2 min “Now, don’t get me wrong, it is very funny,” says Matt Dony. “But, even as a Liverpool fan, it all seems wrong. My formative football years were wrapped up with Fergie steamrollering all comers. It didn’t seem like anything would ever change. But oh boy, has it changed. Even in those post-Ferguson years, at what seemed like low ebbs, I always had a sneaking suspicion they could roar back into life. Those years were still dotted with trophies and occasional good performances. It doesn’t feel like that now, though. And weirdly, that makes me sad. United shouldn’t be this team in this position. It isn’t right. I don’t like it. And yet, here we are. 14th on Boxing Day. It’s amazing.”
Trul, Matthew: be careful what you wish for.
1 min Almost a chance for United after 20 seconds. Mazraoui nicked the ball off Cunha, took a return pass from Hojlund and angled a cross that evades both Hojlund and Fernandes in the middle.
1 min Peep peep. Man Utd, in their retro white change strip, kick off from left to right as we watch.
Here come the players. These players, to be exact.
Rayan Ait-Nouri replaces Rodrigo Gomes at left wing-back for Wolves, the only change from their 3-0 win at Leicester. Manchester United have made two changes: Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund come in for Tyrell Malacia and Joshua Zirkzee. Marcus Rashford is again excluded from the squad.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Wolves v Manchester United at Molineux. You know things aren’t going well when a trip to a team in the bottom three looks tricky, but that’s where Manchester United are at right now. They were hammered at home by Bournemouth on Sunday and start today’s game in 13th place, their lowest position at Christmas since 1986-87.
Wolves are in 18th, but they won impressively in their first game under Vitor Pereira and another victory today would lift them out of the relegation zone. And if United win well they will jump into the top half of the table. It’s all to play for.