Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Manchester United to Molineux on Saturday evening, for what should be an entertaining FA Cup sixth round game. A place in the semi-finals is at stake, so both sides should be well motivated. Wolves have won the FA Cup four times in their history, but their last win in the final came in 1960, a time when Manchester United had won the trophy only twice. Things have changed since then, of course, and now United have won the FA Cup 12 times, one less then record holders Arsenal.
The last time Wolves won a quarter-final was back in 1998, so there will be a real sense of occasion about this game for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team. United are appearing in their fifth successive quarter final, have won 17 and lost just two of their last 20 FA Cup games, a run which dates back to January 2015.
Wolves v Manchester United Prediction: Wolves 1-2 United
United may have to do without Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku for this game, as he has a sore foot. There are plenty of other attacking options for United gaffer Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer to pick from, though. That attacking power is primarily why we think that the Red Devils will edge this game 2-1. It will be a fiery and passionate encounter, though, and United will not find it easy to beat Wolves at home. Errors may decide the ultimate outcome, and the decisive goal may not come until the closing minutes. It would be no surprise to us to see Wolves take the lead early on.
Our recommended tip: United, both score
Our featured tip for this game comes from Coral, who are offering odds of 18/5 on Manchester United to win and both teams to score. This matches with our prediction of a 2-1 win for United, and also gives you a little bit of flexibility when it comes to the exact final score. United head into this game on the back of a 2-0 defeat in the league at Arsenal, and have conceded goals in their last four games, despite winning three of those games. We therefore think that they will concede again, but win this time.
Previous matches
This is the 100th meeting between the teams in all competitions in their history. There have been eight previous meetings in the FA Cup, and United have won four of those games, with Wolves winning twice. This is the fourth quarter-final match between the teams. United won 5-3 at Molineux in 1965 and 3-2 away in 1976 in a replay, after the original game at Old Trafford ended 1-1. The most recent FA Cup meeting was in 2006, when United won 3-0 at Molineux. The two sides have played once in the Premier League this season, drawing 1-1 at Old Trafford in September.
Top 3 FA Cup Bookies
Players to watch: Diogo Jota & Paul Pogba
Wolves’ Portuguese striker Diogo Jota has revealed this week that many in Portugal, including members of his own family, believed that the 22-year-old had made a mistake signing for newly promoted Wanderers in the off season. He has been rewarded for his fine form at Molineux this season with his first call-up for the Portugal team, so his decision to move the Midlands has been vindicated. He has scored six goals and provided four assists in all competitions in 2018/19.
French World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba looked to be on his way out of Old Trafford while Jose Mourinho was manager. Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over as gaffer, though, he has looked like a different player. Now operating just behind the striker in a number 10 role, Pogba has been given the freedom to express himself by Solskjaer, with positive results. Wolves will need to watch him closely.