Wolverhampton Wanderers -v- Manchester United
Premier League
Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Monday 19 August 2019, KO 20:00 BST
Referee: Jon Moss
Manchester United will face Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux on Monday evening, their first away match of the 2019/20 Premier League season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping it will be third time lucky to get a win here, after losing twice there last season in both the league and the Emirates FA Cup, just 17 days apart. After the 4-0 victory over Chelsea last weekend, the clubs supporters will be expecting another good performance.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be impressed with the opening match of the Premier League season for his club, however, he will keep in mind what happened last season when United faced Wolves twice at the Molineux in both the Premier League and the Emirates FA Cup, losing twice to the same 2-1 scoreline. However, with a good pre-season under their belts and better squad fitness, it could be time to repay the supporters.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side has played five competitive matches to start their season, playing four times in the UEFA Europa League qualifying, beating Crusaders 2-0 and 4-1 (6-1 on aggregate) and FC Pyunik 4-0 twice (8-0 on aggregate). Last weekend in their opening Premier League match, drawing 0-0 away to Leicester City will be something the Portuguese manager will be looking to overcome, aiming to keep their unbeaten run at home against United.
Form: United had the better start to the Premier League by beating Chelsea with Wolves drawing 0-0 at Leicester City. Wolves have played four matche
Manchester United: WWWWWW
Chelsea 4-0 W, AC Milan 2-2 (5-4 on penalties) W, Kristiansund 1-0 W, Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 W, Inter Milan 1-0 W, Leeds United 4-0 W
Wolverhampton Wanderers: WDWWWW
FC Pyunik 4-0 W, Leicester City 0-0 D, FC Pyunik 4-0 W, Crusaders 4-1 W, Crusaders 2-0 W, Manchester City 0-0 (3-2 pens) W
Top Scorers: United have scored four competitive goals this season with Wolves scoring 14, although they have played five competitive matches so far this season.
Manchester United: Despite winning all six pre-season matches, the competitive season for United started last weekend with a 4-0 victory over Chelsea. The goals scored in pre-season are no longer counted with the season now in full effect.
Goals: 2 – Marcus Rashford, 1 – Anthony Martial, Daniel James
Assists: 2 – Paul Pogba, 1 – Andreas Pereira
United started the 2019/20 season magnificently last weekend by beating Frank Lampard’s Chelsea 4-0 at Old Trafford. With three more matches to play before the first international break of the season, which will take the club into September, where both the Europa League group stages and the Carabao Cup will commence, meaning more fixtures for Solskjaer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Santo’s side has played five competitive matches this summer with their UEFA Europa League qualifiers, scoring 14 goals and conceding just one. In the Premier League, they have drawn a blank so far.
Goals: 4 – Raul Jimenez, 2 – Diogo Jota, Ruben Vinagre, 1 – Matthew Doherty, Morgan Gibbs-White, Own Goal, Pedro Neto, Ruben Neves, Ryan Bennett
Assists: 6 – Diogo Jota, 2 – Adama Traore, 1 – Joao Moutinho, Pedro Neto
Wolves started their 2019/20 season back on the 25th July, five days after beating Manchester City in the Premier League Asia Trophy in China. Santo’s side has played four Europa League matches, scoring 14 goals in those matches, conceding just one. In the Premier League, they are yet to score a single goal, drawing 0-0 with Leicester City last weekend.
Team News: Solskjaer has no major injury worries ahead of the visit to the Molineux on Monday; Santo has a fit squad available with fresh players to call upon after Thursday’s Europa League match.
Solskjaer has no major worries ahead of the visit to the Molineux Stadium on Monday evening. Eric Bailly and Tim Fosu-Mensah are both out of action recovering from their injuries whilst both Fred and Alexis Sanchez are building on their fitness ahead of the new season. Other than that, the Norwegian has everyone else available for this match.
Santo will most likely recall Raul Jimenez, Diogo Jota, Rui Patricio, Ryan Bennett, Ruben Neves, Jonny and Matt Doherty for the visit of United on Monday evening, the clubs first home Premier League match of the season. They will, however, need to do a lot better than they did at the King Power Stadium last weekend to thwart this confident United side.
Predicted Starting XI: Martial, Rashford, Lingard and James to spearhead United’s attack against Wolves at the Molineux.
Personally, I don’t expect too many changes to the starting XI from the Chelsea match, however, Daniel James could have put himself in contention for his first start in the Premier League. The back four will probably remain the same; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. David De Gea in goal. Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba in midfield and Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and James in the three behind the striker, who should be Anthony Martial.
Match Prediction: United has won more matches against Wolves but getting over back to back defeats at the Molineux last season is the priority for Solskjaer on Monday evening.
United has played Wolves 101 times with United winning 48 matches, drawing 17 and losing 36. United played Wolves three times last season, losing twice (both at the Molineux) in the Premier League and the Emirates FA Cup by the same 2-1 scoreline. At Old Trafford back in September, it was a 1-1 draw with Fred scoring his first goal for his club in the 11th minute and Joao Moutinho equalising in the 53rd minute. United need to continue their unbeaten run to the season (including pre-season).
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-3 Manchester United
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