Manchester United will be eager to continue the recent unbeaten run when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux on Thursday.
Gameweek 22 of the 2023/24 Premier League season will wind up on Thursday, bringing us two matches. The action on the day will conclude at the Molineux, where Wolverhampton Wanderers will host Manchester United.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have experienced an upturn in form and fortunes in the last few weeks. The Gary O’Neil experiment has yielded the desired results, with a return to the top half of the table on the cards. The hosts are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run, with the streak including five victories.
On the other hand, Manchester United continue to blow hot and cold, struggling to find any semblance of consistency in their results. The Red Devils are currently on a three-game unbeaten run but have not won back-to-back matches since November. So, the pressure is mounting on Erik ten Hag as the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era starts taking shape.
The reverse fixture came on the opening weekend of the 2023/24 season, with Manchester United clinching a hard-fought and fortunate 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Gary O’Neil has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Thursday, the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager will be bereft of the services of only two first-team players.
Hwang Hee-chan and Boubacar Traore are the only absentees, with the latter still at the Africa Cup of Nations and the former at the AFC Asian Cup with South Korea. But the good news is Joao Gomes’s availability after serving a three-match ban. In addition, Pablo Sarabia is back after recovering from a calf injury.
Gomes should return to the starting eleven straightaway, joining Mario Lemina in the middle of the park. Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Jose Sa taking his spot between the sticks.
Max Kilman, Craig Dawson, and Toti Gomes should form the central defensive unit. Nelson Semedo and Matt Doherty should be the two wing-backs for the home side. Finally, Matheus Cunha will spearhead the Wolverhampton Wanderers attack against Manchester United, with Pedro Neto and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde completing the numbers in the offensive department.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Sa; Kilman, Dawson, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Doherty; Neto, Bellegarde; Cunha
Manchester United
Like his counterpart in the Wolverhampton Wanderers dugout, Erik ten Hag does not have any new issues hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to the Molineux. The Manchester United manager will be without five first-team players.
Marcus Rashford is available after the recent controversy surrounding him, which involved a fine after an internal disciplinary hearing. In addition, Aaron Wan-Bissaka should be in the matchday squad after recovering from a knock. Meanwhile, Andre Onana is back after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Cameroon.
But Sofyan Amrabat might not be available for Thursday’s game after playing in Morocco’s AFCON campaign-ending game on Tuesday. As for those on the sidelines, Tyrell Malacia (knee), Victor Lindelof (groin), Mason Mount (calf), and Anthony Martial (groin) are yet to regain full fitness.
Onana should return between the sticks, replacing Altay Bayindir after the Turkish goalkeeper’s Manchester United debut in the FA Cup fourth round against Newport County. The Red Devils will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him.
The defensive quartet should remain unchanged, with Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw taking their places. As for the midfield unit, Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro should pair up in the double pivot again.
Bruno Fernandes should reprise his usual no. 10 role, with Antony and Alejandro Garnacho featuring on the flanks. So, Marcus Rashford will find himself on the bench on Thursday, with Rasmus Hojlund leading the line for Manchester United against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in January 2022 is their only win in their last 11 league and cup games against Manchester United (D3 L7).
- Wolverhampton Wanderers lost four of their opening five league fixtures this season but have faced defeat in only four of their subsequent 16 league games (W7 D5). They have scored 30 Premier League goals this season, one short of their final total in 2022/23.
- Manchester United have managed one point and scored one goal in their last four away league fixtures (D1 L3).
- Manchester United’s tally of nine Premier League away goals is the joint-second lowest this season, with only Sheffield United netting fewer on their travels.
- Gary O’Neil has lost all three of his Premier League fixtures as a manager against Manchester United, with his team (Bournemouth and Wolves) failing to score in each defeat.
Player to Watch
Marcus Rashford
Rashford has been in the limelight for the wrong reasons this past week. Manchester United have officially closed the matter after the English international apologised for his actions. But the latest controversy has only added fuel to the fire amid growing disillusionment due to his poor form this season. So, returning to his best might help set things right.
Interestingly, Rashford has scored seven Premier League goals on a Thursday, a total only Harry Kane (10) exceeds. Another strike at the Molineux will bring him close to Kane’s record while helping his team’s cause. So, what better way to repent for his actions last week than to deliver the goods and help his team create some much-needed momentum?
Prediction
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Manchester United
Manchester United might be ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers on the Premier League table. But the standings do not reflect the overall performance levels this season. That should equalise this Thursday in the meeting at the Molineux, which should see the away side struggling.
Manchester United have not lost a top-flight match in February since losing at Newcastle United in 2018, going unbeaten in their last 22 games in the month (W13 D9). But that incredible run will end against the resurgent Wolverhampton Wanderers, who will eke out a narrow 2-1 win over Erik ten Hag’s men on Thursday.
