If you take a quick look at last Sunday’s results, you might think this one is pretty easy to figure out as it features two teams coming off vastly different results. Wolverhampton, after a 3-0 victory against Leicester City, is heading home for Boxing Day to host a Manchester United side in need of repair following a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.
However, there is more than meets the eye in this game scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 26 at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Here is my Manchester United vs. Wolverhampton prediction and Premier League odds for today's match.
Manchester United vs. Wolverhampton Prediction, Pick, Odds
| Man U Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-0.5 -120 | 2.5 -155o / 120u | -110 |
| Wolverhampton Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+0.5 -115 | 2.5 -155o / 120u | +280 |
- Manchester United vs. Wolverhampton moneyline odds: Manchester United -110, Draw +280, Wolverhampton +280
- Manchester United vs. Wolverhampton over/under: 2.5 Goals (Over -155, Under +120)
- Manchester United vs. Wolverhampton pick: Manchester United moneyline.
I am backing Manchester United to win in the Wolverhampton vs. Manchester United match.
Manchester United Prediction
It's been 11 years since Alex Ferguson's departure as Manchester United's manager, but the club is still trying to find its way back to glory.
Ruben Amorim took over last month and the Portuguese manager officially started with a compelling 4-0 home victory against Everton. However, he hasn't been able to right the ship yet, collecting losses against Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth. The sole exception in that span was a miraculous derby win at Etihad Stadium, when Manchester United scored two late goals (mins. 88 and 90) to beat City 2-1.
Amorim has also tried to establish a stricter code, keeping players out of the game if he disapproves of their attitude in training. The worst case is Marcus Rashford, who has been sidelined for the past three fixtures and whose future is uncertain. But in the end, goals and wins matter most, and Amorim needs his players to consistently perform if he wants to avoid being another casualty of Ferguson's looming shadow.
This is a good opportunity to start climbing. Manchester United has lost only once in its past 10 matches against Wolverhampton and has conceded an average of 0.6 goals per game in that run.
Wolverhampton Prediction
There hasn't been much to celebrate this season for the Wanderers. Before last matchday, they were 19th in the standings with only two wins — both in November. That led to manager Gary O'Neil's exit and Vítor Pereira's arrival.
Nothing seemed to work, not even striker Matheus Cunha's great performances could help Wolverhampton escape the relegation zone. But last Sunday, Pereira's debut on the sidelines, brought change and Cunha's ninth goal of the season closed out a 3-0 victory against Leicester City. That result moved Wolverhampton to 18th, a little closer to safety.
Avoiding relegation will be a tough task and it starts with this difficult matchup. Manchester United dominates the series and is also desperate for results and consistency. The problem, however, lies within. The Wolves lead in many negative categories as they rank first in penalties conceded with five and goals allowed from set pieces with 14. To make matters worse, United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, is a specialist in both.
The first step will be to show if their last game was a fluke, the result of facing lesser opposition, or the start of a new era.
Manchester United vs. Wolverhampton Prediction
Pereira breathed new life into his team, and that's commendable, but this is the Wolves we’re talking about. This is the same team that lost its previous four matches and leads the league in goals conceded with a whopping 40 in 17 games. They have lost six of eight matches at home and are just 2-2-5 on the road.
Manchester United, despite recent struggles, knows how to handle this rival. United has racked up four straight wins against the Wolves and conceded goals in only one of those games.
So, as shaky as the Red Devils may seem, this is theirs to lose. They’ve been good enough on the road (2-3-3) to earn the edge on the moneyline.
Manchester United vs. Wolverhampton Pick: Manchester United to win (-110, DraftKings)
