MAN UTD 0-1 WOLVES: A much-changed Manchester United XI slumped to their 15th Premier League defeat of the 2024-25 season, with eight of those coming at Old Trafford
After the late drama of their epic Europa League comeback against Lyon, this was always going to be a let-down for Manchester United. Nothing could come close to matching that nine-goal thriller, which saw United score three times late in extra-time to reach the semi-finals, with the hosts predictably falling flat here after the euphoric delirium of that historic night.
Wolves took full advantage of United's European hangover, courtesy of a stunning 77th-minute free-kick from substitute Pablo Sarabia, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he made the breakthrough. For Vitor Pereira's side, this was a fifth successive league win, their best run since 1970, and ensured they completed a first league double over United since 1980.
Defeat for United means they have now lost 15 times in the league this season, the most they have suffered since 1990 and further proof of the scale of the task facing boss Ruben Amorim. Amorim's starting line-up endorsed that fact, the United boss making five changes, with skipper Bruno Fernandes among those who dropped to the bench after their heroic exertions in midweek.
It was the first game Fernandes has missed this season other than through suspension, with United badly missing his driving force and irrepressible work ethic, until his introduction with half an hour left. Amorim's team selection underlined the fact the Europa League is United's priority this season, just as it was under Jose Mourinho in 2017, when they lifted the trophy to clinch a Champions League place.
Eight years on and Amorin finds himself in the same position as Portuguese compatriot Mourinho, with his United side three games away from lifting a trophy and with a £100milion ticket to the Champions League. Against that backdrop, United's remaining five league games – Bournemouth, Brentford, West Ham, Chelsea and Aston Villa – have nothing riding on them, other than pride, with Amorim's side, currently 14th, in serious danger of ending the season in 17th spot, one place above the drop zone.
Wolves suffered a blow in the warm-up when goalkeeper Jose Sa suffered an injury which meant he was unable to start, replaced between the posts by Dan Bentley. Christian Eriksen tested Bentley with a dipping, goal-bound free kick from 25 yards out just after the half-hour mark, which the Wolves keeper did well to divert behind for a corner.
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United's £72million striker, Rasmus Hojlund, with a solitary goal in 28 matches, continued to underwhelm, squandering two chances early in the second-half to make the breakthrough and add to his pitiful return of eight goals all season. The hosts continued to waste chances, Alejandro Garnacho and sub Mason Mount among the culprits, which has been a recurring theme throughout this season, and were made to pay for those missed opportunities when Eriksen conceded a free-kick just outside his own penalty area.
Sarabia stepped up and swept a beautifully-struck left-footed free-kick past the despairing reach of Andre Onana, who was unable to get anywhere near the ball, such was the precision and power of the strike. Fernandes had a chance to equalise with a free-kick in the third minute of added time, but sent the ball over the bar and into the Stretford End.
With victory, Wolves drew level on 38 points with United, for whom the league campaign cannot end quickly enough, with the Europa League now their only salvation.
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