Hello and welcome to Apex Football’s live coverage of the Premier League game between Manchester United and Wolves at Old Trafford.
Manchester United will be desperate for a lift in their increasingly stressed bid for Champions League qualification as they return to action at Old Trafford today. Though still occupying fourth place, back-to-back defeats by Brighton and West Ham plus Liverpool’s incredible run of six successive victories have left Erik ten Hag’s side looking rather vulnerable to being usurped late on by their fiercest rivals.
United still have a crucial game in hand on Liverpool, but can ill-afford another slip-up today with the Reds only one point behind and travelling to struggling Leicester on Monday night. Ten Hag is not helped by Marcus Rashford being absent altogether through injury, though the return of Raphael Varane for the first time in a month will be most welcome as they look to lean on their strong home form and avoid three straight Premier League losses for the first time since 2015.
Wolves secured top-flight safety with their surprise win over Midlands rivals Aston Villa last weekend and will be eager to improve their dismal away form with Julen Lopetegui handing a debut to Daniel Bentley in goal.
🔴 Live Blog
Half-time
The first half at Old Trafford ends with a poor Bruno Fernandes effort that was never testing Bentley.
Goal! Manchester United 1-0 Wolves
After missing that sitter a few moments ago, Antony now turns provider as his smart cutback is swept home emphatically by Martial for the Frenchman’s fifth Premier League goal of the season and eighth across all competitions. Great work from Bruno Fernandes to win a tackle with Kilman in the build-up and slide in a perfect through ball for Antony.
Kick Off
And so it begins!
Starting XI
So no Marcus Rashford as expected for United – he’s not in the matchday squad at all. It’s three changes in total from Erik ten Hag to the side that lost at West Ham last time out thanks to David de Gea’s blunder, with Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst both dropping to the bench.
The fit-again Raphael Varane comes straight back into the starting lineup after a month out, joining Victor Lindelof at centre-back as Luke Shaw shifts out to left-back and Aaron Wan-Bissaka is preferred to Diogo Dalot on the right.
Rashford and Weghorst are replaced in attack by Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho, meanwhile.
Alejandro Garnacho is named as a substitute once more, with Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri also added to the bench. Ten Hag keeps faith with De Gea as promised.
Apex Football News 