Prediction and odds: Wolves (3/1) vs Manchester United (10/11)

We’re backing Man United/Draw (HT/FT) at 14/1

When: Saturday, 31st December 2022 – 12.30pm KO (GMT)

Where: Molineux Stadium

Two of English football’s most historic clubs will meet on New Year’s Eve as Wolverhampton Wanderers host Manchester United.

Wolves

Over the course of the last few years, Wolverhampton Wanderers fans have been on something of a rollercoaster ride. On the one hand they’ve reached the FA Cup semi-finals and the Europa League quarter-finals, but on the other, some feel as if they haven’t quite lived up to their potential. Given that they’re currently situated in the bottom three, we’d say Julen Lopetegui has some work to do.

Wolves returned to action with a nice 2-0 win over Gillingham in the League Cup, setting themselves up for a place in the last eight. Then, after having to face a barrage from Everton on Boxing Day, they scored a last minute winner to secure all three points and give their survival hopes a huge boost.

Manchester United

Manchester United supporters are always well aware of the judgement that befalls them year in, and year out. Now, though, with the distraction of Cristiano Ronaldo gone, the hope is that Erik ten Hag can focus on the task of getting them back to where they belong. It may not seem like there’s a lot of work to do, but the spirit of this once-great club still needs a whole lot of work and reassurance, in our view.

It hasn’t exactly been flawless football from United since the winter break came to an end but results wise, it has been. The Red Devils were simply too strong for Championship leaders Burnley, knocking them back 2-0 in the League Cup. Then, they tore through Nottingham Forest like a hot knife through butter with a 3-0 success.

Conclusion

The Molineux faithful are going to be up for this one but with the new gaffer still settling into his role, we don’t expect that they’ll start particularly quickly. By comparison, United will believe they can hurt Wolves – and we think they’ll do so with an early goal that they will eventually take through to half time.

From there, in the second half, the hosts will slowly but surely soak up the pressure and begin to go on the offensive. They’ll catch United out from a set piece and from there, some end-to-end football is what we expect and hope to see in the Black Country.

Both sides will try their hardest to get the all-important winner but won’t quite be able to manage it, leaving both with a point apiece – and honestly, given the history of this fixture, we think they’ll take that and run with it.

Our tips (all taken from bet365): Man United/Draw (HT/FT) at 14/1 + under 2.5 goals at 10/11

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