Premier League: Red Devils Aim to Stop the Rot

Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers 

Not so long ago, it was all smiles at Old Trafford as Manchester United pursued an ambitious treble, as they were still just about in the Premier League and favourites to win both the Europa League and Carabao Cup.

Fast forward three weeks or so, and the Carabao Cup is in the bag, but the other two are long gone. And now the Red Devils must produce a good stretch of Premier League 2023 results to ensure they hold on to their top four spot and this game is their next chance.  

Erik ten Hag’s side have a 1-0 loss to West Ham to shake out of their system, while Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over Aston Villa.

Now safe from any lingering relegation fears, the visitors can play with freedom, and that makes them a dangerous customer. 

Talking Points

Red Devils have serious work to do  

Manchester United’s away form continued to frustrate ten Hag when the Red Devils went down to the London Stadium on Sunday, as a Said Benrahma goal gave the Hammers a deserved victory.

That made it back-to-back defeats for ten Hag’s side who also returned from Brighton empty handed in another 1-0 loss. And with arch rivals Liverpool on a late charge and just a single point behind, Manchester United desperately need a victory to allay any fears of being caught.

Qualifying for the Champions League is United’s top priority as it would boost the club’s chances of recruiting some top talent in the summer. And it may have some sway on the takeover of the club, with bids on the table of around £5-B reflecting top four status.

It must be said that the Red Devils need some close season reinforcements.

Goalkeeper David de Gea made a weak effort to stop Benrahma’s tame long-range effort in London, but his outfield players were just as poor. West Ham created numerous chances and were denied a fairly clear penalty when Victor Lindelof handled, but neither the on field referee nor VAR spotted it.

Erik ten Hag’s experiment with Wout Weghorst playing just behind Marcus Rashford doesn’t seem to be working, while Casemiro is still struggling to recapture his pre-suspension form.

The return of Christian Eriksen is a big plus though, and the gifted Dane will have the best chance of unlocking a well-organised Wolves defence.                 

Wolves look forward to 2023-24

My SBOTOP colleague Jordan said that Wolves were capable of derailing Aston Villa’s European charge, and he was bang on the money as Toti Gomes headed an early goal which was enough to see off the Villains and the threat of relegation. And it was an impressive response to the 6-0 thrashing Wolves suffered at the hands of Brighton last week.  

Wolves head coach Lopetegui has done a fine job since taking over at Molineux, building a solid team based on sound defencive foundations and one which eased away from the bottom three.

Now he has the time and opportunity to continue his project and plan for next season. He has a three-game window to see which players can play a part in the club’s next chapter and can take a look at some squad players.

Lopetegui will start with his experienced centre-back pairing of Max Kilman and Craig Dawson, while skipper Ruben Neves pulls the strings in an advanced midfield role. There could be a return up front for the influential Pablo Sarabia, and these players can be in Lopetegui’s 2023-24 core.

History 

The Red Devils have had the better of the head-to-heads, winning 14 of the 23 encounters over the last 20 years, while Wolves have won five and there have been four draws.

United have a strong home record of 12 wins, five draws, and one defeat, while Wolves have been shaky on their travels, winning two, drawing five, and losing 10.

But Lopetegui’s side is in better form, winning four of the last six, while Manchester United have won just once in that period.

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2023 odds reckon the hosts will get back to winning ways and the Red Devils are hot favourites at a price of 1.37 to take all three points, while Wolves are at 5.80 to win and the draw is at 4.45.  

Manchester United to win 2-0 is priced at 6.18, and that would be the perfect outcome for the Old Trafford faithful. But I think they’ll have to work hard against the well-drilled Wolves.

 

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