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The FA Cup returns for Manchester United as they travel to a third consecutive away game in three different competitions and face Wolves. After losing to Arsenal and getting a tough draw in the Champions League Quarter Finals of Barcelona, the FA Cup is United’s best chance of getting silverware this season with City being the only other Big Six team in the competition. Wolves are a tough team to crack this season and have developed superbly under Nuno Espirito Santo. Here’s everything you need to know about the game:
Teams: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United
KO: Saturday 16th March 19:55 GMT
Location: Molineux Stadium
Managers: Nuno Espirito Santo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Form:
United go into this game on the back of a humbling loss to Arsenal at the Emirates with goals from Xhaka and Aubameyang, enough to see of the Red Devils and end Ole’s unbeaten run in the league. United prior to this loss had been impeccable in the league and had pulled off a sensational comeback against PSG mid-week. Wolves earned a creditable draw at Stamford Bridge and almost won the game had it not been for Eden Hazard’s late equaliser.
Team News:
Manchester United continue with their injury woes as Romelu Lukaku is a doubt for the game after sustaining a foot injury in training and will be assessed ahead of the clash. Herrera, Lingard and Jones are all back and are likely to return to the bench for the game as they ought not to be risked to start. Sanchez, Mata, Valencia and Darmian all remain injured, as too is Mason Greenwood who has been taken ill. Ashley Young is suspended so Diogo Dalot should start at right back. Oppositely for Wolves, there are no new injury issues and Ryan Bennett is back following a two game suspension.
What Happened Last Time?
Earlier this season United opened the scoring against Wolves with Fred’s first and only goal for Manchester United but was cancelled out by a sensational goal from Joao Moutinho, a dire game for United as they had previously won three games on the bounce and all the momentum had collapsed then. However, history favours the Red Devils as United last played at Molineux in 2012 with a 5-0 win and have only lost twice in nine Premier League games, scoring eighteen goals in those nine games.
Predicted Team and Score:
United will probably rest David de Gea after a clanger against Arsenal and Sergio Romero will probably come in. Lindelof, Smalling and Shaw are all likely to remain at the back and Dalot will drop back to right back with Ashley Young suspended. Matic will hope for a better game than against Arsenal and Fred and Pogba are likely to continue in the midfield. Andreas Pereira could also start as either a right winger or another central midfielder in a diamond if Lukaku remains injured. Martial made his return and should start alongside Marcus Rashford up front. One interesting issue is who will be named captain? With Young suspended and Valencia injured, Ole has a task ahead of him…should he name Pogba and go against what Jose Mourinho did after the Wolves game, or name Smalling captain instead? I think Pogba has proven he is a natural leader in this team and should really never have been stripped in the first place and will lead the United team out on Saturday.
This will be a tight game as both teams will try to counter with pace and get a hold of the game early on. Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho will be danger men in midfield and Matic needs to get a hold of them early on. United certainly have the class to get through, it’s whether the United who played PSG turn up or the side that were shredded by Arsenal. I believe United will edge this and reach another FA Cup Semi-Final.
Predicted Lineup: Romero, Dalot, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Matic, Fred, Pereira, Pogba (c), Martial, Rashford
PREDICTED SCORE: 1-2 to United
