As Manchester United faced Wolves in the FA Cup replay certain expectation were in the mix as both sides entered into the match seeking redemption via ahead of the crunch games at the weekend.
While Manchester travel to visit their Anfield rival Liverpool, Wolves would be away to Southampton as points are at stake for a place in European football in the English top flight.
However, it ended 1-0 in the favor of the Red Devils as we evaluate the three massive implications of these match for the home sides.
Mata Is Good After All
The Spaniard was the match winner on the night that Manchester United needed a response against a side they (United) drew 0-0 with in the first leg having failed to beat them (Wolves) after five attempt.
Mata was on point as he scored in the 67th minutes beaten the Wolves goalie with a simple touch of the ball.
It was a morale boosting performance from the Spaniard as he built from the Norwich game where he gave two assist to ensure his side’s 4-0 win at the weekend.
United Advance In FA Cup
All toil and hostility may have played their part in the game but it’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men that move over to the next round of the FA Cup competition.
It was a dicey one going into this match but United’s duo of Anthony Martial and Juan Mata combined to perfection to set the tone for a narrow win at home.
This is a true reflection of their quality as both players have stood United through the test of time despite their personal (Martial and Mata) injuries and issues they’ve gone through this season.
Readiness For Liverpool
While the FA Cup advancement means another opponent beckons for Manchester United it presents the Red Devils with the chance to well prepare themselves ahead of the trip to Anfield. It promises to be a mouth watering finale as both EPL giants square upon Super Sunday.
This is the arguably the star match of the weekend (Liverpool vs. Manchester United) even as Arsenal host season surprise package Sheffield United at the Emirates with club Captain and most valuable player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missing out through sanction.
The only thing that may have gone wrong for United occurred in the second half following injury to star forward Marcus Rashford who went down to injury in the course of this 1-0 win over Wolverhamptom Wanderers.
