Wolves vs Manchester United live updates: Goalless start in latest ...

How does that first 45 look from a numbers point of view? Here you go…

HT: Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

I have to say, I’m a little surprised there was that big a gap in possession — and it shows up well on Wolves that they’ve used the ball well when they have had it.

Both sides are favouring attacks down their left side, but the overwhelming majority of this game is taking place in the middle third of the pitch. That is something unlikely to change until we see a goal.

This was probably as close as we came to a goal — a set-piece delivery that required Andre Onana to be strong and clear from just under his own crossbar, under intense pressure from Jorgen Strand Larsen.

This is also my favourite photo from that opening half.

That was a first half where neither side registered a big chance (as defined by Opta).

My pre-match fears both sides could cancel each other out have not gone away. Yet.

HT: Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

And there it is. That was entertaining, if a little short on really good chances.

I do wonder what either side has in them to win this one?

So far, both may well be happy enough with a point.

45+1' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

Vitor Pereira seems to be writing A LOT of notes down from the dugout ahead of his first half-time team talk at Molineux.

We’ve got only one added minute to come ahead of it too.

42' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

Ugarte is playing well, as he generally has been of late. He’s somewhere in the vicinity every time Wolves have a dangerous attack, and often snuffing them out too.

The only worry is that United are relying on him a little too much.

39' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

I like how Wolves are working this, picking their switches and making them count.

Ait-Nouri gets to the byline well and wins a corner, which takes Onana desperately clearing off the line to keep the game goalless.

Then Semedo has a go from miles out, and the deflected shot swings just wide of the far post.

Wolves look confident and United are flat right now.

34' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

While Dalot is undoubtedly less comfortable on the left than on his favoured right side, it’s giving him the freedom to drift inside and ghost into goalscoring positions in the left-half space.

He’s already threatened twice from that area, and will continue to do so if Wolves’ defence fail to pick up his movement from deep.

32' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

I wondered if I was over-egging the mist rolling through the Molineux air before kick-off.

All I will add now on the subject, is that we’re still getting more of it. And that doesn’t feel ideal.

Meanwhile, Wolves have their first booking as Joao Gomes has a little swipe at a turning Fernandes.

That’s Gomes’ sixth booking of the campaign, having already served a one-match ban.

29' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

In the main, Pereira’s 5-2-3 system looks more clearly defined than that of his predecessor Gary O’Neil, whose team often switched systems during games.

The notable exception is captain Nelson Semedo, who is often drifting from his right wing-back position to do a partial man-marking job on his Portugal team-mate, Bruno Fernandes.

26' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

Something of a camera save from Onana, as Semedo crosses from the right and Strand Larsen heads down into the ground — probably a little too much.

The ball bounces up and is heading in, but it doesn’t quite have the height to clear the United goalkeeper, who rises to tip the effort well clear.

Still, it looked good.

Vitor Pereira will be pretty happy with this so far. Wolves are doing an excellent job of countering quickly, as well as pressing and winning possession high.

They have also looked relatively strong at the back. So far.

23' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

The brightest move so far for United ended with a curling effort from Dalot, which required an excellent save from Sa to keep out.

It all started with a bright first-time pass down the line from Yoro, setting Amad off on the right wing.

20' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

Better from Man United now, with patient build-up leading Bruno Fernandes to tee up a shot for DIogo Dalot from outside the box.

It curls back towards Jose Sa, and the goalkeeper parries clear.

Moments earlier, Fernandes was booked — and again it was Cunha causing the issues.

17' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

Matheus Cunha is very much ‘on it’ so far. Some confident turns in tight areas and an outrageous drag-back just now, while pivoting away from a couple of United defenders.

He is showing what Wolves will miss if, as expected, he gets a ban from the FA for his antics here after last week’s defeat to Ipswich.

15' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

Big signs of life from Wolves. Cunha has already broken forward once before being caught and countered by Mazraoui.

Back come Wolves again down the right this time, and the square ball into the box is really inviting from Doherty with Strand Larsen waiting in the middle.

But Onana grabs the ball and snuffs out the danger.

We’ve not had many chances here, but this is a pretty engaging game so far.

12' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

All eyes on Amad Diallo here? He’s been the shining light for Manchester United in recent matches.

He takes on Joao Gomes and is brought down on the United right. It earns a decent crossing position from the free kick, but the Wolves back line deal with the deliveries well enough and can eventually enjoy the sweet relief of a goal kick.

7' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

As expected, Yoro and Martinez line up either side of Maguire in the back three, with Mazraoui on the right and Dalot on the left.

Amorim is directing Yoro to be aggressive, pushing up ahead of the wing-backs and in line with the midfield when Wolves have possession in their half.

4' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

Just 3:51 into the game and Leny Yoro has pulled back Matheus Cunha, earning him a yellow card.

That is a pretty early warning in anyone’s book.

United had started well here and there are definitely spaces for them to exploit, but it’s all a little erratic from both sides so far.

1' Wolves 0-0 Manchester Utd

Let the fun at Molineux begin. Manuel Ugarte gets us underway in the Boxing Day gloom at Molineux.