Wolves welcome Manchester United to Molineux with the mood starkly different on either side. The hosts are still chasing their first league win of the campaign and, as the BBC put it this week, are “on course for some unwanted records” around their Christmas points tally. United, meanwhile, come in with a steadier pulse and a manager, Ruben Amorim, who shrugged off the online noise in midweek and will sense an opportunity to keep the momentum building.
Season snapshot: bottom versus ninth
The table tells a blunt story. Wolves are marooned at the bottom with just two points from 14 games and the worst goal difference in the division. United sit ninth with 21 points from 13 and have been involved in a high share of open, chance-rich matches this season.
| Team | Pos | GP | W-D-L | GF–GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolves | 20 | 14 | 0-2-12 | 7–29 | 2 |
| Manchester United | 9 | 13 | 6-3-4 | 21–20 | 21 |
Under the bonnet, Wolves’ attacking returns are threadbare: 7 goals in total and a season-long average of 180 minutes per goal. They’ve scored first in just 21% of league games and are allowing a goal roughly every 43 minutes. United are the inverse profile: 21 league goals already, a 69% rate for both BTTS and over 2.5 this season, and a goal every 55.7 minutes.
Form guide and on-pitch patterns
The recent footage is unforgiving for Wolves. The BBC’s match clip from midweek captured a flat Molineux as they slipped again, and the last ten-game form line reads LLLLLLLDDL. United’s last ten across competitions looks more balanced (DWLDDWWWLW) and their last five league outings have had an 80% hit rate for both BTTS and over 2.5 goals.
Wolves: last matches (all comps)
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Dec 2025 | Wolves | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest |
| 30 Nov 2025 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Wolves |
| 22 Nov 2025 | Wolves | 0–2 | Crystal Palace |
| 08 Nov 2025 | Chelsea | 3–0 | Wolves |
Wolves’ attacking drought is severe. Over their last five fixtures they have 0 goals, just 8 shots on target and a 0% shot conversion. Corners have dried up too (1.8 for per game across the last five), while cards have crept up (2.8 received on average).
Manchester United: last matches (all comps)
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov 2025 | Crystal Palace | 1–2 | Manchester United |
| 24 Nov 2025 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Everton |
| 08 Nov 2025 | Tottenham | 2–2 | Manchester United |
| 01 Nov 2025 | Nottingham Forest | 2–2 | Manchester United |
| 25 Oct 2025 | Manchester United | 4–2 | Brighton |
In contrast, United’s last five show 10 goals, 30 shots on target and a 33% conversion. They also commit fewer fouls (7.6 per game across the last five) and average more corners than Wolves over the season (4.23 for, versus Wolves’ 3.07).
Head-to-head: Wolves have recent scalps, but United score here
The recent history is not as one-sided as the table suggests. Wolves claimed a 1–0 win at Old Trafford in April 2025 and won 2–0 at Molineux on Boxing Day 2024. That said, United’s visits to this fixture often come with goals.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2025 | Manchester United | 0–1 | Wolves |
| 26 Dec 2024 | Wolves | 2–0 | Manchester United |
| 01 Feb 2024 | Wolves | 3–4 | Manchester United |
| 14 Aug 2023 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Wolves |
| 13 May 2023 | Manchester United | 2–0 | Wolves |
History won’t save Wolves if the present trend doesn’t change: their last ten-game form and the current attacking freeze suggest they’ll need to disrupt United’s rhythm early. United’s “31–45” minute window is a notable sweet spot this season, echoing their top scoring period.
Attacking profiles: where the goals are (and aren’t)
Season-long attacking outputs underline the gap. Wolves have generated 41 shots on target and are yet to win a penalty; United have 68 on target, a sharper conversion, and the same offsides count but far more end product.
| Team | Goals For | Shots on Target | Shot Conversion | Top Minute Window | Offsides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolves | 7 | 41 | 17% | 31–45 (25%) | 19 |
| Manchester United | 21 | 68 | 31% | 31–45 (26%) | 19 |
Discipline and territory may also matter. Wolves are averaging 2.14 cards received and conceding 6.21 corners per game this season, figures that suggest prolonged defending. United, at 1.46 cards and 4.69 corners against, have been more controlled.
Model lean and what it means
The model edge points to United, and the shape of the game looks defined: Wolves’ chance creation has dropped to a trickle, while United’s recent outings have carried goals even when points have been shared.
| Market | Pick | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Match Winner (1X2) | Manchester United | 54% |
| Over/Under 2.5 | OVER 2.5 | 56% |
| BTTS | BTTS: NO | 64% |
If United impose their 69% over-2.5 trend, this could tilt into a one-sided scoreline given Wolves’ 0 goals across the last five. If it stays in the balance early, the hosts will hope the head-to-head muscle memory from December 2024 and April 2025 can inject belief. For readers tracking wider context around current markets, Kickwie’s hub of epl betting tips offers a broader week-by-week view.
Scenarios
- A United win would endorse Amorim’s recent tweaks and keep them in touch with the European places while preserving their strong scoring rhythm.
- A low-scoring draw would feel like a small step forward for Wolves, slowing the slide and puncturing the narrative around the “woeful” label that has stuck in recent days.
- A Wolves win would be season-altering: ending the drought, resetting the mood at Molineux and putting a dent in United’s December schedule.
Right now, the data narrows the arguments: Wolves need to find a first goal before they can think about a first win. United arrive with the greater punch and a manager insulated from the noise; it’s on Wolves to change that story on the pitch.
