United kick off 2022 with Ralf Rangnick's toughest test at the helm thus far, with Old Trafford the setting for the Red Devils' reverse fixture against ninth-place Wolves.
In terms of games played, Wolves are on par with United with 18 played having had their previous two matches postponed amidst Covid issues. Victory for Wolves at the Theatre of Dreams would see them rise above Brighton, moving within only three points of United.
There have been no further positive Covid cases in the Midland side's camp, but they remain without Yerson Mosquera, Jonny, Pedro Neto and top scorer Hwang Hee-chan.
Since a five match unbeaten run through October into November, Wolves have only won twice in eight matches. It has arguably been their worst spell of the campaign over the past month or so, with only one further win in their past six matches. However, the recent run did involve meetings with the top three sides in the league, with slender 1-0 defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City as well as a goalless draw against Chelsea in their most recent fixture prior to Christmas. During that six-game spell, Bruno Lage's side only scored twice.
The attacking output has definitely been an issue for Wolves this season, scoring only 13 times so far in the Premier League - the second worst record in the division. By contrast, having only conceded 14 times, they are the league's second best team defensively. Jose Sa has been on a parallel level with David de Gea between the sticks for Wolves this season, revolutionary having replaced Rui Patricio in the summer.
Lage often prefers using a back five, with the likelihood of a low block meaning United will have to be patient, somewhat similar to against Burnley on Thursday night. Rangnick described Wolves as a "complicated team to play."
"In most cases they play with a back three or a back five. Very compact on the counterattack, very difficult to outplay. And again, it’s about finding the right spots, the right spaces, making the right decisions, playing the ball into the dangerous areas without being vulnerable on the counterattack. This is, against Wolves, one of the most important things."
"Burnley also didn’t concede that many goals so far and we scored three of them. So, why shouldn’t we be able to score goals against Wolves? As long as we keep a clean sheet, or only concede one goal, as long as we score three, everything is okay."
Wolves' league results have almost always been of a slender, single-goal margin this season, with no more than a two goals either scored or conceded at any point. It's fair to say a hefty quantity of their matches have been lacking entertainment, but it's almost guaranteed to be a fiercely competitive contest.
It was incredibly close when United travelled to the Molineux on gameweek three back in August, with Mason Greenwood's late goal dealing Wolves their third consecutive 1-0 defeat in the Premier League. No doubt, it certainly got better for Lage as he begun to fill Nuno Espirito Santo's shoes.
Wolves are now susceptible to losing four consecutive matches against United, winless in 10 league matches at Old Trafford.
United haven't lost since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure following the 4-1 defeat against Watford, with five wins in eight matches not breathtaking but satisfactory and a mark of progress. Rangnick has overseen three wins from his four league matches in charge with, on Thursday, United finally breaking the duck of only scoring one goal in every match. Victory to start 2022 would see Rangnick's side move within a point of the top four with a game in hand.
United have been hit with a bottleneck due to Harry Maguire sustaining an unspecified injury against Burnley. Raphael Varane still wasn't up to starting against Burnley, but will have to step up to face Wolves given doubt over Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly. It would appear the former still hasn't recovered from his bout of Covid, whilst the latter was replaced by Varane on Thursday with a muscle issue attributed to fatigue. Bailly is reportedly still in contention to play, however, with it seeming that he still hasn't travelled back for AFCON yet having been recalled from preparations for the Burnley match.
If neither Lindelof or Bailly are fit, there are a few options. Phil Jones hasn't played for the United first team in 707 days, but is one being considered by Rangnick. Otherwise, young Teden Mengi impressed in his outing against Young Boys. In that same match, Nemanja Matic started as a centre back, whilst Scott McTominay has experience for Scotland (though in a back three).
Bruno Fernandes is poised to return after suspension, though Paul Pogba remains sidelined.
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