Manchester United welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford tonight as they look to finish the calendar year with a statement win, but surrounded by familiar uncertainty, with fitness once again shaping Ruben Amorim’s preparations.
United edged past Newcastle 1-0 on Boxing Day, yet the victory came at a cost as Mason Mount was forced off after reporting muscle tightness. The Red Devils are in the midst of an injury crisis in midfield with Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes set to be unavailable for the club's final clash of the year. Mount's availability remains doubtful.
Meanwhile, without a win from 18 top-flight games this season, Wolves have been totally cast adrift, while European hopefuls United are consistently inconsistent.
When Manchester United last hosted Wolverhampton Wanderers in April, it’s fair to say the visitors were in dreamland under Vitor Pereira.
Pablo Sarabia’s free-kick sealed a 1-0 win at Old Trafford – a fifth Premier League victory during a club-record run of six on the bounce – that secured their top-flight status for another season.
However, Wolves return to Old Trafford eight months later in the middle of a nightmare, having suffered 11 straight defeats – including a 4-1 loss in the reverse fixture between the sides earlier this month.
Rooted to the foot of the Premier League table with just two points from their opening 18 games this term – and already 16 from safety – to say they have failed to build on their momentum from the back end of last season would be a real understatement.
The appointment of Rob Edwards to replace Pereira has done little to change their fortunes. The former Luton Town and Middlesbrough boss, who has overseen seven consecutive losses since arriving, is desperately looking to rediscover that winning feeling as his side’s wait for a first league victory of this campaign goes on.
There were some encouraging signs in their 2-1 defeat by Liverpool on Saturday, especially in the second half, though the damage was done just before half-time by a quickfire double from Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz. Santiago Bueno pulled a goal back for the visitors at Anfield after the break, but it was ultimately another loss.
Another defeat here would be their 26th in the Premier League in 2025, equalling the record for a side during a single calendar year set by Ipswich Town 31 years ago, which was back when there were 42 games for each team in a Premier League season
Despite the aforementioned 1-0 victory at United in April, you must go back to a run of three straight wins between March 1960 and September 1961 for the last time Wolves were successful in successive away league games at Old Trafford.
United, meanwhile, have prevailed from eight of their last 11 top-flight matches against Wolves, and are fresh from recording just their second league clean sheet of the season.
Ruben Amorim switched to a back four for the Boxing Day visit of Newcastle United, and it paid dividends as, despite enjoying just 33.3% of possession in the absence of skipper Bruno Fernandes, Patrick Dorgu’s stunning volley was enough to secure a hard-earned 1-0 victory.
The Red Devils, who are sixth in the table, three points behind fourth-place Liverpool, will look to register consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since shutting out Southampton and Crystal Palace in September 2024 under Erik ten Hag.
United were beaten in their final league game in 2023 (against Nottingham Forest) and 2024 (against Newcastle), though they previously lost their last league match in three successive calendar years between 1980 and 1982.
