Wolves host Manchester United on Boxing Day with both teams needing a win for very different reasons, as two Portuguese coaches collide.
WATCH — Wolves v Manchester United
Vitor Pereira got off to a perfect start as Wolves’ new manager as they hammered Leicester 3-0 on Sunday. That means they’re now just two points from safety and the Portuguese coach seems to have instilled belief and swagger into Wolves’ stuttering side. With the attacking talents they possess, there’s no reason why Wolves can’t surge up the table if they can stay solid at the back. Pereira also knows new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim well from Portugal.
As for Manchester United’s new Portuguese manager, well, things did not go to plan at home to Bournemouth on Sunday as they lost 3-0. That came after a 4-3 League Cup quarterfinal defeat at Tottenham as Amorim’s side are all over the place at the moment and could not back up their stunning Manchester derby win. United are a work in progress and they’re so inconsistent and Amorim has to make them tougher to beat, and score against. United sit nine points off the top four and 10 points off the relegation zone heading into Boxing Day.
How to watch Wolves vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Thursday (December 26)
Venue: Molineux — Wolverhampton
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Wolves team news, focus
Matheus Cunha was superb once again as Wolves demolished Leicester with a fine display of first half finishing. Pereira gave his key players confidence to express themselves and Cunha and Guedes were lively playing off Strand Larsen.
OUT: Yerson Mosquera (knee), Boubacar Traore (knee), Pablo Sarabia (calf), Enso Medina (knee), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Mario Lemina (calf)
Manchester United team news, focus
United will likely make plenty of changes as Amorim continues to rotate in order to find his best lineup. De Ligt being out with illness was a blow against Bournemouth with Leny Yoro set to start. In attack Rasmus Hojlund will surely start and Alejandro Garnacho could come back in too.
OUT: Mason Mount (thigh), Luke Shaw (foot), Victor Lindelof (unspecified) | QUESTIONABLE: Matthijs de Ligt (illness)
Wolves vs Manchester United prediction
This feels like it will be very tight clash and neither team will be delighted with a point but will have to take it. Wolves 1-1 Manchester United.
