Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Premier League festive predictions: Chris Sutton v DJ & producer Eats Everything

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Molineux, 17:30 GMT

I usually get a bit of feedback on social media when I predict a Manchester United defeat but it has been very quiet since I said they would lose to Bournemouth on Sunday.

I did not think the scoreline would be 3-0 again, but the reason I went with the Cherries is because they won at Old Trafford last season and, since then, they have improved while United have gone backwards. So, was it really such a surprise?

Moving on to this game, and the same thinking applies. Why would anyone look at Ruben Amorim’s side and back them to beat Wolves? I can’t think of any compelling reason why anything will be different here.

I feel sorry for Amorim because he arrived with such excitement around his appointment but, only a few weeks later, he must be fully aware of how big a job he faces to turn things around.

United have wasted a fortune to build this squad and, as Amorim keeps saying, he is still trying to find his best XI. This is a trial period for him but he has got to deal with issues like Marcus Rashford’s future as well. He has got a lot to sort out.

It is hard to know what Wolves will be like either, though. One of the positives from their win over Leicester in Vitor Pereira’s first game was a clean sheet but you have to remember that the Foxes are bang average.

So, as poor as United have been, I am not going for Wolves to win this either. Instead, I think this will be a tight game and it has got draw written all over it.

Sutton’s prediction: 1-1

Eats Everything’s prediction: I was hoping our win in the derby would boost our form but obviously that wasn’t the case against Bournemouth. Wolves got a good win in in Pereira’s first match in charge and playing them in his first home game is going to be tough, but of course I am going to back us.

I’d like to think if Rashford or Alejandro Garnacho are on the bench then one of them will come on and be itching to do something, and make the difference. 0-2

Eats Everything on United’s season: I really like Ruben Amorim, I think he’s an absolute dude. Erik ten Hag was similar when he came in, and ruled with an iron fist, but I think communication was his problem. Ten Hag wanted to do it his way when he arrived, and it didn’t work, but instead of sticking to his guns he tried to make the system work around the players rather than the other way round.

It worked for a while in his first season, until Casemiro’s form dropped off, but the team was never really the same after that and Ten Hag did not look very convincing on the touchline. Amorim is already articulating things a lot better and even if results have not been great, I do think we will get better.

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