In the one-step forward, one-step-back world Manchester United inhabit, Monday’s trip to Molineux felt like progress. Whether it marks a turning point is unclear.
Nine days after a big win at Crystal Palace came a flat draw with West Ham; earlier, three successive wins were undone by a run of three without, capped by a home loss to a 10-man Everton. The 4-1 victory over a struggling Wolves was United’s biggest of the season and saw them register 27 shots—the most in a Premier League game under Ruben Amorim. United have now spent more time leading matches this season than across the whole of 2024-25.
Amorim, though, was careful to qualify the result. Wolves are in a poor run on and off the pitch, he said, and United took advantage of that specific circumstance. The visitors had led, then conceded before half-time via Jean-Ricner Bellegarde—Wolves’ first goal in 540 minutes—which was not the script Amorim wanted on a night Sir Jim Ratcliffe watched from the directors’ box in animated discussion with director of football Jason Wilcox.
Amorim spent the interval reflecting alone in the visitors’ dugout and told his players they should have finished the first half differently. “At half-time, they understood we have everything to win the game,” he said, adding that past missed opportunities (against Everton and West Ham) made second-half success essential. “We needed to win the second half. It didn’t matter the result.”
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher hailed the performance but warned a poor result could be imminent. United have only one Premier League clean sheet this season and remain inconsistent: one defeat in nine or just two wins in six, depending on perspective. After twice missing chances to climb to second and fifth, they sit sixth; if results fall their way they could be fourth after facing Bournemouth on 15 December, but they could just as easily slip back down the table.
Bournemouth, managed by Andoni Iraola, have collected two points from six but have twice beaten United 3-0 at Old Trafford. Certainty is scarce at Manchester United these days, including over player availability. Amorim expected Matthijs de Ligt to be available after a minor injury but was wrong and now cannot say when De Ligt will return. United are in talks with the federations of Morocco, Ivory Coast and Cameroon over clearance for Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo ahead of Bournemouth; Amorim called ongoing discussions “a good sign” but said to wait until midweek for clarity.
Asked what sixth place meant, Amorim replied: “Nothing. It’s always the same feeling. We should have more points. But that’s in the past, let’s focus on the future.”
Mason Mount scored and has now found the net three times in the four Premier League starts he’s made. The England international is beginning to show the consistent influence United hoped for when he joined from Chelsea for £55m in 2023 before injuries stalled his progress. With main striker Benjamin Šeško injured and Bebeumo due to leave for Africa Cup of Nations, Mount’s form gives Amorim extra options.
Amorim praised Mount’s all-round game—his defending, attacking and quality on the ball—and warned the club must manage him carefully as he builds into a significant player for United.
