Gameweek 33 of the 2024/25 Premier League season continues on Sunday, which will feature four matches. The action on the day will start with three simultaneous games, including Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have enjoyed an unforgettable week, turning things around from a miserable 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United last weekend by clinching a mind-boggling 5-4 win over Lyon in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg. The Red Devils were set for a straightforward victory before Les Gones put four past Andre Onana to leave them on the brink of elimination.
However, three goals in less than ten minutes scripted a comeback that will leave an indelible mark on Manchester United fans. With qualification to the UEFA Champions League now inching closer via the Europa League, Ruben Amorim has suggested that rotations are on the cards.
On the other hand, Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the cusp of ensuring safety, although relegation from the Premier League is highly unlikely. Vitor Pereira’s men are on a five-match unbeaten run, including victories in their four most recent matches, to pull 14 points clear of 18th-placed Ipswich Town.
The reverse fixture saw Wolverhampton Wanderers clinch a well-deserved 2-0 win over Manchester United, with Bruno Fernandes seeing red. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Ruben Amorim has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of as many as half a dozen players vs Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Amad Diallo is the most notable absentee as he continues recovering from an ankle injury. The Ivory Coast international accompanies Matthijs de Ligt (foot), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Ayden Heaven (ankle), Toby Collyer (match fitness), and Joshua Zirkzee (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Andre Onana will retain his spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. The central defensive unit should feature Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelof, and Luke Shaw. Diogo Dalot will continue as the right wing-back, but Harry Amass should start on the left flank.
The wide duo will provide width in the final third and protect the centre-backs during the defensive phases. As for the midfield unit, Christian Eriksen should line up alongside Manuel Ugarte in the middle of the park. The tireless Bruno Fernandes will start again, joining Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount in the final third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, Lindelof, Shaw; Dalot, Eriksen, Ugarte, Amass; Mount, Bruno Fernandes; Hojlund
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Vitor Pereira has new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Wolverhampton Wanderers manager might be without as many as nine first-team players on Sunday.
Pereira is sweating over the fitness of Matt Doherty, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Hwang Hee-chan. However, the trio should be available, although Sam Johnstone (knock), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Pedro Lima (muscle), Enso Gonzalez Medina (knee), Leon Chiwone (ACL), and Sasa Kalajdzic (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Jose Sa is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Wolverhampton Wanderers lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. Doherty might be fit enough to line up alongside Emmanuel Agbadou and Toti Gomes in the central defensive unit. Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri will likely start as the wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Andre and Joao Gomes in the middle of the park. Cunha should return to the starting lineup and line up alongside Marshall Munetsi in the supporting cast to Jorgen Strand Larsen, who will lead the line for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Manchester United on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Sa; Doherty, Agbadou, Toti Gomes; Semedo, Andre, Joao Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Munetsi, Cunha; Strand Larsen
While Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, and the in-form Jorgen Strand Larsen were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Matheus Cunha as the Player to Watch for Sunday’s Premier League clash between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.
The 25-year-old needs one more goal to become the third Brazilian to reach 15 goals in a season, emulating Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Martinelli. Considering Manchester United’s defensive deficiencies, Cunha has a decent chance of breaching the 15-goal mark. A game-changing performance will also attract eyeballs amid his links with Premier League bigwigs.
Premier League is no longer a priority for Manchester United, and Ruben Amorim has already hinted he will rotate his troops in domestic football as he prioritises winning the UEFA Europa League. So, things might go from bad to worse for the Red Devils in the Premier League, with an unenvious 17th-placed finish possible.
However, the youngsters and fringe players will take this as an opportunity to impress Amorim, and the home side will take the game to Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, Manchester United might not have enough quality to take anything from Sunday’s game. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Vitor Pereira and his charges.
