Manchester United 1-1 Wolves: Ruben Amorim’s side end 2025 with disappointing home draw
Manchester United ended the year with a flat performance and a damaging home draw as bottom-of-the-table Wolves left Old Trafford with a deserved point. United were missing eight senior figures, including Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire, but that context will do little to soften the blow.
Facing a Wolves team that had collected just two points all season, Amorim’s side, destined to leapfrog Chelsea and go fifth with a win, laboured throughout the night. Joshua Zirkzee handed United a fortunate lead midway through the first half when his shot deflected off Ladislav Krejci and wrong-footed Jose Sa, but up to that point Wolves had enjoyed better control of the ball and moved it with greater purpose.
United’s fragility at the back soon reared its ugly head. Wolves created some good chances and tested Senne Lammens, before the visitors were eventually rewarded just before the break when Krejci, left unmarked at the far post, headed in from a corner after the ball glanced off Zirkzee.
At half-time Amorim introduced 18-year-old Jack Fletcher, sacrificing Zirkzee as United looked to gain greater control in midfield. There was more urgency from the home side after the restart, with Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha both threatening, but the quality in the final third remained inconsistent.
Wolves, sensing a rare chance to claim their first win of the campaign, continued to carry a threat on the counter. Krejci nearly added a second after the hour, while Mosquera was unable to turn in the rebound after Lammens had denied Krejci. At the other end, Benjamin Sesko and Diogo Dalot failed to convert promising chances. There was late drama when Dorgu thought he had won it in the closing minutes, only for the flag to rule him offside.
