Five things to look out for when Manchester United travel to Wolves, including an impressive Boxing Day record

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Manchester United will be looking to get back to winning ways on Boxing Day when they travel to Wolves.

The Reds secured three points at Molineux Stadium last season, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo.

Ruben Amorim has picked up seven points from his first six Premier League matches. His team must bounce back after United’s 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday.

The recent defeat will deflate the mood at Old Trafford over the Christmas period as United sit in the bottom half of the table, but the first team have a chance to make amends on Boxing Day by beating Wolves.

Wolves got off to a winning start under Vitor Pereira after his side beat Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City 3-0 over the weekend.

The hosts are sat in the relegation zone after managing just three wins in the Premier League this season.

Here are five things to look out for when Manchester United travel to Molineux on Boxing Day.

Manchester United’s defending from set-pieces can’t get any worse

Defensive issues remain the biggest problem for Amorim as he continues to switch personnel in his preferred back-three system. Matthijs de Ligt was unavailable at the weekend as he recovers from illness, which meant Harry Maguire started in the heart of defence.

Amorim is likely to make more chances to the team that dropped three points against Bournemouth, but he will demand an improvement from the team when it comes to defending set-pieces.

United have conceded goals from 17 set-pieces in the league this year. It’s the club’s worst record in a single calendar year since the Premier League began.

Wolves will be looking to take advantage of this…

Wolves’ man in form

Matheus Cunha has an impending suspension hanging over his head after being charged by the Football Association following a heated altercation with an Ipswich Town staff member at the end of their 2-1 defeat against Kieran McKenna’s side.

However, the in-form Brazilian striker is set to feature against United.

Cunha is one to watch because of his recent record in the Premier League, boasting 13 goal involvements in his last 17 starts at Molineux. That’s six goals and seven assists.

It’s a tally Cunha could build on against United unless Amorim’s side improves defensively.

Manchester United’s impressive Boxing Day record

Boxing Day tends to be a good day out for United fans and we’re eagerly anticipating Amorim’s first December 27^th clash, kicking off at 17:30 on Thursday.

United boast an impressive record on Boxing Day and Amorim will be hoping to keep that record going now the United first team is in his hands.

Every manager post-Sir Alex Ferguson won their first Boxing Day fixture 3-0, while the legendary Scot won his first fixture on that date, beating Liverpool 1-0 in 1986.

United have won more matches and scored more goals on Boxing Day than any other side in the Premier League.

Moreover, United and Wolves share history on Boxing Day. This will be the fifth meeting between the two teams on the day after Christmas, with Wolves coming out on top with two wins compared to United’s one.

The last Boxing Day clash between United and Wolves finished 0-0 in 1969.

Marcus Rashford selection dilemma

After being left out of the last three matchday squads, it remains to be seen if Amorim will consider Marcus Rashford given his record against Wolves.

The England international has been frozen out of the squad and Rashford admits he is ready for a new challenge, hinting at a move away from Old Trafford.

However, Rashford has scored three Premier League goals against Wolves and all three of those goals have put United 1-0 up in games.

United must ensure to score first in games because it feels like we’re regularly chasing results.

Bruno Fernandes looking for his first goal against Wolves

Bruno Fernandes has been United’s most creative player since joining the club from Sporting CP in 2021.

With 161 goal involvements in 259 appearances, the midfielder has scored against most opponents in the Premier League.

Wolves are one of the clubs Fernandes has yet to score against, although the Portugal international has managed four assists against the relegation strugglers.

Hopefully, Fernandes can break his goalscoring duct against Wolves.