Teenage wonder Kobbie Mainoo’s stoppage-time goal last season gave the Reds three points at Molineux Stadium.
In his first six Premier League games, Ruben Amorim has amassed seven points. His squad needs to recover from Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.
United is currently in the bottom part of the table, so the latest loss will dampen the atmosphere at Old Trafford over the Christmas break. However, the first team has an opportunity to turn things around.
Following a 3-0 victory over Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City over the weekend, Wolves got off to a winning start under Vitor Pereira.
With just three Premier League victories this season, the hosts are in the relegation zone.
Here are five things to look out for when Manchester United travel to Molineux on Boxing Day.
Manchester United’s defending from set-pieces can’t get any worse
Defensive issues remain the biggest problem for Amorim as he continues to switch personnel in his preferred back-three system. Matthijs de Ligt was unavailable at the weekend as he recovers from illness, which meant Harry Maguire started in the heart of defence.
Amorim is likely to make more chances to the team that dropped three points against Bournemouth, but he will demand an improvement from the team when it comes to defending set-pieces.
United have conceded goals from 17 set-pieces in the league this year. It’s the club’s worst record in a single calendar year since the Premier League began.
Wolves’ man in form
Matheus Cunha has an impending suspension hanging over his head after being charged by the Football Association following a heated altercation with an Ipswich Town staff member at the end of their 2-1 defeat against Kieran McKenna’s side.
However, the in-form Brazilian striker is set to feature against United.
Cunha is one to watch because of his recent record in the Premier League, boasting 13 goal involvements in his last 17 starts at Molineux. That’s six goals and seven assists.
It’s a tally Cunha could build on against United unless Amorim’s side improves defensively.
Manchester United’s impressive Boxing Day record
Boxing Day tends to be a good day out for United fans and we’re eagerly anticipating Amorim’s first December 27th clash, kicking off at 17:30 on Thursday.
United boast an impressive record on Boxing Day and Amorim will be hoping to keep that record going now the United first team is in his hands.
Every manager post-Sir Alex Ferguson won their first Boxing Day fixture 3-0, while the legendary Scot won his first fixture on that date, beating Liverpool 1-0 in 1986.
United have won more matches and scored more goals on Boxing Day than any other side in the Premier League
Marcus Rashford selection dilemma
After being left out of the last three matchday squads, it remains to be seen if Amorim will consider Marcus Rashford given his record against Wolves.
The England international has been frozen out of the squad and Rashford admits he is ready for a new challenge, hinting at a move away from Old Trafford.
However, Rashford has scored three Premier League goals against Wolves and all three of those goals have put United 1-0 up in games.
United must ensure to score first in games because it feels like we’re regularly chasing results.
Bruno Fernandes looking for his first goal against Wolves
Since moving from Sporting CP to United in 2021, Bruno Fernandes has been the team’s most inventive player.
The midfielder has scored against the majority of Premier League opponents with 161 goal involvements in 259 games.
Fernandes has not yet scored against Wolves, but the Portugal international has provided four assists against the relegation-threatened team. Against Wolves, hopefully, Fernandes can break his goal-scoring streak.
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