Photo: Ole Gunnar Solksjaek can take Manchester United to second in the league with a win over Wolves at Old Trafford today.
Manchester United will be determined to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Old Trafford today. Both teams walked away with a point from their most recent encounters, with Man United drawing at Leicester while Wolves held Tottenham to a 1-1 stalemate on Sunday evening.
Manchester United’s away record in the top flight is nothing short of sensational, and Leicester City were facing an uphill battle to be the ones to end the Red Devils’ 10-game Premier League winning streak on the road. The Boxing Day’s clash between two Champions League-chasing sides lived up to its billing, and despite going 2-1 up thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes, a late Axel Tuanzebe own goal ensured that Leicester walked away with a point after Harvey Barnes had initially levelled the scores.
Manchester United missed out on a chance to stretch their winning away record in the top flight to 11 matches. However, Arsenal who is considered as the ‘nowadays Robinhood’ did Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men a favour by beating Chelsea a few hours later, meaning that Man United remain in the Champions League places for the time being.
The Red Devils have now extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to eight matches, and they have finally started to produce the goods on their home turf after struggling in the early stages of the season.
Solskjaer’s men have taken seven points from a possible nine in their last three home league matches, and United fans will not be able to forget that 6-2 thrashing of Leeds in a hurry.
In the last 12 games between United and Wolves, Manchester United has the upper hand with 5 wins 4 draws and 3 losses. During that run Wolves has never beaten Manchester United at home with a 4-1 loss, one of their heaviest defeat at Old Trafford and a 5-0 defeat at their Molineux Stadium. This visit of Wolves represents a real test for United nonetheless.
United and Wolves met four times across all competitions last season – with three of those games ending in draws – and the Red Devils have only managed to win one of their last seven games with Wolves in the Premier League and FA Cup.
Victor Lindelof was unable to play through the pain against Leicester as his chronic back problem forced him off in the second period, and the makeshift right-back is not expected to feature in today’s fixture. Aaron Wan-Bissaka trained with team earlier Monday morning and may feature in the right back position. Tuanzebe should be given the chance to redeem himself with a start against Wolves.
A heavy rotation is afoot with only 72 hours in between matches, and knowing Ole he will make wholesale changes. He has always being given the stick for his unpredictable team selections, but truth be told, more often than not, he gets a favorable result.
Edinson Cavani 4 goals 4 assist from 11 appearances is enough to persuade Ole to be having a conversation of a possible contract extension. Cavani who provided the assist for Fernandes’s 10th league goal of the season on Boxing Day – potentially in line to spearhead the attack in place of out of form Anthony Martial.
As for Wolves, Marcal struggled near the end of the game on Sunday evening, and with less than 48 hours to recover, Rayan Ait Nouri is likely to start against Man United.
Long-term absentees Raul Jimenez and Jonny Otto were joined in the stands by Leander Dendoncker and Willy Boly for the visit of Spurs who remain major doubts for this one too.
A win for Manchester United will see them in second for the time being as Manchester City and Everton game was postponed due to Covid 19 cases among City’s team. Wolves on the other hand can break in the top ten with a win at Old Trafford. Too close to call, but Manchester United has what it takes to walk away with a 3-1 victory.
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