Manchester United face three Premier League fixtures between 27 December and 3 January – and here are our predictions.
United host Nottingham Forest before a trip to Wolves and the visit of Bournemouth to kick off the new year.
In the only one of those fixtures United faced last season, they won 1-0 at Molineux, in their final Premier League game before Cristiano Ronaldo’s return.
Plenty has happened since then to say the least, so how many points will United get this time around? We’ve taken a look…
Nottingham Forest (H) – Win
This game will of course see Jesse Lingard come back to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving as a free agent in the summer.
Dean Henderson is also on loan at the City Ground and will be unable to play in this match because of the terms of his temporary deal.
If United are to sustain a push for the top four, they have to win home matches against the sides who will be in the relegation battle.
Steve Cooper’s side have improved recently but it would be a surprise if United do not get all three points from this game.
Wolves (A) – Win
United recently ran into Aston Villa on Unai Emery’s first home game in charge and now they will do the same with Julen Lopetegui at Wolves.
That 3-1 loss at Villa Park shows the impact a new manager can instantly have on a faltering team and United’s clashes with Wolves are frequently low-scoring affairs.
That means it might be a game where United need to dig in and a repeat of last season’s 1-0 scoreline at Molineux may be most likely.
Wolves have a chronic lack of goal threat and if United can dampen the atmosphere for the new manager’s first game at home, they should get another win.
Bournemouth (H) – Win
Gary O’Neil has been Bournemouth’s caretaker manager since Scott Parker’s sacking in the wake of a 9-0 loss at Liverpool.
He has made the Cherries far harder to play against and he has now been rewarded with the full-time job of keeping them afloat.
As stated with the Forest game, United have to win this kind of match if they are to maintain any kind of consistency and a top four bid.
It is hardly a bold shout to predict United will beat a relegation candidate at home and it is up to the players to get the job done.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
