Erik ten Hag’s misfiring attack was stunted for the remainder of the game as the Red Devils offered Liverpool another slice of hope in the race for Champions League football, although they possess a one-point lead over their Merseyside rivals with a game in hand and are also just two points worse off than Newcastle United.
As Manchester City and Arsenal ride off into the sunset, a third-placed finish and FA Cup glory is now the best that Man United can fight for in the final few weeks of the season, but just two wins from their last six in all tournaments is hardly an encouraging record.
However, what is extremely encouraging is a stellar 27-game unbeaten streak at Old Trafford in all tournaments since Real Sociedad’s 1-0 Europa League success in September, and Ten Hag’s men have kept five successive Premier League clean sheets on home soil, shipping a league-low eight goals at the Theatre of Dreams all season.
Wolves made Man United’s start to 2022 a miserable one with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford last January, but the Red Devils responded by ruining the West Midlands side’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, prevailing 1-0 at Molineux last December, and another low-scoring affair is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility.
Lisandro Martinez (foot), Phil Jones (knee), Tom Heaton (ankle), Donny van de Beek (knee) and Scott McTominay (knock) are no closer to making their comebacks, but Raphael Varane has made a rapid recovery from a foot problem and could be involved. With Rashford unlikely to be involved, Ten Hag may consider a recall for Garnacho or Jadon Sancho to a wide position, as profligate duo Anthony Martial and Wout Weghorst battle it out to start at the tip of the attack.
As for Wolves, Lopetegui will also expect to be working with the same crop of players from the win over Villa, as Boubacar Traore continues to build up his match fitness while Chiquinho and Sasa Kalajdzic continue to rehabilitate from long-term knee issues. Toti has surely warranted another start at left-back ahead of Rayan Ait-Nouri and Hugo Bueno – who was left out of the squad last time out – while Raul Jimenez remains out of favour too and is fighting to get back into Lopetegui’s good books.
