12)
Manchester United 6-2 Leeds (20/12)
Sheffield United 2-3 Manchester United (17/12)
Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City (12/12)
wolves
Wolves 1-1 Tottenham (12/27)
Burnley 2-1 Wolves (12/21)
Wolves 2-1 Chelsea (12/15)
Wolves 0-1 Aston Villa (12/12)
Liverpool 4-0 Wolves (6/12)
As Wolves head to Old Trafford satisfied with a point against Spurs and lifted by the result, United will feel they deserved more than the point they left Leicester with.
Two avoidable goals cost the Red Devils a victory and a more clinical finish would have put the game to bed.
Nuno has the side and the tactics to frustrate United defensively, but a lack of Jimenez will prevent them from exploiting the home side’s elusive defense.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-0 Wolves
