Pablo Sarabia's glorious second-half free kick handed Wolverhampton Wanderers a 1-0 victory against Manchester United in Sunday's Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
The Spaniard's set-piece heroics in the 77th minute made it a very successful afternoon for the visitors, who have now been victorious in each of their last five league games, but it was another hugely disappointing league fixture for Ruben Amorim's side.
Man United have now been beaten in two of their last three league matches, with the result leaving them in 14th spot in the Premier League table, level on points with 15th-placed Wolves.
The Red Devils cannot be relegated this season and are also not in European contention, so the majority of their focus is being placed on the Europa League, but this proved to be a 15th league defeat of the campaign for the 20-time English champions.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Wolves have done a Premier League double over Man United for the first time in their history, while it is the first time that a league double over the Red Devils has been achieved since the 1979-80 campaign.
Amorim, as promised, made changes to his side, but it was a familiar story for the Red Devils, as their problems in the final third of the field were once again on full display during the drab affair at Old Trafford.
There were positives, with debutant Tyler Fredricson putting in a man-of-the-match performance, while Harry Amass was also excellent as a left-sided wing-back; the future is bright at Old Trafford, the present not so much.
Wolves entered the game off the back of four straight league wins, and they are now level on points with a Man United side that are having their worst-ever Premier League campaign.
It is Europa League or bust for Man United this season, and it is likely that more pain in the league will arrive before the end of the campaign, as Amorim will continue to rotate to keep his star individuals fresh for European action.
MAN UNITED VS. WOLVES HIGHLIGHTS
77th min: Man United 0-1 Wolves (Pablo Sarabia)
Wolves make the breakthrough in the 77th minute of the match, as Sarabia finds the back of the net with an excellent free kick; it is brilliant technique from the Spaniard, and the visitors have the lead at Old Trafford.
MAN OF THE MATCH - TYLER FREDRICSON
© Imago
The main positive for Man United on Sunday was the display of debutant Fredricson, who did not miss a step for the Red Devils.
The 20-year-old won three aerial duels and made four tackles, while he finished with a pass success rate of 92%, and the Englishman deserves more first-team action in the Premier League between now and the end of the campaign.
MAN UNITED VS. WOLVES MATCH STATS
Possession: Man United 60%-50% Wolves
Shots: Man United 12-4 Wolves
Shots on target: Man United 2-2 Wolves
Corners: Man United 9-2 Wolves
Fouls: Man United 11-19 Wolves
BEST STATS
No player on the pitch completed more passes (39) or made more ball recoveries (6) than Tyler Fredricson in the first half against Wolves.
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 20, 2025
Impressive debut so far. ✅ pic.twitter.com/rRFHGkt0xy
Harry Amass completed more final third passes (14) than any other player on the pitch in the first half against Wolves.
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 20, 2025
Like a duck to water. 🦆 pic.twitter.com/CmgyIjmWnZ
FT. 1-0. Wolves' first league double over Man Utd since 1979-80
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) April 20, 2025
8 - Manchester United have lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63 (9). Unfamiliar. pic.twitter.com/Ow5oZ8H9Gb
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 20, 2025
2 - Pablo Sarabia is just the second ever visiting player to score a winning goal via a direct free kick against Manchester United in the Premier League, after Danny Murphy for Liverpool in December 2000. Whip. pic.twitter.com/MBMOGtNwr5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 20, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Man United will continue their Premier League campaign away to Bournemouth next Sunday before visiting Athletic Bilbao for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on May 1.
As for Wolves, Vitor Pereira's side will be bidding to return to continue their excellent form they welcome Leicester City to Molineux on Saturday, before opening May with another trip to Manchester to tackle Manchester City.
Matt Law
