Wolverhampton Wanderers

Now, what about those who may have had a less enjoyable 2025?

Manchester United continue to try to find their feet under Ruben Amorim. And while there have been glimmers of progress in recent weeks, a torrid first half of the year has left them with much room for improvement (and a draw with Wolves to end 2025 only added to the questions).

Bournemouth and Fulham both seem to have found consistency in their ability to be inconsistent.

There have been bursts of form from both, but also bouts of disappointment they might rather forget.

As for Nottingham Forest, 2025 may have been the year they returned to Europe for the first time in nearly three decades, but when it came to results in the league, particularly this season, it has been more of one to forget.

Under their third head coach of the season, they will hope 2026 does not bring the return of Championship football.

Like Forest, Tottenham's 12 months has been memorable for both the good and the bad.

A first trophy in 17 years was secured in the Europa League, but it has been far from impressive in the Premier League, managing just 11 wins from 37 matches and some pressure already building on boss Thomas Frank.

One of the most notable things about the bottom end of the calendar year table is the presence of all three promoted teams, despite two of the three having played a game less than the relegated clubs of last season.

With Leeds nine points better off and Sunderland 17, it highlights the disparity in how well this year's promoted sides have done in comparison to the previous three.

For the Black Cats, it has been a dream return to the top flight, including a recent win over Tyne-Wear rivals Newcastle, and in this season's table they find themselves just two points off fifth.

After overcoming a difficult patch, Leeds are also enjoying their return to the top table, slowly pulling themselves away from the danger spots.

It has been more of a struggle for Scott Parker's Burnley, but they will not lose hope with still half a campaign to go.

After recent successes with European football, domestically things have become a harder watch for West Ham supporters as they struggle to find the balance between good football and much-needed results

Then there is Wolves - and fans may want to look away.

Despite playing 20 Premier League games more, the West Midlands side accumulated only one point more than Sunderland across the year.

A win this term still eludes them and safety in 2026 appears a distant dream.

Check out how the top half of the table looked in the post above

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Best memory and why?

My best memory of 2025 feels like it happened a lifetime ago: the six-game winning run in April. We won every match that month, including big victories over Spurs and Manchester United. For a few weeks, it felt like momentum, belief and pride were back. That winning feeling has since disappeared, which is why that run stands out even more.

If I am picking a highlight from the more difficult months, it has to be Mateus Mane. He has been a breath of fresh air and it is starting to look like a real partnership is building with Tolu Arokodare.

Worst moment and why?

We have not had one worst moment, we have had an entire season of them. The struggle has not shocked Wolves fans, because the signs were there in pre-season. The warning lights were flashing early and sadly the season has followed that pattern. The summer transfer window was key to the problems.

If I could drink a New Year's brew with one member of our squad/management it would be…

Nathan Shi, the new executive director. I would want a frank, honest conversation about what he thinks has gone wrong on and off the pitch. I would ask what the plan is to steady the club, put us back on an even keel and take us forward. Most of all, I would want clarity on Fosun's true intentions as owners. Are we trying to compete again or simply trying to survive on the cheapest possible terms?

The thing that's infuriated me in 2025 is…

The mentality. The moments where we have switched off, conceded soft goals and handed away points. Too many games have turned on a lack of focus, and we have paid for it again and again.

My gut tells me 2026 will bring…

The Championship. Relegation is almost a certainty now and a hard reset in the summer feels inevitable. The only hope is that we use it to rebuild with purpose, with players who want the shirt, and a clear plan the fans can actually believe in.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

United fans

Rob: Absolute rubbish AGAIN! How much longer do we have to put up with this second-rate manager? He seems utterly clueless.

Carl: Poor performance and yet another backwards step. The build-up was too slow and we allowed Wolves far too much time on the ball. Lack of squad depth is going to cost us and needs to be addressed. Ruben Amorim is saying all the right things but can he back them up with positive action? Life is a rollercoaster for us long-suffering United fans but there are chinks of light so we need to stay behind our team.

Clark: No urgency, no purpose and no real surprise with this United squad. So disappointed that they can't show up every week and put in a decent performance.

Christine: It is simply not good enough and that includes both the players and the manager. United had plenty of chances with Benjamin Sesko having most of them but the team formation was again strange. Back to a 3-4-3 and you could see how very confusing it is for the players who were also in changed positions. Amorim needs to move away from worrying about what pundits and the media think and play a consistent way that makes sense with the players he has at his disposal.

Wolves fans

Eric: Fantastic result at Old Trafford. Wolves should never be in the position they are in the Premier League. We are only at the halfway point so still possible to get out of relegation zone but it is going to take a lot more of games like this and hopefully with a few wins as well. Come on Wolves, you can do this.

Josh: We've got a point lads - the performance doesn't matter. Genuinely feels great to see us compete.

Jon: A much better display and something to work on. Fairly obvious where we need to recruit in January and we'll see where Fosun's ambitions really lie. A special mention for Mateus Mane - a light in the dark

Simon: Our best chance to win a game and not enough conviction in attack. Hwang Hee-chan, Santiago Bueno and to some extent Mane went missing second half and Tolu Arokodare who held the ball up well was replaced by Jorgen Strand Larson who kept falling over his own shadow. Sell as many as we can in January, play the kids to give them Premier League minutes and then sell them in the summer for a rebuilding war chest.

Wolves boss Rob Edwards speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "Least we deserved. Good performance, progress. That's been slow in terms of results. But our performances, especially away from home, have been good and we deserved more.

"We wanted to win the game. The away games we've had we should've taken more but we haven't. We can take belief and confidence. The challenge now is to to that at home.

"We've got three points all season, it's been really difficult so far. We've showed character, got one back against Arsenal and Liverpool and tonight again showed good character and quality. Good chances in the first half and we could've taken more. When I watch it back maybe I'll be frustrated we've not taken more but the lads are working hard you can see that.

"You need results for the belief and buy-in. The lads are with us and on board but there's nothing like results to get everyone on board. They are fighting - we don't look like a team with only three points but the reality is that's where we are. Keep continuing to build, we're doing the right things."

Did you know?

• Wolves are the first Premier League side to go 23 matches without a victory since Derby County in the 2007-08 campaign (32). The Rams ended the season with an all-time low 11 points but had four more points after 19 games (7) than Wolves do currently (3).

• Wolves are only the second side in top-flight history to go 19 matches from the start of a season without winning, along with Bolton in 1902-03. They are the first in any of England's top four divisions since Macclesfield Town in League Two in 2006-07.

Listen to Edwards on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

There is not much to be taken out of this wretched season so far, but Wolves fans did not let that spoil their latest trip to the North West.

Four days previously, they had seen their team lose at Liverpool by the odd goal in three, which is what happened at Arsenal on 13 December, when the Gunners got their winner in stoppage time.

As Wolves' away game before that ended with a single-goal defeat at Aston Villa, there was reason for optimism before Tuesday night and, as the home side labored, the visitors' confidence that defeat could be avoided began to grow.

By the end it was almost party time, even if they did not get the win they craved.

Ladislav Krejci was a particular threat and Yerson Mosquera looked solid at the back, with Jose Sa rescuing them when he messed up.

At a time of so much upheaval at Molineux, including the exit of chairman Jeff Shi, the big question for owners Fosun is whether they sanction spending next month even though it is impossible to imagine it can prevent a return to the Championship after eight seasons as a Premier League club.

Or will the owners keep their powder dry for the summer, when a reset will be required.

Either way, they need to show faith in Rob Edwards, who has brought organisation to Wolves. Now, he has a point as well.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester United's performance

What did you make of Wolves' display?

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

Joshua Zirkzee starts for Manchester United as Mason Mount misses out through injury.

Mount's absence means Ruben Amorim is without eight senior players for tonight's game due to a combination of injury and international calls.

Teenage striker Chido Obi is named on the bench for the first time this season. Tyrell Malacia is United's only outfield substitute over the age of 20.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu, Zirkzee, Cunha, Sesko.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Malacia, Yoro, Chido Obi, Fredricson, J Fletcher, T Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato.

Jhon Arias and Jackson Tchatchoua come in for Andre and Santiago Bueno for the visitors.

Wolves are on an awful run of 12 successive defeats. Their last away win came at Old Trafford in April, since when they have got one point in 11 games on their travels.

Wolves XI: Jose Sa, Mosquera, Tchatchoua, Krejci, Doherty, Arias, Joao Gomes, H Bueno, Mane, Hwang Hee-chan, Arokodare.

Substitutes: Johnstone, Moller-Wolfe, Strand Larsen, Hoever, Fer Lopez, Gonzalez, Ojinnaka, Olagunju, Sutherland.

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

A remodelled Manchester United take on beleaguered Wolves at Old Trafford.

There was something of a Premier League Christmas miracle at Old Trafford on 26 December as Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim started with a back four for the first time.

Amorim famously said in September that even the Pope could not persuade him to change his favoured 3-4-3 set-up, but his switch in formation paid off against Newcastle. The Red Devils had just 24% possession in the second half but held on for victory - and a rare clean sheet.

In fact, it was just their second in the Premier League this season, and they will now be aiming for consecutive league shutouts for the first time in the Amorim era, with the last such occasion coming in September 2024 under Erik ten Hag.

United will be delighted they were able to win without captain and talisman Bruno Fernandes, but will surely be worried that their already-weakened squad – who were without seven senior players through injury and international duty last weekend – suffered a further blow when Mason Mount went off at half-time against Newcastle.

United lost their last league game of the year in both 2023 and 2024, but with the side back on the cusp of the top four, and facing the worst team in the top flight, there is plenty of reason for optimism for both Tuesday evening and the new year.

Wolves haunted by more unwanted records

Wolves fans must feel like not a game goes past at the moment without their team challenging for new unwanted records. Last time out at Liverpool, their 18th consecutive game without a victory set a new mark for the worst winless start to a Premier League season.

Things don't get any easier as they move from Anfield to Old Trafford, looking to avoid equalling the most Premier League defeats in a calendar year of 26 held by Ipswich Town in 1994.

But if they can avoid a 26th loss, they can at least start 2026 on a more positive note. There have been small glimmers of hope in December: they were unlucky to concede an injury-time goal at Arsenal earlier this month, while they made Liverpool work hard for a win at the weekend.

And in teenager Mateus Mane, who made his first league start against the Reds on Saturday, they look to have unearthed a future star.

That must give them hope that they can at least avoid another defeat, which would be a 12th in a row and put them on their own in third place in the Premier League record books.

However, another failure to win would see other dreaded milestones hover into view, including Bolton's 1902-03 top-flight record of 22 matches from the start of the season without a win.

Lots of Manchester United fans had a pop at me again for my negativity about their team before they played Newcastle.

I know Ruben Amorim's side proved me wrong by winning that game, but I think those fans would have to admit it was a very negative performance.

Despite that, I'm going to back Manchester United to win this week. Maybe that will bring some positivity back to the team too - they need it.

If it were down to me, though, I would relegate Wolves now and just chop them out of the league. They are more lambs than wolves at the moment and to have only picked up two points from 18 games is absolutely pathetic.

They are still scrapping to get something for Rob Edwards, but they are desperately poor.

Edwards has lost all seven of his games since taking charge and has only seen his side score three goals. Surely he wishes he had stayed at Middlesbrough?

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Wolves are interested in Hajduk Split's 22-year-old Canada defensive midfielder Niko Sigur. (Fabrizio Romano, external)

Meanwhile, Everton have ruled out a move for Wolves' 25-year-old Norway forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, who has also been linked to West Ham. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 20:15 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• In terms of injury news, defender Yerson Mosquera "felt a bit of cramp" last time out but "should be OK" to feature.

• Andre is suspended after receiving a yellow card in Wolves' 2-1 defeat by Liverpool. The defensive midfielder will be a "big miss" because "when he plays the way he currently is, that is when the team need him".

• On further team news: "Santiago [Bueno] took a knock as well so [Ladislav] Krejci might be forced to play at the back. If that's the case, we will have to find another solution in midfield and see how everyone rocks up in training."

• On centre-back Bueno recently reclaiming his position in the starting XI: "He has put in a couple of really good performances. He knows the reasons why we went for what we went for, but he is playing really well now and I've been really pleased with him."

• They will "learn from" their recent outing against Ruben Amorim's side earlier this month, when Wolves ended their 540-minute wait for a goal but shipped four at the other end at Molineux.

• He explained: "It was a night where we were able to learn a lot about ourselves. We made some mistakes that sped up their attacks, their players had confidence from that, and they opened us up too many times."

• A few members of his coaching staff were present at Manchester United's Boxing Day fixture against Newcastle United, and the rest of the staff and squad watched the match "while having dinner".

• On how he plans to get a first Wolves win of the season: "We will see how we are in terms of numbers, with people being away plus suspensions and injuries. It has been quite a tough three days, going to Anfield and Old Trafford, but we will certainly be able to learn bits from these games."

• He believes his side "can compete" in the Premier League, but at the moment they are "shooting themselves in the foot" and are "unable to recover from that". He added: "The players have shown me they are capable in moments of games, but we haven't seen that for a complete game yet."

• On how he is protecting the morale of his players: "It has been a long period since a win for them. I've been here six weeks and I'm fed up of it so some of them will be feeling a little bit rough."

• More than anything, he said he is looking for his players to "find more of a ruthless edge" in matches.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Stuart: A good performance on a highly emotional day for both clubs. Two lovely goals from Liverpool, particularly Florian Wirtz's which was very Diogo Jota-like. Ekitike had some great touches and Milos Kerkez and Wirtz linked up well for the whole game. But it still required a Bradley interception late on to secure the three points.

Keith: Slow, predictable and boring. I know there are a few players not available for various reasons but there's no energy in the play. Well done to Wirtz on getting his first goal.

Seth: Job done but uncertain performance. Dominant first half with Wirtz and Ekitike as bright sparks. Atrocious second half. Lack of energy, desire and intensity. Ibrahima Konate is always at the crime scene. Three points is the key.

Fraser: First half was good but second half not so much. We need to work on defending set-pieces, on holding leads, and putting games to bed. That being said, a win is a win and we'll take the three points. On a positive note, Wirtz was excellent and his performances lately deserved a goal. Glad to see it's now all starting to click for him and he is looking like the player he was last season - and he's only going to get better.

Wolves fans

Wol: Another defeat but we showed that we can compete at this level. We saw a star in Mateus Mane and he will be a big player in the Championship next season. Don't know how many of the current squad will be here then but we need to buy in January for next season.

Steve: The team is desperately short of confidence and quality but they gave everything, especially in the second half, which is all you can ask.

Graham: Again, another good second half after a poor first. Liverpool would have been there for the taking if we still had Matheus Cunha. Hopefully a few decent transfers and we could still survive.

Roger: The worse bunch of Premier League players ever assembled at Wolves. Behind the scenes, I am sure they will be making arrangements for the Championship next season.

Adam Cottier
Final Score reporter at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves' eight-year stay in the Premier League may well be destined to come to a conclusion, but amid the gloom of a torrid season they showed bravery at Anfield.

The second half performance, in particular, must rank as one of their best in this campaign. Clearly the bar for such improvement is set very low.

In amongst it all was a fearless-looking teenage prospect who must at least give Wolves' supporters some hope for the future.

Mateus Mane was handed his first Premier League start by Rob Edwards and he did not let his manager down.

The Portuguese-born forward, recruited from Rochdale in 2024, was not shy in giving his team a bit of the potency they have been so badly lacking this season.

He presented evidence against Liverpool that he can run well with the ball and take on defenders - his poise and balance is strong and his movement caused Liverpool's defence concern. Twice in the first half, attacking Anfield's Kop End, he might have scored.

Mane took responsibility to help his team as they threatened an unlikely point away to the champions - and that's what Wolves need if they are to avoid becoming the worst Premier League team on record.

It seems unlikely Mane will lose his place after an eye-catching performance.

I doubt I was alone in thinking the 18-year-old looked like a player with rich talent and potential as he emerged on the big stage.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-1 Brighton

• Liverpool 2-1 Wolves

• Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa

Aadam Patel
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves may be heading to the Championship at this rate but they can take plenty of positives from this display against Liverpool.

Just as in defeat at Arsenal two weeks ago, they made their hosts work hard for the three points and the way their season has gone, that alone is a good sign.

Wolves battled well and, despite spending much of the game camped in their own half, asked plenty of questions whenever they had the ball.

In 18-year-old Mateus Mane, they have a fearless talent who showed glimpses of why Rob Edwards trusted him with a start at Anfield.

At 2-0, Liverpool could have run away with it but the visitors played without fear and ensured that there was a nervous energy around Anfield for most of the second half.

Liverpool's set-piece problems were exposed again when Hugo Bueno prodded in after Tolu Arokodare got the better of Ibrahima Konate.

The table makes for difficult reading for Wolves fans with just two points from 18 games but this was certainly one of their more encouraging performances this season.

Wolves boss Rob Edwards spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's defeat by Liverpool: "It's frustrating. Liverpool can force you back and we weren't able to keep it on the transition. You can concede a goal and then to concede again after a minute is criminal. We adjusted Mane's position, who I thought was brilliant. We didn't win the game but we won the second half.

"[Jeremie] Frimpong has amazing speed on the outside and we had numbers back. The second goal was frustrating. We didn't win enough duels and we didn't compete well enough. We got caught for the second goal. The reaction from them was excellent. We got stronger as the half went on.

On Mateus Mane: "I thought he was excellent. A big plus for us. It's about getting the timing right for when he starts and he's earned it.

"We're trying. The staff are working really hard and the players are giving everything. They're not caving in and going under. They're trying and there are signs of improvement there. This game is about points and we've not been able to get them."

Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare also spoke to BBC MOTD: "Another defeat but the second half was way better than the first. We scored, created more chances, had more of the ball and played more like a team - and I think that is the positive we have to take into the next game."

On Rob Edwards' message at half-time: "First, he said we have to get our heads into the game because we conceded two goals quickly, and then he said we have the quality to keep the ball, play football and win our duels - and that's what we did in the second half."

Did Wolves try to exploit Liverpool's weakness from set-pieces? "We worked on everything: set-pieces, playing, duels, second balls. We worked on that. I don't want to say we were lucky, it was a good cross from Andre and we were prepared to score."

On the task of facing Manchester United at Old Trafford next: "Of course it's not easy playing here at Anfield and then going to Old Trafford - but the teams don't really matter, we're going to try and go into that game how we finished this game."

Did you know?

• Only Ipswich Town in 1994 (26) have lost more Premier League games in a calendar year than Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2025, with today their 25th loss this year.

• Wolves have failed to win any of their opening 18 Premier League games this season (D2 L16) – only Bolton Wanderers in 1902-03 have endured a longer wait before their first win of a top-flight campaign in England (23rd game).

Hear more from Edwards on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of Wolves' display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Arne Slot makes two changes. Federico Chiesa makes his first Premier League start of the season for Liverpool.

The Italian comes in for Dominik Szoboszlai, who is absent from the squad. Jeremie Frimpong comes in as the other change from Liverpool's win at Tottenham with Conor Bradley on the bench.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Chiesa, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Bradley, Gakpo, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Lucky

Rob Edwards makes four changes from the Wolves side that lost to Brentford last week, with Mateus Mane making his first Premier League start.

Wolves XI: Sa; Mosquera, Krejci; Bueno; Doherty, Gomes, Andre, Bueno; Mane, Hwang Hee-Chan; Arokodare

Subs: Johnstone, Wolfe, Strand Larsen, Arias, Hoever, Lopez, Gonzalez, Tchatchoua, Rawlings

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (12:30)

• Arsenal v Brighton - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brentford v Bournemouth

• Burnley v Everton

• Liverpool v Wolves - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• West Ham v Fulham

• Chelsea v Aston Villa (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Brighton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Aston Villa", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Poor old Alexander Isak. His form has been awful all season following his move from Newcastle, and now he is out for a couple of months.

I don't think Liverpool are going to struggle with Hugo Ekitike leading the line, however. Yes, they are also missing Mohamed Salah while he is with Egypt at Afcon, but Ekitike is having a phenomenal season.

Dominik Szoboszlai is out for Liverpool too, after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Spurs.

Maybe it is time for Florian Wirtz to really come to the fore for Arne Slot's side.

Wolves did really well to hold out for so long at Arsenal recently, and that kind of backs-against-the-wall defending seems to suit them.

They will try to make things awkward for Liverpool too, but I don't see it working out for them.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here