Match Overview

The Premier League’s Monday night spotlight falls on Molineux as Wolverhampton Wanderers host Manchester United in a crucial clash at both ends of the table. For Wolves, this is another chance to finally ignite a season that has been stuck in reverse. For United, it’s an opportunity to bounce back from frustrating dropped points and keep pressure on the teams above them in the race for European places.

Wolves come into this game in deep trouble. Winless in the league and rooted to 20th place, they have collected only a handful of points so far and own the worst home record in the division. Goals have been hard to find and defensive lapses keep proving costly, despite a change in the dugout and a new approach under head coach Rob Edwards.

Manchester United, by contrast, sit in the top half around the European spots, currently hovering in 8th place. Their form has been mixed rather than disastrous – a run of wins, draws and tight games that could have gone either way. A recent 1–1 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford summed things up: plenty of control and good moments, but not quite enough ruthlessness to turn performances into maximum points.

With Wolves desperate to stop the rot and United under pressure to deliver a “must-win” result against the bottom club, this Monday night meeting has all the ingredients of a tense, high-stakes encounter under the lights.

How to Watch

Date: Monday, 8 December 2025
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Venue: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, England

UK Broadcast:
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with build-up beginning well before the 8pm kick-off. Sky Sports subscribers can also stream the game via the Sky Go app or the Sky Sports website.

International Coverage:
Around the world, the game will be available via regional Premier League broadcast partners, including major sports networks and official streaming platforms. Fans should check their local listings and official Premier League information for precise details in their country.

Match Information

Form Guide & Table Situation

*Form row shows the most recent Premier League matches, from oldest (left) to most recent (right).

Wolves: Confidence is fragile. A run of consecutive defeats, including a recent loss to Nottingham Forest, has left them in serious relegation danger. Despite competitive spells in matches, they struggle to convert chances and frequently concede at key moments, especially at home. Molineux has yielded barely any points so far, and defensive errors have produced one of the leakiest records in the league.

Manchester United: United’s results have been better, but still short of what fans expect. A statement win over Crystal Palace was followed by a series of draws and narrow games, including the 1–1 home stalemate with West Ham where they failed to protect a second-half lead. The team has shown improved structure and pressing under Rúben Amorim, but turning control into goals remains the next step.

Team News

Wolves

• Suspended: João Gomes (one-match ban after accumulation of yellow cards).
• Injured or sidelined: Daniel Bentley, Rodrigo Gomes, Leon Chiwome and Fernando López are all expected to miss out.
• Doubts: Marshall Munetsi (calf) and Ladislav Krejci (knock) are being assessed and may only feature if they pass late fitness tests.

With key midfield options missing, Wolves may again be forced to lean on a back five and a hard-working but improvised midfield unit, hoping their forwards can finally find some cutting edge.

Manchester United

• Doubtful: Matthijs de Ligt missed the West Ham draw with a minor knock but is expected to return and strengthen the back line.
• Injured: Benjamin Šeško (knee) and Harry Maguire (thigh) remain out and are not expected to feature in this fixture.
• Available: Matheus Cunha has recovered from his recent injury and is set to face his former club, adding an intriguing subplot to the evening.

With relatively few fresh concerns, Amorim has scope to rotate in defence, possibly bringing De Ligt and Leny Yoro into the starting XI, while Cunha, Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes remain central to United’s attacking plans.

Head-to-Head Record

There is plenty of history between Wolves and Manchester United in the Premier League era, with United generally enjoying the upper hand but Wolves often proving awkward, especially at Molineux.

*Figures approximate and include historical league and cup meetings.

Recent seasons have seen this fixture swing back and forth: Wolves have managed notable wins over United at Molineux, but there have also been narrow away victories for United, often decided by a single goal. Tight, low-scoring matches have been a recurring theme.

Tactical Outlook

Wolves: Structure First, Then Hope for a Breakthrough

Given their form and league position, Wolves are likely to prioritise defensive stability:

• Back Five & Compact Block: A 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 shape, aiming to keep the central areas crowded and deny spaces for United’s creative players between the lines.
• Transitions & Set-Pieces: Looking to break quickly when possession is won, and targeting corners and free-kicks as key opportunities to score.
• High Work-Rate: Forwards will be asked to press selectively and drop in to help midfield, trying to disrupt United’s build-up without leaving gaps behind.

The biggest question for Wolves is whether they can generate enough attacking threat to punish United if chances do arrive. With goals scarce so far this season, efficiency in front of goal will be critical.

Manchester United: Control, Width and Pressing

Under Rúben Amorim, United aim to blend structured possession with aggressive pressing:

• 3–4–3 / 4–2–3–1 Flexibility: United can morph between systems, using wing-backs or traditional full-backs to stretch the pitch.
• Intelligent Press: Triggered presses on Wolves’ centre-backs and holding midfielder, trying to force errors high up and win the ball close to goal.
• Creative Hub: Bruno Fernandes and the wide forwards (such as Amad Diallo or Marcus Rashford) will look to exploit gaps between Wolves’ defence and midfield.
• Overloads in Wide Areas: Attacking full-backs / wing-backs overlapping to create 2v1s out wide, then delivering cut-backs and low crosses into the box.

If United can move the ball quickly enough and avoid getting frustrated by a deep block, they should create several scoring chances against a Wolves defence that has already conceded heavily this season.

Standings & What’s at Stake

For Wolves, anything less than a result prolongs a nightmare campaign and keeps them firmly on course for a relegation fight of historic difficulty. For United, three points against the bottom club are almost non-negotiable if they want to meet their season’s ambitions.

Match Outlook & Prediction

Predicted Score: Wolves 0–2 Manchester United

Taking into account current form, league position and overall squad quality, Manchester United will enter this game as clear favourites. Wolves’ issues at both ends of the pitch  struggling to score while conceding regularly  make it hard to back a home upset, even with the Molineux crowd behind them.

United have not been flawless, and they have stumbled in games where they were heavily favoured before, so nothing is guaranteed. But if they maintain their defensive structure, move the ball with enough tempo and take advantage of Wolves’ fragility, a controlled away win is the most likely outcome.

A sensible expectation is a match where Wolves defend deep and work hard, but United’s superior quality in the final third eventually tells. A predicted result of Wolves 0–2 Manchester United reflects that balance: a professional, if not spectacular, victory for the visitors.