TEAM NEWS
Wolves have injury concerns over midfielders Jamie O'Hara who is suffering from a groin strain and Nenad Milijas who has a calf problem.
Karl Henry is out and could return from a hamstring injury next weekend.
Manchester United will assess Phil Jones, who missed Thursday's Europa League defeat at Athletic Bilbao because of illness.
Paul Scholes was an unused substitute against the Basque side, and is likely to return to the starting line-up.
MATCH PREVIEW
Three days after Manchester United went out of the Champions League by losing in Basel, they took their frustrations out on Wolves by beating them 4-1 at Old Trafford. With Sunday's game coming three days after United' s Europa League exit in Bilbao, Wolves will be expected by most to be the whipping boys again.
It's easy to see why. The men from Molineux have gone eight home games without a victory (losing the last six) and have only won one of their last 14 Premier league games anywhere. They face a United side who are unbeaten in eight league games (winning the last four) and have the best away record in the division. Perhaps more pertinently, it's also a side that has the incentive of going four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table. Breathing space.
One of the more remarkable consequences of Athletic Bilbao ending the Red Devils' European hopes was that this will be the first time for 10 years that Sir Alex Ferguson won't have led his team to a major final of some sort in the season - in Europe or domestically. They've only got one pot left to play for now, and will stop at nothing to make sure the Premier League trophy stays on the red side of Manchester.
City fans will be hoping that Wolves can repeat their feat of last year, when United's first league defeat of the season came at Molineux in early February. Kevin Doyle grabbed the decisive goal in a 2-1 Wolves win - that's the only time they've avoided defeat in their last eight games against United. Somehow they need to summon up that kind of spirit and performance again for their own desperate reasons.
From fans protests to having club captain Roger Johnson "not fit to train properly", Wolves have looked from the outside like a club in turmoil since the sacking of Mick McCarthy. Perhaps it might suit both the crowd and team to have a game that they're not expected to win? If they do claim a shock victory, it will be the most ringing endorsement yet of Terry Connor's claim to the Molineux manager's job long-term. A grateful Roberto Mancini would surely second that endorsement.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Wolves have won two of their three previous Premier League games against Manchester United at Molineux.
However, the Red Devils have won seven of the last eight league and cup meetings (home and away).
Wolves
Wolves have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 25 league games, and have conceded 14 goals in their last five matches.
They have won only one of their last 14 top-flight games (W1, D5, L8). That run began with the 4-1 loss at Old Trafford on 10 December.
The Molineux side have recouped 14 points from losing positions this season - only Arsenal (19) can better that tally.
They have allowed their opponents 208 shots on target this term, more than any other team in the Premier League.
Manchester United
United have won 10 away league games, twice as many as they did last season.
Opta statistics show United are the best finishers in the Premier League, scoring 20% of their shots and hitting the target with 53% of their attempts.
Wayne Rooney has scored 10 goals in his last seven league and cup games.
He has netted in each of his last four Premier League appearances - his best run since scoring in five successive matches at the start of the season.
Only one winner for me and that's Man.Utd. Wolves are in a total mess at the moment, on field, lack of effort and not closing players down, under constant pressure and no shape to the side. 3-0 Man.Utd at the very least.
Wolverhampton Wanders v Manchester United [Premier League]
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Originally Posted by marknow
