Manchester United Vs Manchester City Preview
By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent)
Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01
Manchester United will play just 40 matches this season, their shortest campaign since 1914–15. That alone tells you everything about how far this club has fallen. Now, interim manager Michael Carrick gets thrown straight into the fire, starting his reign with a Manchester derby against a City side doing everything United are not.
United kicked off 2026 with back-to-back league draws against Leeds and Burnley, only to crash out of the FA Cup at home to Brighton. At some point, you begin to ask yourself how much more the fans are willing to take before real pressure is put on the owners. But that conversation can wait. A derby is upon us. Carrick’s first test. Do you honestly see him getting anything here — a draw, maybe a smash-and-grab win?
Behind the scenes, United are said to be quietly chasing a midfielder this January. Jason Wilcox and the recruitment team are reportedly focused on the middle of the park while completely ignoring the wings. That’s baffling, considering we still don’t have a natural left winger. It feels like Carrick has already been set up to fail. Either they know something we don’t, or they simply don’t know what they’re doing anymore.
The managerial search also drags on. Glasner has announced he will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season, and Luis Enrique has confirmed he won’t be renewing his contract. On paper, United should have options. The real concern is whether the board will actually make the right call this time — or continue stumbling around while the club drifts further away from the top.
Eight days after Ruben Amorim was sacked, United confirmed Michael Carrick as interim head coach until the end of the season. This will be the 44-year-old’s second spell in the Old Trafford dugout after his short but respectable run in late 2021 (W2 D1). Sentiment aside, this is a brutal way to begin.
Supporters from both sides will be hoping for far more than what we saw last time these two met at Old Trafford — a painfully dull 0-0 draw back in April. Carrick’s task doesn’t get any easier either. United lost the reverse fixture 3-0 at the Etihad in September, and they haven’t failed to score in both league meetings with City since the 1973–74 season — a year United were relegated.
Worse still, United have failed to score in four of their last five home league games against City, including the last two in a row. They haven’t gone three straight home derbies without a goal since a run that ended in 1914. History is not on their side.
According to the Opta supercomputer, City have a 50.6% chance of winning, while United sit at just 25.9%. And honestly, can you trust this team right now?
City arrive after beating Newcastle 2-0 in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final and smashing Exeter 10-1 in the FA Cup. Yet, they’ve drawn their last three Premier League games, slipping six points behind Arsenal. Still, Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in 13 matches across all competitions and haven’t lost in nine league games.
January signing Antoine Semenyo has hit the ground running after his £64m move from Bournemouth, scoring twice and picking up back-to-back man-of-the-match awards. City looks settled, sharp, and motivated — everything United currently aren’t.
The numbers at Old Trafford don’t help either. City have won more Premier League away games against United than any other visiting side, while only Liverpool have scored more goals there.
If I’m being honest, part of me wants City to win. Not out of loyalty to them, but because INEOS and the Glazers cannot keep running this club like a circus. The Carrick appointment feels like another delay tactic — no signings, no clear direction, no real plan. Old Trafford has become a playground for visiting teams, and until the ownership is compelled to act, nothing will change. From a footballing point of view, we don’t have the tools to hurt City right now.
So yeah… I’m tired.
Drop your score predictions below.
Manchester United record against Manchester City:
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Games won: |
80 |
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Games drawn: |
54 |
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Games lost: |
63 |
Team News:
(As of today 16/01/2026,)
Manchester United: Matthijs de Ligt is still injured. Noussair Mazraoui is still unavailable due to AFCON duty.
Manchester City: Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Oscar Bobb and Savinho are all sidelined with injuries, while Omar Marmoush is still away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.
Prediction:
We’ve never really had a proper “new manager bounce,” and I don’t expect one now. These players don’t look like they have much left to fight for. Considering the thrashing at the Etihad, I only see one outcome.
Manchester United 2-2 Manchester City
It is the year 2025, and the frontrunner to win the Ballon d'Or is Ousmane Dembele, forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. The road to this point has been far from smooth, but this is the end point nonetheless. PSG are the undisputed and unquestionable kings of Europe, winning the European Cup in any format for the first time in their history - a significant feat not just for a team only founded in 1970, but one for the Qatari Sports Investment project which has been hell-bent on continental domination since their takeover in 2011. Luis Enrique's side will be remembered for years to come for their tiki taka-lite style based on fluidity and slick possession football, and at the forefront of their success has been Dembele. With the Ballon d'Or now judged on a seasonal basis - as should have always been the case, thank you, France Football - it is a campaign that should end with Dembele lifting the prestigious Golden Ball in his home country.
Historic Exchange Under Istanbul Agreement In the largest prisoner swap since the full-scale war began, Russia and Ukraine have each released 390 prisonersâcomprising 270 military personnel and 120 civiliansâas part of an overall 1,000-for-1,000 agreement negotiated during direct talks in Istanbul earlier in May. BBC+4www.ndtv.com+4Deutsche Welle+4Anadolu Ajansı+15Reuters+  Departures and Arrivals Ukrainian returnees arrived in the Chernihiv region, many visibly frail with shaved heads and draped in national flags, greeted by emotional reunions with relatives amid cheers and tears. Reuters+4 The Washington +4 The Daily Star +4. Some had been held in captivity for nearly two years. Russian returnees, including soldiers and civilians captured during a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk region, were first transported to Belarus for medical and psychological evaluation before being repatriated ussia. BBC+3Reuters+3 The Guardian +3.  Emotional Homecomings and Lingering Uncertainty Families crowded the exchange sites, clutching photographs of missing loved ones, hoping for a clue from those stepping off the buses. One Ukrainian newly freed veteran, held for more than 830 days, encouraged others not to lose hope: âIn every prison there are many guys who had no contact with their relatives. I was the same,â he said The Guardian+10The Washington Post+10The Guardian+10. But for many, the reunion came with heavy uncertainty about family members still unaccounted for.  Political Messages and Future Prospects President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the swap as the only tangible outcome of the Istanbul talks and emphasized continued efforts to bring all detainees home. Hromadske The Washington PostThe Guardian. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov promised that Moscow would submit a draft peace proposal following the exchange but reiterated refusal of a ceasefire unless certain conditions were metâterms Ukraine has rejected, according to Reuters The Guardian. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who helped push for the Istanbul negotiations, congratulated both parties via his social media platform, calling the swap a possible step toward broader peace, though no ceasefire has been agreed upon, according to Reuters and the New York Post.  Humanitarian Milestone Amid Ongoing Conflict This first phase swap underscores a rare moment of cooperation in a conflict that has otherwise deepened across Ukraineâs eastern and southern regions. While a few hundred lives have been restored to families, thousands remain in captivity, and both sides show no signs of halting hostilities. Negotiations may continue in coming days as both governments prepare for the next instalment of releases under the "1,000-for-1,000" agreement. For now, the tranche of 390 each represents the largest exchange of its kind since the war began.
North Korea has begun an investigation into an accident that occurred during the launch of a new warship this week, state media said Friday, assessing the damage as "not serious". North Korea said Thursday that "a serious accident occurred" at the Wednesday launch ceremony for the newly built 5,000-ton naval destroyer, in which sections of the bottom of the vessel were crushed -- with leader Kim Jong Un calling the mishap a "criminal act".  North Korea has begun an investigation into an accident that occurred during the launch of a new warship this week, state media said Friday, assessing the damage as "not serious". North Korea said Thursday that "a serious accident occurred" at the Wednesday launch ceremony for the newly built 5,000-ton naval destroyer, in which sections of the bottom of the vessel were crushed -- with leader Kim Jong Un calling the mishap a "criminal act".  Technology stocks led the gains in the U.S., with Apple (AAPL) up 1.8% and Nvidia (NVDA) jumping 2.4%, as demand for AI and semiconductors remains strong. Tesla (TSLA) also rebounded, rising 3.1% after announcing better-than-expected Q2 vehicle deliveries. Global stock markets showed a mixed performance as investors weighed persistent inflation concerns against a wave of corporate earnings reports. While strong results from major tech companies helped lift some indexes, uncertainty surrounding central bank policies and the future path of interest rates kept others in check. In the U.S.,
Arsenal and Manchester City played out a dramatic 1-1 draw on Sunday, with the two Premier League rivals unable to be separated through 98 or so minutes. Erling Haaland had given the visitors an early lead, before Pep Guardiola remarkably decided to park the bus to try and sneak the win. Those efforts went up in smoke in added time as Gabriel Martinelli scored to clinch a point for the Gunners. Having both slipped up domestically already this season, this wasn't quite a 'must win' affair for either side, but definitely more of a 'must not lose'. In the end, perhaps a draw in which neither team showed much attacking endeavour will please both parties. City seemed content to sit in and create chances on the break, while Arsenal didn't exactly throw the kitchen sink at their visitors in order to force the leveller. It was a pretty just outcome and neither can really have any complaints about how it ended.
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Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Â Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant
Manchester United Vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade   Twitter: ollyzjinx01         Instagram: sir_ajirowo01  Three wins in a row. Honestly, is this the same Manchester United Ruben Amorim said were ânot ready to competeâ?  It took Amorim 47 matches to achieve three consecutive league wins. Michael Carrick has done it in just three weeks â and not against small opposition either, but by beating the top two teams in the league along the way. This isnât a fluke. Sometimes football really is simple: play players in their natural positions and trust the system.  That said, there are still concerns. The defence remains a question mark. Conceding two late goals against Fulham after leading comfortably until the 85th minute showed how quickly concentration can disappear. Heads were lost, but Benjamin Ć eĆĄkoâs late winner saved the day and sealed Carrickâs third straight league victory.  Now comes another serious test â Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs showed character last weekend, coming back from two goals down against our city rivals Manchester City to earn a 2â2 draw. That alone tells you this wonât be straightforward. On paper, itâs one of the tastiest matchups of the weekend. The January transfer window is now closed, and once again, Manchester United failed to strengthen. This was one of the few things Amorim kept pushing for â even though I never supported him.  A left winger is clearly needed, especially with the formation now changed. With Casemiro set to leave, the need for a defensive midfielder has become urgent. Anyone watching this team closely can see it: when Casemiro leaves the pitch, his presence, leadership, and aura leave with him. Ugarte canât replace that, and neither can Mainoo at this stage.  United need two defensive midfielders and a natural left winger â no debates. These must be priorities in the summer. What would have really helped Carrick was a loan signing on the left wing just to push us through the second half of the season. The board failed again. And honestly, they have to go â thatâs my verdict. Manchester United will be aiming to make it four wins from four under interim boss Michael Carrick when they welcome Spurs to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.  The last meeting between the two sides ended in a dramatic 2â2 draw back in August, with Matthijs de Ligt rescuing a point deep into stoppage time in North London.  One interesting pattern under Carrick: United are unbeaten in all nine Premier League matches this season where theyâve had less possession than their opponents (W7 D2). In fact, theyâve won all seven games where theyâve had under 45% of the ball. Compare that to just four wins in 15 matches when dominating possession, and itâs clear where this team feels more comfortable.  Confidence is flowing again around Old Trafford. United currently sit fourth in the table, one point clear of Chelsea and two ahead of Liverpool. A win this weekend would see them surpass last seasonâs 42 total points tally with 13 games still remaining.  Bruno Fernandes continues to lead by example. The captain has more assists than any other Premier League player this season (12), matching his best-ever league return. Heâs expected to operate once again in an advanced central role behind the striker. History hasnât been kind to United recently in this fixture. Theyâre winless in their last six league games against Spurs â drawing three and losing three â their joint-longest run without a win against Tottenham.  Still, the Opta supercomputer gives United a 50% chance of victory, making them favourites at Old Trafford.  Tottenham, under Thomas Frank, have enjoyed a strong recent run against United, going eight games unbeaten â the second-longest streak any team has managed against the Red Devils this century.  Spursâ season has been strange. Theyâve struggled badly at home, but showed real fight against City last weekend. After a dreadful first half, they took advantage of City easing off and clawed their way back thanks to two Dominic Solanke goals â including a fortunate but brilliant scorpion kick.  Despite that comeback, Spurs are now winless in their last six league games and sit 14th in the table â closer to the relegation zone than the top five.  Last season, Spurs won this fixture 3â0 at Old Trafford, with Van de Ven dominant at both ends. But in the Premier League era, theyâve only ever won consecutive away games here once. This feels like Unitedâs best chance to beat Spurs this season. Momentum is on our side, and with Liverpool facing Manchester City this weekend, thereâs a real opportunity to create breathing space in the top-four race. Yes, the next match after this is even tougher â West Ham away â which makes this one even more important. We have to capitalise on home advantage. Comment below with your score predictions!  Manchester United record against Tottenham: Games won: 96 Games drawn: 52 Games lost: 58    Team News: (As of today 06/02/2026) Manchester United: De ligt, Mount and Dorgu are out. Tottenham: James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Pedro Porro, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall and Kevin Danso all remain sidelined with injuries. Prediction: Only Burnley (23) and Wolves (21) have conceded more first-half goals than Tottenham (18) in the Premier League this season. Spurs are also winless in all 10 top-flight games when trailing at the break this term (D3 L7) and are unbeaten in all six when leading at half time (W5 D1), so a fast start from Frankâs men could be crucial if they wish to claim a positive result this weekend. Tottenhamâs weakness is clear. They struggle badly when trailing at half-time, and theyâve conceded far too many first-half goals this season. Start fast, be ruthless, and finish the job better than we did against Fulham â and the points should stay in Manchester. The defence still worries me, but if United attack with intent, this is there for the taking. Manchester United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur  Â
Burnley Vs Manchester United Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade   Twitter: ollyzjinx01         Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 Like Iâve said before â and Iâll say it again â this was always coming. The only surprise is how it happened. Ruben Amorim has been sacked, not purely because of results, but because he finally said what the board didnât want to hear. That post-match press conference after the 1-1 draw at Elland Road sealed his fate. Calling out the board publicly for broken promises and a lack of signings was never going to end well.  So here we are. Manchester United head to Turf Moor with Darren Fletcher in charge.  United kicked off 2026 with a 1-1 draw against Leeds, thanks to a Cunha goal in a game that honestly could have gone either way. But the football almost felt secondary. The real fire came afterward, when Amorim openly questioned the clubâs direction. That was the final straw. For me, this still doesnât change the fact that he has been one of the worst managers in the clubâs history â but the way he went says a lot about the problems higher up.  Now the big question: can United get that so-called ânew manager bounceâ and finally pick up a win at Turf Moor?  United come into this game sitting sixth in the table. Depending on other results, a win could push them up to fourth or fifth. On paper, this is another must-win game against a struggling side. But weâve all watched this team long enough to know that nothing is ever straightforward. The manager may have changed, but the board and the system are still very much the same.  There is some good news. Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are available, though both will likely have their minutes managed. Even limited, their presence alone raises Unitedâs chances. The question is whether that will be enough.  Off the pitch, the noise continues. INEOS are proving to be a difficult group to work under, but itâs being reported that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is open to returning as caretaker until the end of the season. If that happens, he could even be back in the dugout for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.  So let me ask you directly â are you happy with Ole coming back, or are you firmly in the ânever go back to your exâ camp?  Personally, Iâm not a fan of the idea. It feels like a distraction tactic. INEOS clearly donât want to spend in January, and bringing back Ole â a fan favourite â feels like a move designed to calm supporters rather than fix real problems. The plan might be short-term, but we all know how quickly narratives change. Suddenly the Class of â92 will be defending him again, and weâll be right back where we started.  What this club needs is an experienced, elite manager with clear attacking ideas and enough authority that the board canât interfere. Someone in the mould of Luis Enrique â a big personality, clear identity, no nonsense. But I want to hear your thoughts. Who would you want?  For now, Darren Fletcher takes charge in gameweek 21. Amorim leaves United sixth, level on points with Chelsea and just three points off the top four. Champions League football is still very much achievable, but serious issues remain â especially defensively.  Away from home, United were a mess under Amorim. Just two clean sheets in 24 Premier League away games tells its own story. The current run of 15 straight away matches without a clean sheet is the clubâs worst since the late 1970s. Even against teams in the relegation zone, United rarely looked secure.  At least Fletcher has one positive to lean on: Matheus Cunha. Heâs in good form, with three goals in his last five league games, and he has a habit of hurting newly promoted sides.  Burnley, however, have problems of their own. Scott Parker could be missing up to 10 players. Top scorer Zian Flemming is unlikely to feature, and Josh Cullenâs ACL injury has been a huge blow. Their form tells the rest of the story â winless in 11 league games and firmly in relegation trouble.  Burnley have picked up just 12 points from 20 matches and sit 19th, six points from safety. Thatâs relegation form, no debate.  So the questions remain: Do these United players finally step up? Was Amorim holding them back? Can Darren Fletcher spark even a short-term reaction? Drop your score predictions below. Manchester United record against Burnley: Games won: 68 Games drawn: 25 Games lost: 45   Team News: (As of today 06/01/2026) Burnley: Josh Cullen, Zeki Amdouni, Connor Roberts, Joe Worrall, Zian Flemming and Jordan Beyer are ruled out. Axel Tuanzebe, Hannibal Mejbri, and Lyle Diallo are unavailable due to AFCON duty. Manchester United: Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, and Matthijs de Ligt are out injured. Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo are unavailable due to AFCON duty.  Prediction: Defensively, United are still fragile, and with no real movement expected in January, I honestly see more struggles ahead. Staying in the top 10 might even come down to luck. That said, anything other than a win here is unacceptable. Lose this, and INEOS deserve every bit of criticism coming their way. Burnley 1-2 Manchester United     Â
Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs Manchester United Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade   Twitter: ollyzjinx01         Instagram: sir_ajirowo01  Manchester United and Wolves close out Gameweek 15 on Monday, December 8th, 2025âa meeting between two sides desperate for consistency, even if their situations differ sharply. Wolves still havenât won a single league match this season, sitting on just two points, yet Unitedâs inconsistency means nothing is guaranteed. The Red Devils can move up to fifth with a win, but can these players maintain 80% focus for 90 straight minutes? United dropped points again on Thursday, drawing 1â1 with West Ham after taking the lead through Diogo Dalot. Instead of pushing for a second goal, United sat back and defended from the 60th minute onwardâa decision Amorim reinforced by substituting Zirkzee and Cunha for Ugarte and Mount. Despite trying to shift responsibility onto player mentality in his post-match comments, itâs becoming increasingly clear that Amorim is the wrong fit for Manchester United. His decisions lack ambition, his in-game control remains questionable, and the team repeatedly collapses under pressure.  Behind the scenes, tension is growing. The Glazersâstill the majority shareholdersâare reportedly unhappy with Amorimâs impact on both performances and commercial value. They believe poor results affect the clubâs global brand. INEOS, however, is still backing the Portuguese coach since they oversee football operations. Sources suggest Amorim is being closely monitored throughout December, and his future may depend on these festive fixtures. The Glazers seem ready to pull the trigger, but INEOS is resistingâfor now.  Wolves have been given a 25.6% chance of earning their first win of the season, while Manchester United win 51.2% of Optaâs simulations. United lost this fixture last season but havenât suffered consecutive league defeats at Molineux since 1980. Despite broader frustrations, Unitedâs away form is surprisingly strong. They have gone four Premier League away games unbeaten (W2, D2), after previously enduring an eight-match winless run on the road. Their last longer away streak was a seven-match run in 2021â22.  Monday marks Matheus Cunhaâs return to Molineux following his move to Manchester. His record at Wolvesâ home ground is excellentâ11 goal contributions in his last 12 Premier League games there. United also have Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo entering the match in good form, while Wolves struggle desperately. Rob Edwardsâ side is now winless in 14 games (D2, L12) and sitting on the worst start to a Premier League season since Sheffield United in 2020â21.  Their last two matches ended in narrow 1â0 defeats to Forest and Aston Villa, making it seven straight league losses. To add to their problems, they have failed to score in their last five league matchesâone of the bleakest spells in their top-flight history. Yet Wolves fans will remember last season well: they beat Manchester United home and away. United have not lost back-to-back matches at Molineux for 45 years, but history can repeat itself if this team switches off again.  Given Wolvesâ terrible formâbut also their double over United last seasonâwould you accept a 1â1 draw on Monday? Or do you believe this struggling United side must take all three points?  Drop your score predictions below! Manchester United record against Wolves: Games won: 56 Games drawn: 20 Games lost: 39   Team News: (As of today 07/12/2025,) Wolves: Joao Gomes. Marshall Munetsi, Ladislav Krejci, Fer Lopez, Hugo Bueno, Rodrigo Gomes, Leon Chiwome and Daniel Bentley are out of this game. Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko, Harry Maguire and De Ligt are out for this game.   Prediction: United always seem to collapse whenever the teams above them drop points and they have a chance to climb into the top fourâbut this is a match they have no excuse to drop. A win is not only expected⊠it is necessary. Anything less should make âAmorim Outâ a serious conversation. Wolves 1-3 Manchester United.   Â