After one of the club’s most dramatic comebacks, Manchester United returned to Premier League action on Sunday at Old Trafford, taking on Wolves. The Red Devils scored three goals in six extra-time minutes to secure their progress in the Europa League on Thursday. Our opponents are in a rich vein of form, having won the last four games in a row.
Our season was very much in the balance when we were losing 4-2 (6-4 on aggregate) to Lyon on Thursday evening, with only several minutes left of extra time to play. However, an incredible turnaround within six minutes saw United score three goals to grab another famous comeback in Europe. The victory saw us claim our place in the semi-finals of the Europa League. Given our 2024/25 league campaign has gone from bad to worse, our potential success now remains with Europe.
Ruben Amorim has confirmed this will be the priority for the remainder of the season, hinting that some of the younger players will feature in the league games to rest their key stars. We will still want to keep our good momentum going into Sunday’s game. United have not won in their last three Premier League games having lost two and drawn one, as we sit 14th place in the table with 38 points.
Manchester United Team News
For United, they will be without several players for the game against Wolves, including Amad Diallo, Joshua Zirkzee, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Toby Collyer and Ayden Heaven. Noussair Mazraoui and Victor Lindelöf had to leave Old Trafford at half time during the Europa League game due to a personal family issue, but they are expected to be back in the squad.
Ruben Amorim is likely to make changes to the side resting key players as we focus on the Europa League tie against Athletic Bilbao in a few weeks’ time. This will see the likes of Harry Amass, Christian Eriksen, and Lindelöf start for the Reds.
Manchester United Possible Lineup
Onana;
Yoro, Lindelof, Shaw;
Dalot, Eriksen, Ugarte, Amass;
Fernandes, Garnarcho;
Hojlund.
Opposition Preview
Relegation from the Premier League still seemed a possibility several weeks back, but Wolves will likely extend their stay in the top flight, needing only two points out of the next 18 to ensure their survival. United will be hoping not to go further down the table as a 17th-place finish remains possible, so it makes it a must-win for the Red Devils.
In recent times, Wolves have become a bogey team for United on their return to the Premier League back in the 2018/19 season. They have won four, drawn four, and lost eight of their 16 games since. Their record at Old Trafford is not so good, having only won one of the last 13 visits to the Theatre of Dreams. Given the strong form shown by Victor Pereira’s team of late, they will be confident of taking something away from Sunday’s clash.
They have taken 13 points from the last 15 available to them in the league, which includes winning four consecutive matches, with the 4-2 victory against Tottenham Hotspur coming last weekend. These wins have seen Wolves extend the gap to the drop zone to 14 points. If this were to hit 16 points after Sunday’s games, then it would confirm Ipswich Town as the final team to be relegated from the Premier League.
Wolves’ away record this season has been good, taking 18 out of the 35 points on the road. They have only lost one of the last six away games.
Wolves Team News
The opposition is without a number of players due to injury issues, as Enso Gonzalez, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Leon Chiwome, Pedro Lima, Sasa Kalajdzic and Yerson Mosquera are potentially missing out on the visit to Old Trafford. Matt Doherty has picked up a knock but is expected to play.
Matheus Cunha made his comeback from his four-game suspension last weekend and scored a goal from the bench in the victory over Tottenham. He is likely to return to the starting eleven. It is expected that the majority of the team that faced Tottenham will be the same against Manchester United, with Jorgen Strand Larsen heading the attack, scoring four goals in his last five games.
Form Guide
Manchester United Premier League form: DWLDL
Manchester United form (all competitions): LDDLW
Wolves Premier League form: DWWWW
Wolves form (all competitions): DWWWW
Prediction
We will be brimming with confidence after Thursday evening as United can use this as a catalyst to build some good form for the remainder of the season and potential success in Europe. We cannot deny that Wolves will provide a threat, having taken 13 points out of their last five games.
Manchester United 2-1 Wolves