Wolverhampton vs Manchester United | Premier League Betting Preview & Tip (18.8.2019)
Manchester United will be looking to build on a brilliant 4-0 win over Chelsea when they face Wolverhampton in their first away game of the season. Despite failing to add too many top-class players in the summer transfer window, the Red Devils have big ambitions for the 2019/2020 Premier League campaign, but Monday’s clash against the Wolves will be anything but a walk in the park for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troops. Seeing that Wolverhampton are tough to beat at home, a close encounter is on the cards at Molineux Stadium.
Impressive home record in the Premier League
Wolverhampton were producing thrilling performances in the 2018/2019 Premier League season and, as a result, they booked their place in the Europa League qualifiers. The Wolves play on four fronts this term, but coach Nuno Espirito Santo has a number of high-profile players to choose from and his men are definitely capable of repeating the last season’s success.
The Portuguese colony from the Molineux Stadium played out a goalless draw with Leicester City at King Power Stadium in their opener, but it is well known that Wolverhampton produce much better performances at home than on the travels. The Wolves are undefeated in previous eight home games in the English top flight and the fact that they outplayed Manchester United at Molineux Stadium last season is certainly giving fans a reason for optimism ahead of Monday’s showdown.
A man to watch
Despite failing to open his goal-scoring account in the opening match of the season, Raul Jimenez is undisputedly the team’s key player. The Mexico international, who helped el Tri win the Gold Cup earlier this summer, scored 13 goals in the Premier League last season and we are positive that he is going to prove a handful for Man Utd back-line on Matchday 2.
Manchester United – Vlad1988 / Shutterstock.com
Raul Jimenez, who has netted four goals in the Europa League qualifiers, seems to be in a fine form and it is no surprise he is 15/8 at bet365 to find the net against the Red Devils. Yet another man to watch in the home team will be Diogo Jota, who scored 9 goals in the English elite division last term.
Promising start, but…
Manchester United chiefs were not too active in the summer transfer window, but the Red Devils impressed in the opening match of the season against Chelsea. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troops rolled over Chelsea 4-0 at their Old Trafford, but it is well known that the Blues are expected to struggle in the 2019/2020 season due to a transfer ban.
Man Utd are a real force to be reckoned with at home, but they often struggle on the travels. The Red Devils are on a four-game winless run in the Premier League and seeing that key attacker Romelu Lukaku left the club in the summer transfer window, we do not believe that there is a big value in betting on the English giants this time out. Anyhow, you should bear in mind that away win is priced 13/10 at Bet9ja.
Red Devils looking to avoid third straight loss at Molineux
Wolverhampton and Manchester United met twice at Molineux Stadium last season, with the Wolves emerging triumphant in both encounters at their home ground. When the two clubs met in the FA Cup quarter-finals earlier this year the Wolves recorded a 2-1 win over Manchester United, with Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota scoring for the hosts. Marcus Rashford, on the other hand, scored a consolation goal for the Red Devils in the dying seconds of the match.
One month later the history repeated itself as Wolverhampton defeated Manchester United 2-1 on day 33 of the 2018/2019 Premier League campaign. This time out Diogo Jota and Chris Smalling (own goal) helped Nuno Espirito Santo’s charges pick up all three points from the match. Despite the fact that Scott McTominay opened the scoring for the Red Devils in the first half, the Wolves eventually extended their unbeaten run in encounters with the Old Trafford outfit to three games. It has been seven years since Man Utd recorded their last win over Wolverhampton in a competitive match.
Our Wolverhampton vs Manchester United Betting Tip
Over the years Wolverhampton have turned their Molineux Stadium into a real fortress and considering that coach Nuno Espirito Santo has a full squad to choose from ahead of Monday’s encounter with Manchester United, we strongly recommend your betting choice is to back the home side to record their first win of the season. The visitors will be without Eric Bailly (injury) against Wolves, whereas Chile superstar Alexis Sanchez is rated doubtful.
Raul Jimenez, who has been scoring goals for fun in the Europa League qualifiers, is determined to open his goal-scoring account in the new Premier League campaign and given the Red Devils’ recent record at Molineux Stadium, there is every chance the visitors will return home empty-handed. In three of their last five meetings in Wolverhampton in all competitions, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men emerged triumphant and they are likely to give fans yet another reason for celebration on Matchday 2. Wolves are 23/10 at Pinnacle to record their first win of the season.