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

(Getty Images)

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 United vs Wolves

• 5:30pm GMT kick-off
• Phil Jones makes first Premier League start for two years
• Podence and Trincao join Jimenez in Wolves attack
• 68’ - Ronaldo heads in but is flagged offside, just one minute after Fernandes hits woodwork
• 75’ - Saiss strikes crossbar from a direct free-kick
• 82’ - Moutinho fires in the opener from the edge of the box

[3 January 2022 18:20 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

45+2 mins: Goalless at Old Trafford as both teams head into the break. Wolves have been the better side. They’ve been quick on the ball and accurate with their passing. Daniel Podence and Raul Jimenez have had good chances but Ruben Neves cames closest to scoring with a volley from outside the box.

[3 January 2022 18:18 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

45 mins: Two minutes of added time to play in the first half. Wolves are attacking again and win consecutive corners. The second is played short before Moutinho squares a pass out to Neves. He shoots from outside the box but gets charged down by Phil Jones. The ball ricochets back into the box where Jimenez fires one over the crossbar but is flagged offside.

[3 January 2022 18:16 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

43 mins: Cavani snatches at a shot from outside the box and belts it well over the crossbar. That’s a poor effort from a striker of his quality.

Wolves come at United again with Trincao driving in from the right wing this time. He carries the ball into the box along the byline and pulls it back but Varane is there to work it clear for the home side.

[3 January 2022 18:14 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

41 mins: Varane’s diagonal ball over to Wan-Bissaka is won by Marcal who heads it down to Podence. He carries it down the wing and lays it off to Moutinho before being tackled by McTominay. Moutinho shimmies away from two United players and drives up the pitch. He picks out Jimenez in the box and he gets off a shot but D Gea has it covered again.

[3 January 2022 18:10 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

[3 January 2022 18:08 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

36 mins: Chance! Wan-Bissaka gives the ball away with a poor pass into midfield and Trincao drives it forward. He passes it across to Podence who takes a shot from the front edge of the box but it’s blocked by a combination of Jones and Varane. The ball loops up to Ronaldo who tries to head it back ot De Gea but instead knocks it to Jimenez. He lays off the ball but running to the near post and meeting the return cross with a header that he sends wide. The ball goes out of play and the offside flag goes up against the Wolves striker.

[3 January 2022 18:05 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

33 mins: Shaw swings a cross into the box from high up the pitch for United this time but Coady beats Cavani to the ball and heads it out to Joao Moutinho. He looks to set up a counter-attack for Wolves but is clattered by McTominay and wins a free kick in the middle third of the pitch.

[3 January 2022 18:02 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

30 mins: Close! Man Utd come close again to opening the scoring with another run and cross from Wan-Bissaka. He floats the ball over the Ronaldo at the back post but once again the ball evades him by a couple of inches as he hangs in the air.

McTominay then catches Neves with a tackle in the middle of the pitch and the Wolves midfielder seems to have picked up a niggle. He seems okay to play but gets checked over by the medics first.

[3 January 2022 17:59 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

27 mins: Wolves have been the more aggressive team so far. Shaw is caught in possession and the Manchester United defence is forced to back-track again. Jimenez drives the ball towards the box as the defenders drop away from him. He decides to shoot but leans back on the effort and lifts it high over the goal.

[3 January 2022 17:58 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Wolves

24 mins: Wan-Bissaka finds a way past Marcal and slots the ball over to Greenwood on the right wing. He shifts away from Saiss, takes the ball to the byline and get pokes a cross into the box but can’t pick out a teammate.

Wolves then work it smoothly up the pitch to Jimenez. He’s got his back to goal but spins nicely and flicks the ball over the top to match a run from Podence. He brings the ball under control, shimmies away from Jones and hits a low shot towards the near post where De Gea dives low and smothers it.