Wolves vs Man Utd preview, predictions & possible XIs
Man Utd travel to Wolves on Monday night looking to exact revenge on a team they failed to beat on three occasions last season.
After snatching a point in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in September, Wolves then knocked the Red Devils out of the FA Cup before beating them in the league just over two weeks later.
Wolves have enjoyed a successful Europa League qualifying campaign so far but were denied victory in their opening game at Leicester by VAR. Man Utd, on the other hand, demolished Chelsea 4-0 and made a real statement of intent as they look to improve on last season’s sixth-placed finish.
Nuno’s boys may have enjoyed greater success than their Mancunian counterparts during 2018/19, but who will come out on top in this season’s Molineux curtain-raiser?
Read on for our predictions, key players, TV info and team news.
When is Wolves vs Man Utd and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Molineux Stadium
Date: Monday, 19 August
Kick-off: 8:00 PM BST
TV coverage (UK): Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League
Last five meetings: Wolves vs Man Utd
2 April 2019: Wolves 2-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
16 March 2019: Wolves 2-1 Man Utd (FA Cup)
22 September 2018: Man Utd 1-1 Wolves (Premier League)
18 March 2012: Wolves 0-5 Man Utd (Premier League)
10 December 2011: Man Utd 4-1 Wolves (Premier League)
Aggregate Score: Wolves (WWDLL) 6-12 Man Utd (LLDWW)
Ones to watch
Wolves: Diogo Jota
It is very rare that players are as impressive in the Premier League as they are in the Championship following a promotion. Diogo Jota, however, is special. Playing up front with the outstanding Raul Jimenez, Jota was entrusted to do the attacking work of two players at once at times and did so with devastating effect.
He scored nine league goals and registered five assists too (just one less goal than £80m rated Wilfried Zaha) in a fantastic debut season which went under the radar for some to Jimenez’s form. He scored in both home victories against Man Utd last season: don’t be surprised to see him do the same again this time around.
Key stat: No player completed more take-ons (5) than Diogo Jota on the opening weekend of the season.
Man Utd: Marcus Rashford
Rashford has been given extra responsibility this season following the departure of Romelu Lukaku and showed everyone last Sunday that he is up to the task. He scored a brace as Man Utd blew Chelsea away, taking his second goal especially well after a sublime ball by Paul Pogba.
He and Anthony Martial were excellent last weekend and will be in charge of spearheading Man Utd’s attack at Molineux. Look out for Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in defence also: two players who were outstanding on their debuts last weekend.
Key stat: Rashford has scored more ‘fast-break’ goals (3) than any other player in the Premier League in 2019.
Team news
Wolves
Nuno made nine changes in the week during their 4-0 win against Pyunik and is likely to revert to a similar team to the one which drew at Leicester last Sunday.
Nobody used fewer players (21) than Wolves did last season and Nuno had a tried and tested formula which he was able to rinse and repeat. Given their impending European demands he will surely have to use more of his squad this time around but, for now, that same side will likely take the field again.
Predicted XI: Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Neves, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Jonny; Jota, Jimenez.
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Man Utd
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no fresh injury concerns as he looks to make it two from two in the Premier League. Alexis Sanchez was due to be ready to play this week but his proposed loan move to Inter means he is unlikely to feature.
The 4-0 scoreline slightly flattered the Red Devils last weekend, but a victory that emphatic means that Man Utd may well remain unchanged for their tough trip to the Midlands.
Predicted XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Pereira; Lingard, Pogba, Rashford; Martial.
Squawka prediction
Wolves got some joy off every team in the top six last season in all competitions and Man Utd failed to beat them in three meetings. Nuno’s men may have been vulnerable at home at times (they lost to Palace and Huddersfield, as well as drawing with a free-falling Brighton side), but they were imperious against the top sides: also beating Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea at Molineux.
However, the leaky Man Utd defence has been reinforced with £130m worth of English defenders and they looked a different animal against Chelsea. They had a fantastic pre-season and will surely be fresher than Wolves, whose season started a month ago now due to their Europa League commitments. It will be close, but we think Man Utd will nick it.
Wolves 1-2 Man Utd
