During the previous season, Manchester United started the Premier League with two consecutive defeats – a 1-2 loss at home against Brighton followed by a resounding 0-4 defeat against Brentford. However, under the guidance of manager Erik ten Hag, the team underwent a positive transformation. They displayed consistent performance, finishing in the third position, just behind league leaders Man City and runners-up Arsenal.
Manchester United’s impeccable defensive record at Old Trafford, conceding only 10 goals, the fewest in the league, paved their way back to the Champions League. Additionally, they ended a six-year trophy drought by securing a 2-0 victory against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
To ensure a successful start to the new season, Manchester United engaged in a series of friendly matches. They commenced with three consecutive victories against Leeds United, Lyon, and Arsenal, followed by defeats against Wrexham, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund. They finished the friendly fixtures with a 3-1 comeback win against Lens and a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao.
Manchester United was active in the transfer market during the 2023 summer, making crucial additions across all three lines. The team acquired Mason Mount from Chelsea for £60 million, secured goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan for an additional £47 million, and most recently signed forward Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for £75 million. With these quality reinforcements, Manchester United aims to compete for the championship rather than settle for a top-four position as in the previous season.
The Red Devils are now fully prepared for the upcoming season, eager to face Wolves in the opening fixture of the English Premier League 2023/24.
The pre-match analysis strongly tilts in favor of Manchester United, presenting an excellent opportunity for the Red Devils to claim their first three points in the league. A victory against Wolves would mark their seventh consecutive home win in the Premier League. Ten Hag’s team has been performing exceptionally well at the Theatre of Dreams, suffering just one defeat in the previous season, a narrow 1-2 loss against Brighton in the opening fixture.
In contrast, Wolves’ journey to stability saw the arrival of coach Julen Lopetegui in November of the previous year. The experienced manager, with stints at Sevilla, Real Madrid, and the Spanish national team, gradually revitalized the team, leading them to a 13th-place finish, securing a comfortable margin above the relegation zone.
The decision to part ways with Lopetegui shortly before the commencement of the 2023/24 Premier League season disrupted Wolves’ stability. The club and Lopetegui mutually agreed on their separation due to disagreements over transfer plans. During the summer transfer window, Wolves brought in only two new players, goalkeeper Tom King and defender Matt Doherty, while losing key players such as Raul Jimenez, Ruben Neves, Conor Coady, and Nathan Collins. The team promptly appointed Gary O’Neil as the new head coach.
Gary O’Neil, formerly in a temporary managerial role at Bournemouth before officially taking over in November of the previous year, successfully guided the team to Premier League survival. However, he unexpectedly left Bournemouth in June due to disagreements with the club’s plans. Now, the 40-year-old coach faces the challenge of ensuring Wolves’ successful Premier League campaign, beginning with the match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Wolves participated in a total of five friendly matches in the summer of 2023. They maintained an unbeaten record, securing three victories and two draws. However, Wolves failed to win any of their last eight Premier League matches in the 2022/23 season, including a 0-2 loss to Manchester United on May 13.
In terms of squad strength, Manchester United was unable to secure the signing of Harry Kane but successfully acquired forward Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for £85 million. The Danish star is currently recovering from an injury and is expected to return next month. In addition to Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo (ankle), Dean Henderson (thigh), Anthony Martial (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (muscle), Thomas Heaton (calf), and Amad Diallo (knee) are also nursing injuries.
Predictably, Marcus Rashford will continue to be the main attacking hope for Manchester United, as he scored 20 out of his 27 goals last season at Old Trafford. Although Rasmus Hojlund has yet to make his debut, the remaining new signings, Andre Onana and Mason Mount, are ready to feature in the starting lineup.
In contrast, Wolves are fielding a near-full strength lineup. While Matheus Cunha is not in his best condition, Coach O’Neil remains optimistic that the Brazilian attacking player will be fit enough to start at Old Trafford. With the departures of Diego Costa and Raul Jimenez, Cunha’s presence becomes even more crucial. Sasa Kalajdzic and Fabio Silva are in good form, but the departures of Nathan Collins, Ruben Neves, Adama Traore, Joao Moutinho, and Conor Coady have undoubtedly weakened Wolves’ overall strength.
Manchester United managed to retain all of their top players during the summer of 2023. Additionally, they invested over £200 million in signing Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, and Mason Mount. In contrast, Wolves did not make significant additions and even lost key players. Coach Gary O’Neil, despite being relatively new, will need additional time to maximize the potential of his squad. With Manchester United consistently performing well at Old Trafford, the balance strongly leans in favor of the Red Devils. It would not be surprising if they secure a decisive victory.
With the home advantage, Manchester United will push for an attacking display right from the opening whistle. The Red Devils will strive for a commanding victory to ensure the best possible start to the new season. Manchester United’s recent matches have consistently featured two or more goals, and Wolves’ last six out of eight matches in the league have seen similar results. This trend suggests that the upcoming fixture is likely to witness at least three goals.
Predicted score: Manchester United 3-0 Wolves
