Prediction: Wolves vs Manchester United

Verdict: Manchester United win

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to sign off 2022 with a flurry on the road, Manchester United will make the trip to Molineux on Saturday lunchtime when they meet Wolves.

Wolves

Starting with the hosts, managing to open Julen Lopetegui’s tenure with a last-gasp 2-1 victory away at Everton earlier in the week, Wolves will be desperate to spring an upset here. However, while the Oranges might have drawn a line under their five-match Premier League winless run on Boxing Day, the former Sevilla boss finds his squad at the heart of a relegation scrap. Opening up Saturday’s showdown at Molineux sat one-point adrift in the drop zone, Wolves have continued to show some extended issues this season. Along with recording just a pair of top-flight wins from their last 10 attempts, this weekend’s hosts have also gained a reputation for their struggles on home soil. Last seen in the Midlands getting hit with a deserved 2-0 loss at the hands of Arsenal, it should be highlighted that Lopetegui’s side have lost four of their previous five Premier League contests at Molineux.

Team News

Wolves have confirmed that they will once again be without the trio of Chiquinho, Pedro Neto and Sasa Kalajdzic this weekend. Likewise, Daniel Podence is a major doubt on Saturday afternoon.

However, in what could be a real boost for the relegation scrappers, Lopetegui could welcome back Boubacar Toure and Jonny Castro.

Manchester United

As for the visitors, marking their Premier League return earlier in the week with a flurry on home soil, Manchester United should find the mood in their camp at a real high. While the English giants might have endured a downbeat start to the 2022/23 campaign, Erik ten Hag’s side now have their sights firmly set on claiming a Champions League return in the New Year. Losing just one of their previous eight top-flight outings – a run that stems all the way back to October 2nd – the former Ajax boss will be calling on his side to lay down another marker on Saturday afternoon. Likewise, extending on their EFL Cup run last week as they secured a 2-0 victory against Championship high-flyers Burnley, United find themselves sat just a single point adrift of breaking into the top-four. Yet to concede a goal since returning from the World Cup break, ten Hag’s side will be looking to keep up their momentum here.

Team News

Manchester United will once again be without both Diogo Dalot and Jadon Sancho this weekend. However, after returning to training earlier in the week, Lisandro Martinez could feature on Saturday.

Missing out against Nottingham Forest through illnes, ten Hag is hopeful that Victor Lindelof and Scott McTominay can make their returns at Molineux.

Key Factors to Consider

• Wolves’ 2-1 victory against Everton on Boxing Day was just the second Premier League win that they have collected from their last 10 attempts.
• Likewise, Saturday’s hosts have lost four of their previous five Premier League showdowns on home soil.
• Manchester United have lost just one of their previous eight top-flight matchups – a run that stems back to October 2nd.
• England international Marcus Rashford has scored back-to-back goals since returning from the World Cup break.
• Seven of the last eight meetings between Wolves and Manchester United have finished with under 2.5 goals.

Conclusion

While Wolves might have managed to open Lopetegui’s tenure with a last-gasp 2-1 victory away at Everton on Boxing Day, Saturday’s hosts will know that they face a tough test here. Watching United lay down a real marker earlier in the week as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp at home against Nottingham Forest, the former Premier League champions are rightfully tipped as a standout pick here. Suffering just a single top-flight defeat since the start of October, ten Hag’s side will be desperate to break into the top-four this weekend. Facing a Wolves side who have now lost four of their last five Premier League showdowns at Molineux, we’re backing an away victory here.

Verdict: Manchester United win

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Unibet