Manchester United vs Wolves LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction from fixture tonight
Follow all the action live as the Ralf Rangnick and Bruno Lage’s sides go head-to-head at Old Trafford
This was the first defeat of the Ralf Rangnick era but not only that, it was deserved. In all honesty, it may even be overdue. Manchester United had been fortunate to beat bottom-of-the-league Norwich City before Christmas, then lucky to escape with a draw against an equally-embattled Newcastle after it. Now, to usher in the new year, their comeuppance came against a side that had scored once in their last six games and twice in their last eight before Joao Moutinho’s late winner.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are having an uncertain season, having made a solid start only to suffer that scoring slump of recent weeks and months, but Bruno Lage has the highlight of his first year in charge so far: a win at Old Trafford that, on the balance of play, could have come a lot earlier. Aside from a brief United revival midway through the second half, Wolves were by far the better side, creating several chances yet, true to form, failing to put them away.
That was until Moutinho’s intervention, a low, drilled shot with eight minutes remaining after the returning Phil Jones failed to adequately clear Adama Traore’s cross beyond the edge of the penalty area. Follow all the match reaction below:
Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
63 mins: Close! Wolves work the ball down the right side before quickly shifting the play across the pitch. Podence carries the ball past Wan-Bissaka and floats a good cross towards the six-yard box. Jimenez sticks close to Varane before leaving his marker as the ball drops only to be put under pressure from Shaw who wins the ball and heads it behind.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
60 mins: Mason Greenwood is taken off by Ralf Rangnick at the hour mark with Bruno Fernandes introduced for Man Utd.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
57 mins: Chance! An aerial ball over the top from Shaw doesn’t reach Ronaldo and Jose Sa comes out to claim the ball. He quickly throws it over to the left wing where Podence drives it up the pitch. He runs at Phil Jones before squaring a pass over to Neves. Neves lets it run to Semedo who shoots but Shaw blocks the effort and the ball deflects out for a Wolves corner.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
54 mins: Ronaldo manages to keep a forward pass alive and knocks the ball down to Wan-Bissaka who smoothly weaves around Marcal and looks to cross it into the middle. Just as he lets loose though he kicks the ball against his standing leg and it bobbles out of play.
As Wolves attack down the right Luke Shaw is booked for body checking Trincao and he’ll miss United’s next match against Aston Villa.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
51 mins: Man Utd play the ball over to Greenwood on the right wing and he darts inside as Wan-Bissaka draws away the defender with an overlapping run. Greenwood rolls the ball onto his left foot and shoots but smokes it high and wide. Not his best effort at goal.
Bruno Fernandes is warming up on the sidelines. Is his arrival imminent for United?
Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
48 mins: Podence attempts to take the ball into Man Utd’s penalty area but he’s marshalled backwards by Varane. McTominay comes across to help out but bundles into the Wolves forward and gives away a free kick.
McTominay is shown a yellow card for the clumsy tackle and Moutinho has the chance to curl one into the box. He sends the ball into the box but it’s headed out to Trincao. He’s charged down by Cavani and the ball deflects out of play.
Second half: Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
Kick off: No changes from either team at half-time. Cristiano Ronaldo kicks off the second half at Old Trafford. Wolves’ last seven Premier League results have ended either 0-0 or 1-0. It looks like this may be their eighth in a row.
Jadon Sancho gets an early opportunity to run at the Wolves defence and shimmies around Kilman before carrying the ball into the box. The option is there to shoot but he lays it off to Ronaldo and Coady manages to get to the ball first.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
What a return so far for Phil Jones: 96% passing accuracy (24/25) and also top or joint top in the United team for duels won, interceptions, possession gained and blocks.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
Wolves had 15 shots against Man Utd in the first half - it’s the most on record (since 2003-04) a visiting team has had at Old Trafford in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves
Nothing to separate the teams after 45 minutes at Old Trafford. In that half Wolves managed 15 shots compared to United’s four and will feel a bit disappointed that they haven’t scored yet.
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