Manchester United made very difficult work of their 2023-24 Premier League opener, but Erik ten Hag’s side fought hard and picked up a 1-0 victory over Wolves at Old Trafford on Monday.
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Raphael Varane got the game’s only goal in the 76th minute, just when it was looking like 0-0 might be the unavoidable outcome, and only after Wolves took the game to the Red Devils and looked likeliest to score for much of the evening. Final xG tally: Man United 1.46, Wolves 2.23.
Summer signing Andre Onana ($57 million) made six saves as Wolves defended deep and caused Manchester United loads of problems on the counter-attack. Pedro Neto, Matheus Nunes and Matheus Cunha wreaked havoc in the open field, but Onana was sensational — apart from a very late penalty shout which, bewilderingly, went unheard after, even after video review — on his debut and proved why it was necessary to move on after 12 years of David de Gea.
Manchester United strong in possession, flat in attack
There still remains an element of “safety first” to the way Man United play. With three capable, but unspectacular not necessarily creative, passers in the midfield, the Red Devils are fantastic at keeping the ball and circulating it from side to side. The problem, of course, when it comes time to play it forward, into the final third and/or — gasp — the penalty area.
Because their build-up play is so slow and methodical, full backs Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka tend to creep farther and farther forward to join the attack and create numerical advantages in hopes of playing their way through low defensive blocks. Therein lies United’s biggest problem on Monday: when the full backs got too far forward, it was open season on Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. It’s almost as if they lull themselves to sleep, only to be hit on the counter-attack again and again. Only newly promoted sides Luton Town (27) and Sheffield United (24) faced more shots than Manchester United (23) in matchweek 1.
What’s next?
Manchester United will face their first tough test of the new season next Saturday, when they head to north London to face Ange Postecoglu’s Tottenham. Wolves will try to pick up their first point(s) of the season when Brighton visit Molineux on Saturday.
How to watch Manchester United vs Wolves live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 3pm ET, Monday (August 14)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch online via Peacock Premium
Wolverhampton Wanderers have earned an apology from PGMOL following a stunning non-call that withstood video review late in the club’s 1-0 loss to Manchester United.
And now there’s fallout on the officials’ side, as head referee Simon Hooper, video assistant ref Michael Sailsbury, and assistant VAR Richard West will not work a Premier League game in Week 2.
Most non-Manchester United supporters saw Andre Onana’s late two-handed flight into the upper bodies of a pair of Wolves and figured a penalty was coming when VAR was said to be reviewing the play.
But Salisbury and West held up Hooper’s initial non-call, and all that transpired was a yellow card to Wolves boss Gary O’Neil for his reaction to the non-call.
There will be little comfort in the decision for Wolves fans, who will know a chance from the spot and a point from Old Trafford are far more valuable.
"It's the way the referee sees it."
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 14, 2023
Bruno Fernandes on Andre Onana's controversial incident against Wolves. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/5AjUHP3QZx
Raphael Varane gives Manchester United the lead and Old Trafford goes WILD! 🔥 #MUFC
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 14, 2023
📺: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/KTbD9tKHeq
Our first line-up of the 2023/24 @premierleague season.
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 14, 2023
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/yTnXdnLK8s
Mason Mount and Andre Onana are set to make their Manchester United debuts.
📋 Erik's Reds to kickstart our 2023/24 @PremierLeague season! 👊#MUFC || #MUNWOL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 14, 2023
Gone are Fred, Anthony Elanga, and David De Gea. Harry Maguire may soon follow with West Ham awaiting the center back’s decision.
Enter Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, and Andre Onana. Hojlund’s back injury could keep him from making a debut, while Anthony Martial, Tyrell Malacia, Dean Henderson, Amad Diallo, and Kobbie Mainoo are out through injury.
The midfield awaits reinforcements but should be fine as long as Casemiro’s standing in front of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
New captain Bruno Fernandes will like his passing options as Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho, Mount, and Hojlund all could feature for manager Erik ten Hag.
The good news for Gary O’Neil is he does have a healthy squad.
Captain Max Kilman has a new contract extension as he and goalkeeper Jose Sa may be very important to the club’s hopes to avoid a relegation fight.
There’s still a lot of talent in the squad, and O’Neil will have to flex a different sort of tactical acumen than the one that helped beat up opponents last season at Bournemouth.
Sasa Kalajdzic’s return shows plenty of good attackers in the fray, as Matheus Cunha, Hee-chan Hawng, Daniel Podence, and Pedro Neto have all flexed their muscles in the Premier League, but there will be big questions asked of the midfield without Neves and Moutinho.