December 23rd 2024.
Matthijs de Ligt has been absent in the past two games due to illness, but Manchester United is determined to bounce back from their recent 3-0 defeat against Bournemouth in the Premier League. They have a chance to redeem themselves on Boxing Day when they face Wolves.
The defeat to Andoni Iraola's team was a humbling experience for United, making it their second consecutive loss under the leadership of Ruben Amorim. This has not been the ideal start for the Red Devils, as they currently sit at 13th place in the table and will spend Christmas Day in the bottom half of the table for the first time since 1989.
Amorim's team has little time to dwell on their previous losses as they prepare to face Wolves, who are coming off a crucial 3-0 victory against Leicester City in their first game under new manager Vitor Pereira, who replaced Gary O'Neil.
In their search for defensive stability, United is hoping to have de Ligt back in the lineup after missing the last two games due to illness. The Dutch defender was expected to return in the game against Bournemouth, but unfortunately, he was not able to make it to the matchday squad.
If de Ligt does return, he will likely be playing alongside Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez in the back three, with Noussair Mazroui returning to his preferred wing-back position. However, there are concerns for Victor Lindelof, who is still recovering from an injury he sustained during the game against Tottenham, and Luke Shaw, who is still out with a long-term injury.
Further up the pitch, there is also bad news for Mason Mount, who picked up an injury during the Manchester Derby and is unlikely to feature against Wolves. According to Amorim, Mount will be out for several weeks, which is a blow for the team.
Although Marcus Rashford is fit and available for selection, he has not been part of United's last three matchday squads. His future at Old Trafford is uncertain, especially after he publicly expressed his desire for a new challenge. However, Amorim has not ruled out the possibility of Rashford making an appearance in the squad against Wolves.
With or without Rashford, Amorim may make some changes to the attacking trio, possibly replacing Joshua Zirkzee with Rasmus Hojlund and moving Bruno Fernandes to a deeper central midfield position to make room for Alejandro Garnacho.
The predicted lineup for Manchester United against Wolves includes Onana in goal, with a back three of Martinez, Maguire, and de Ligt. Dalot, Mainoo, Ugarte, and Mazraoui are expected to make up the midfield, while Fernandes, Hojlund, and Amad take on the attacking roles.
For those wondering where to watch the game, it will be broadcasted in the United Kingdom on Amazon Prime at 5:30 PM on December 26th. Let's hope United can bounce back and secure a much-needed victory against Wolves.
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