Manchester United vs Wolves LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction from fixture tonight

Follow all the action live as the Ralf Rangnick and Bruno Lage’s sides go head-to-head at Old Trafford

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This was the first defeat of the Ralf Rangnick era but not only that, it was deserved. In all honesty, it may even be overdue. Manchester United had been fortunate to beat bottom-of-the-league Norwich City before Christmas, then lucky to escape with a draw against an equally-embattled Newcastle after it. Now, to usher in the new year, their comeuppance came against a side that had scored once in their last six games and twice in their last eight before Joao Moutinho’s late winner.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are having an uncertain season, having made a solid start only to suffer that scoring slump of recent weeks and months, but Bruno Lage has the highlight of his first year in charge so far: a win at Old Trafford that, on the balance of play, could have come a lot earlier. Aside from a brief United revival midway through the second half, Wolves were by far the better side, creating several chances yet, true to form, failing to put them away.

That was until Moutinho’s intervention, a low, drilled shot with eight minutes remaining after the returning Phil Jones failed to adequately clear Adama Traore’s cross beyond the edge of the penalty area. Follow all the match reaction below:

Man United vs Wolves

• 5:30pm GMT kick-off
• Phil Jones makes first Premier League start for two years
• Podence and Trincao join Jimenez in Wolves attack
• 68’ - Ronaldo heads in but is flagged offside, just one minute after Fernandes hits woodwork
• 75’ - Saiss strikes crossbar from a direct free-kick
• 82’ - Moutinho fires in the opener from the edge of the box

[3 January 2022 17:23 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves

Adama Traore and Franciso Trincao have both attempted 21 shots without scoring in the Premier League this season, the joint-highest figure in the division prior to the latest round of matches.

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[3 January 2022 17:20 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves: Ralf Rangnick praises Manchester United’s willingness to learn and ‘take next steps’

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has been impressed by his side’s willingness to learn during his first few weeks in the job.

Rangnick was appointed as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s replacement until the end of the season at the start of last month and has been tasked with getting United’s season back on track.

They are unbeaten in his opening five games, with a Covid-19 outbreak hitting the squad before Christmas, but performances have been far from convincing.

[3 January 2022 17:17 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves: Rangnick on Van de Beek

Donny van de Beek has to settle for another spot on the bench for Manchester United this evening. It’s a familiar position for the Dutchman since his joined the club from Ajax in 2020 and he has been linked with a possible exit from Old Trafford.

Van de Beek has played just eight minutes’ Premier League action in four substitute appearance since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November but Ralf Rangnick wants him to stay at the club.

"I had a longer conversation with him," said Rangnick. "Of course it’s difficult for him right now because he also wants to play for the Dutch national team and play in the World Cup in Qatar. In order to do that he needs to get game-time here.

"But I still believe that we should keep him, that he should stay here, definitely until the end of this season and try to get as much game-time as he possibly can."

[3 January 2022 17:13 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves

Manchester United are unbeaten in five league and cup games under Ralf Rangnick, taking 10 points from a possible 12 in the league.

They have lost just one of their last 17 league fixtures on a Monday, with that defeat coming against Tottenham in August 2018.

[3 January 2022 17:10 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves

Wolves have won just four of their 16 Premier League matches played on Mondays - with four draws and eght defeats - their lowest win ratio on a day of the week on which they have played more than once.

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[3 January 2022 17:07 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves: ‘Top man’ Raul Jimenez is major inspiration for Wolves

Bruno Lage believes Raul Jimenez can provide Wolves with some new-year inspiration.

The striker spent the most of 2021 recovering and finding a way back to fitness after horrifically fracturing his skull in November 2020.

Jimenez has started all but two of Wolves’ Premier League games this season, scoring three goals, ahead of Monday’s trip to Manchester United and Lage knows his influence is key.

[3 January 2022 17:04 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves: ‘We are not a defensive team’ says Lage

Wolves boss Bruno Lage is adamant that his team can threaten their opponents in front of goal despite only scoring 42 goals across 2021 which was their lowest return in a calender year since 1922.

Lage said:

We are not a defensive team and are creating a lot of chances. All of our wingers and strikers have had chances just against the goalkeeper and they didn’t score.

“I don’t blame anyone and give confidence to the players to continue to do it next time.

“Imagine if Adama, Podence, Trincao, Hwang, Raul and Fabio score the chances they have in front of the goal. This is football.”

[3 January 2022 17:00 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves: Rangnick on starting Jones

Ralf Rangnick has praised Phil Jones’ professionalism since he took over at Manchester United but says that injuries to Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Harry Maguire left Jones as the only logical choice to partner Raphael Varane tonight. He said:

I can only judge Phil Jones from the last four weeks and he has always been very professional, very much involved and since all other three centre-backs out, he was the logical choice.

“Harry Maguire received an injury against Burnley and had problems the day after the game. Since last night, we knew all three were out.”

[3 January 2022 16:57 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves: Wolves lacking goals

Wolves have not won their first game of the calendar year in any of their seven previous Premier League campaigns - with two draws and five defeats.

Their most recent such victory as a top-flight side came in 1981 against Middlesbrough and their total of 13 top-flight goals is the club’s lowest figure at the turn of the year since the 1981-82 season.

[3 January 2022 16:54 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd vs Wolves: Red Devils perform in January

Manchester United have won their opening league game in five of the last six calendar years, with the exception a 2-0 loss at Arsenal in 2020.

The Reds have won 65.5% of their Premier League matches in January, the best record of any team in the competition’s history.