Preview: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Manchester United – team news, lineups, prediction, live stream

The result moved the 2017-18 Championship winners into 18th spot in the table, now just one point behind 17th-placed Everton, and Lopetegui’s arrival as head coach appears to have given the team an edge, with the 56-year-old managing the likes of Spain and Real Madrid during his career thus far.

Wolves have a busy start to January, as they will face Aston Villa in the Premier League on January 4 before taking on Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup and EFL Cup respectively.

The Red Devils were back in action after the World Cup on December 21, recording a 2-0 win over Burnley to progress in the EFL Cup, while they put in a commanding performance against Forest to move to within one point of fourth-placed Spurs in the table, with a game in hand on Antonio Conte’s side.

Man United actually have four straight home matches after this game, facing Bournemouth and Manchester City at Old Trafford in the Premier League, in addition to Everton and Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup and EFL Cup respectively.

The Red Devils have the fifth-best away record in the Premier League this season, picking up 13 points from eight matches, but they have conceded 16 times in their travels during the 2022-23 campaign.

Wolves will again be missing Chiquinho, Pedro Neto and Sasa Kalajdzic through injury, but Boubacar Toure and Jonny Castro could both potentially be back in the squad.

Podence is also a major doubt with the leg problem that he suffered against Everton, so Goncalo Guedes could potentially feature in the final third of the field from the first whistle.

Ait-Nouri and Matheus Nunes are also battling to be included in the first XI, but Diego Costa should again keep out Raul Jimenez at centre-forward, with Hwang Hee-chan playing off the right for Lopetegui’s side.

Man United were missing Victor Lindelof and Scott McTominay against Forest through illness, so the pair remain doubts here, while Diogo Dalot (hamstring) and Jadon Sancho (fitness) could again miss out.

Luke Shaw played as a centre-back against Forest but should move across to left-back here, while Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are expected to continue in midfield.

There are also unlikely to be any changes in the attack, with Antony set to continue alongside Rashford and Martial, who were both on the scoresheet against Forest last time out.