Five talking points: Manchester United 2-0 Wolves (Premier League)

Manchester United got themselves back to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag opted to bring Raphael Varane straight back into the Manchester United XI as the player rejoined the squad after a month of injury.

It was Anthony Martial who opened the scoring just after the 30-minute mark, being given an open net to pass the ball into after Antony cleverly squared the ball from the right-hand side.

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The second half saw the return of Alejandro Garnacho to the Old Trafford pitch after being out for a number of weeks with an injury, who then finished brilliantly in the dying moments to hand United a 2-0 lead and all three points.

Here are five talking points from the fixture.

#1 – Manchester United just look so flat

Despite a one-week rest, Manchester United players just looked so flat in the opening quarter of the fixture.

It was the first time United were able to have a few days of rest in months, but from watching the players play, this did not look like the case.

Despite the goals, the United players looked flat and mentally fatigued, with a lack of ideas in the opposition’s final third obvious.

#2 – Antony makes up for an earlier error

In the opening 15 minutes, Antony squandered a perfect chance to give United the lead after he was gifted the ball and decided to shoot, with the ball falling wide of the post.

What he didn’t do, however, was pass to Martial, who would have had a fantastic opportunity to give United a lead.

With Antony being sent through once again 20 minutes later, he made no mistake in passing to Martial across the face of the goal, handing the French striker a goal on a silver platter and United a much-needed lead.

#3 – United are desperate for attacking prowess

Despite the goal and ultimate victory, it was once again proved today that United severely lack the ability to dominate a fixture through attacking force.

United may have had 27 shots throughout the fixture, but at no point did it feel like the team were throwing pure force towards Wolves, with the attacks mainly coming from counter-attacking moves.

United are in dire need of a consistent goal threat beyond Marcus Rashford, with Ten Hag’s priority of a striker in the summer window being further evidenced with every fixture that goes on.

Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen, and Goncalo Ramos have all been touted as options up front, and any of these three players would significantly improve the front line.

However, the return of Garnacho in the final few fixtures will give United a much-needed boost.

#4 – Varane breeds confidence

Regardless of the result, Raphael Varane being back in the heart of defence made United look so much more comfortable.

Having to deal with Diego Costa in his first game back is a very rough “welcome back” to the Premier League – however, Varane dealt with it like he had never been away.

Varane seems to give both his defensive line and those in front of him much more confidence off the ball, knowing there’s one of the most decorated defenders of the modern era behind them.

It is no coincidence that United kept a clean sheet with relative ease as Varane was reintroduced into the XI.

#5 – One step closer to a top-four finish

With United coming away with all three points, it places them four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with three Premier League fixtures to go.

Now sat on 66 points, Ten Hag’s men are level with Newcastle United, who sit in third place, and are now one step closer to securing a top four spot.

With home fixtures against Chelsea and Fulham as well as an away trip to Bounremouth on the horizon, United are in a prime position to secure themselves Champions League qualification for next season.