Wolves vs Man Utd Preview: Team News & Prediction
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We have a new coach and a relatively new coach facing off at Molineux this weekend as Vitor Pereira’s Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United.
Kick-off date/time: Thursday 26th December, 2024: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime / US – Universo
Wolves Preview: A brilliant start
Wolverhampton Wanderers took the decision to sack manager Gary O’Neil a couple of weeks ago with Al Shabab boss Vitor Pereira being poached. They earned their third victory of the campaign in their 17 match of the season last weekend in Pereira’s first game.
Wolves made the short trip to the King Power Stadium to face fellow strugglers Leicester City last weekend and defeated the Foxes by three goals to nil with all three goals coming in the first-half via Goncalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes and Matheus Cunha.
Man Utd Preview: A tricky start
Former Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim was appointed as Manchester United boss last month and he has managed just four victories in his opening nine matches across all competitions with only one complete performance during his short reign.
Three of those wins have seen them come from behind to win in games against Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen and Manchester City. The Red Devils most recently suffered a 3-0 hammering at the hands of AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford at the weekend.
Wolves Team News: Lemina may return
Vitor Pereira has said he is hopeful that midfielder Mario Lemina will play a part on Boxing Day after not being risked the other day. Rayan Ait-Nouri has also returned from suspension with Matheus Cunha likely to still be available due to no verdict into a disciplinary investigation.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Sa; Doherty, Bueno, Toti; Semedo, Andre, J. Gomes, R. Gomes; Guedes, Cunha; Strand Larsen
Unavailable: Mosquera (Injured), Traore (Injured), Sarabia (Injured), Gonzalez (Injured), Kalajdzic (Injured)
Questionable: Lemina (Injured), Cunha (Disciplinary)
Man Utd Team News: Needing a style
Manchester United have a few defensive issues as they try to adapt to their back-three shape under Amorim. Netherlands international centre-back Matthijs de Ligt is an illness doubt with a couple of injuries such as Luke Shaw and Mason Mount.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez; Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Malacia; Diallo, Fernandes; Hojlund
Unavailable: Lindelof (Injured), Shaw (Injured), Mount (Injured)
Questionable: De Ligt (Illness)
Wolves vs Man Utd Prediction
Vitor Pereira’s style of football is known for being defensive and quite reactive but that is exactly what Wolves need. They have some very interesting and impressive attacking players such as the aforementioned Cunha that can win games for them but they need to sure things up at the back. They now face a United side that have lacked cohesion throughout the campaign and throughout the early stages of the Amorim era with a lack of quality really being shown. A double chance bet in favour of Wolves, especially at Molineux, would appear a good value bet for this one.
Wolves vs Man Utd Tip: Double chance – Wolves to win or draw
