Sports
Man United vs Wolves: Premier League – LIVE!
Manchester United will be desperate for a lift in their increasingly stressed bid for Champions League qualification as they return to action at Old Trafford today. Though still occupying fourth place, back-to-back defeats by Brighton and West Ham plus Liverpool’s incredible run of six successive victories have left Erik ten Hag’s side looking rather vulnerable to being usurped late on by their fiercest rivals.
United still have a crucial game in hand on Liverpool, but can ill-afford another slip-up today with the Reds only one point behind and travelling to struggling Leicester on Monday night. Ten Hag is not helped by Marcus Rashford being absent altogether through injury, though the return of Raphael Varane for the first time in a month will be most welcome as they look to lean on their strong home form and avoid three straight Premier League losses for the first time since 2015.
Wolves secured top-flight safety with their surprise win over Midlands rivals Aston Villa last weekend and will be eager to improve their dismal away form with Julen Lopetegui handing a debut to Daniel Bentley in goal. Follow Manchester United vs Wolves live below!
Live updates
20 mins: So much possession for United, but they just can’t find that final ball.
Martial slips onto his backside after a mazy run to the edge of the Wolves box.
Neves leads a swift break for the visitors and Pedro Neto’s low cross from the left is seen off confidently by Varane.
16 mins: Sancho is well dealt with by Matheus Nunes as United probe patiently for another opening.
Wolves are coming onto the ball just a bit more now, but with zero threat moving forward.
15 mins: The first booking of the afternoon goes to Diego Costa.
The fiery Spaniard takes a heavy touch and then scythes down Antony with a poor scissors tackle.
Definite yellow.
13 mins: Worrying times for Wolves as a decent cross from the left just evades the head of the leaping Martial in the middle.
Wan-Bissaka and Antony then combine to great effect on the opposite flank, getting the overload in a 2v1.
Wan-Bissaka’s cutback on the overlap, however, fails to pick out a red shirt inside the box.
Wolves scramble clear.
11 mins: Manchester United continue to dominate possession early on here, with Sancho trying a searching through ball that is crucially cut out by a grey shirt.
A pass is then overhit out to Wan-Bissaka, drawing ironic cheers from the travelling Wolves fans.
8 mins: That goes down as an early chance for Wolves as Dawson flashes a difficult half-volley off-target after De Gea had initially given the ball away.
It’s cheap down the other end from Wolves too as Kilman loses his footing attempting to take in a straightforward Dawson pass.
That allows in Antony, who runs at Kilman before bending a shot wide of the far post.
He should have made Bentley work there.
6 mins: The first shot in anger of the afternoon comes from Christian Eriksen, who picks up a great pocket of space beyond Neves after a squared pass that followed a United throw-in.
However, the Dane’s ambitious drive is wild and hurtles high into the stands.
That was never testing Wolves debutant Bentley between the posts.
3 mins: United are looking to the flanks early, switching well out to Antony as the Brazilian builds up a head of steam and is thwarted by a fine interception from Ruben Neves.
United are in their familiar red home strips this afternoon with white shorts and black socks, with Wolves donning their patterned all-grey third kit.
2 mins: A solid start from United, who are dominating possession already and forcing Wolves quickly onto the defensive.
Antony is looking to breach their resolve early, along with the busy Bruno Fernandes.
KICK-OFF
Underway at Old Trafford!
Manchester United have not lost three successive Premier League matches since the Louis van Gaal era in December 2015.
They need a win today with in-form Liverpool piling on the pressure in the race for fourth place and Champions League qualification.
Wolves are now safe from relegation of course, so can play with a bit of freedom this afternoon.
