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Attendance: 31,314
Wolves logo
Premier League | Gameweek 2
Aug 19, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

1-1

Neves (55')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Martial (27')

How Manchester United could line up against Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester United could line up for Monday's Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manchester United travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night for their first away game of the 2019-20 Premier League campaign.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side followed up an unbeaten pre-season with a sensational 4-0 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford to restore a sense of positivity among the club's support following what has been a summer of discontent in the transfer window.

However, they face an arguably bigger test in the form of a trip to Molineux, where United were beaten twice in the space of three weeks last season by a ferociously energetic Wolves side, who have not lost at home in the Premier League since January 2.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the Red Devils could line up for Monday's showdown.



Possible MNU XI vs. WOL

Out: Eric Bailly (knee), Alexis Sanchez (fitness), Timothy Fosu-Mensah (knee)
Doubtful: None

Click here for United's full injury and suspension list ahead of this match.

Despite scoring four goals against Chelsea, perhaps the most satisfying aspect of United's performance last weekend was the assurance with which new signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire played, with the latter claiming the man of the match award for a stellar defensive display alongside Victor Lindelof.

Solskjaer has spoken of the importance of having a settled defensive partnership - something missing at Old Trafford since the days of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic - and the aforementioned duo certainly have the quality necessary to establish themselves as indispensable members of the starting XI.

The midfield, however, poses question marks for Solskjaer, who would not have been happy with the sluggishness of United's passing in the middle during the first 45 minutes against Chelsea and will know that something has to change against a Wolves side blessed with a packed and energetic midfield including talisman Ruben Neves, who dominated both games at Molineux last term.

While Solskjaer's pressing game is more important than ever against a Wolves team which likes to break at pace, there is an argument for adding more support to the midfield area by moving Andreas Pereira - a key workhorse for Solskjaer - closer to the middle to maintain pressure on Neves and Leander Dendoncker.

Such a manoeuvre would allow for Scott McTominay to play slightly deeper, giving the Scot more time to recycle possession, and enable Paul Pogba to inflict damage down that left channel by linking up with the dangerous Anthony Martial.

Indeed, Solskjaer's front three of Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard is clearly his favoured setup, with the Norwegian determined to employ a system whereby forwards interchange freely and press opponents from the front. Their passing in the final third must be more precise against a team which, unlike Chelsea, will play with a low block.

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Paul Pogba in Premier League action for Manchester United on May 12, 2019
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