Manchester United closed out 2025 with a dreadful 1-1 draw against bottom-of-the-Premier-League Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday evening at Old Trafford.
Rúben Amorim chose to replace the injured Mason Mount with Joshua Zirkzee in attack as Manchester United welcomed Wolverhampton Wanderers to Old Trafford for their final game of 2025.
The Premier League tie started with the home side looking to dominate, with Luke Shaw and Benjamin Šeško fashioning good openings, and they were rewarded as Joshua Zirkzee’s deflected effort found a way past the line after brilliant work from Ayden Heaven.
Wolves had their fair share of chances before half-time, and just before the 45 minutes were up, Ladislav Krejčí headed in an equaliser to draw the game level ahead of the second half.
Amorim responded by bringing on midfielder Jack Fletcher for Zirkzee and switching to a back four. Still, with neither side able to break the deadlock, Leny Yoro and Bentido Mantato joined the action, with the latter making his senior debut.
Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu had the ball in the back of the net in the 90th minute, though he was flagged offside, and the game fizzled out into a 1-1 draw.
#1 – United’s back three left them open
After the success with a back four against Newcastle, United went back to their back-three against Wolves, with Amorim deciding that in Mount’s absence, United would instead try to overload the flanks.
Immediately, the same issues that had previously shown with the back three reappeared, with Wolves being allowed to cross the ball in several times, ultimately leading to their deserved goal just before half-time.
With a back four in the second half, United stopped more of Wolves’ crossing attempts, and as the game closed out, they dominated, but failed to make it count. The defence was better with four, but the attack remained stale.
#2 – United’s creativity better with a back four
In United’s last few games, the back four has allowed the side to have more players in midfield and attack, and against Wolves, the three at the back always left United with a lack of creative threat down the middle.
Too much of the play went straight from defence to attack, with the likes of Šeško and Zirkzee receiving the goal with their backs to the goal, which slowed the game down and stifled any attacking sequence.
The second half saw United create more chances once they switched, and this should be a telling sign for Amorim that he must continue with the formation, especially when United’s attackers return.
#3 – Šeško getting back into rhythm
Šeško’s 60 minutes against Newcastle were far from his most inspiring, with the striker not too involved. But against the Wolves, he looked much sharper and in-tune with his teammates, with his movement much improved.
He had a few good chances land in his path in the air, which he failed to take; he must start doing so going forward, although the positive signs are there amid his return from injury.
#4 – Ugarte saw far too much of the ball
United have very few midfield options with Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo both injured, but Manuel Ugarte saw far too much of the ball against Wolves.
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He’s started the last three games, and it’s no coincidence that his best display came in the second half against Newcastle, when United had minimal possession.
With the ball at his feet on Tuesday evening, he was very wasteful, and had pretty much anyone else in the squad been in his position, they’d have likely done much better with the ball.
#5 – No urgency or intensity in attack
United’s lack of intensity transitioning between defence and attack was summed up in the 86th minute. Casemiro won the ball, drove forward, and, despite a fantastic run from Šeško, the Brazilian appeared to do nothing, lost the ball, and the counter fizzled.
As many Wolves players as possible surrounded Cunha at any given moment, and with him somewhat out of the game, there was little to no inspiration coming from anywhere else on the pitch.
It was sideways and backwards, with no United players wanting to take responsibility, and United deserved exactly what they got with the two points dropped.
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