Manchester United are expected to compete on all fronts this season after spending a lot of money on new additions like Andre Onana, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Hojlund. Erik Ten Hag knows he’ll have no excuses after being heavily backed in his second season as much as he was in his first.
The Dutchman led United to a third-place finish last campaign, picking up the Carabao Cup along the way and reaching the final of the FA Cup, losing to a formidable Manchester City side that ended the season with a treble. New heights have been set for United this season, and a win at Old Trafford last night was a great way to begin.
Fans in splits after controversial handball decision
The Premier League is back, and so are the dramas, VAR controversies, and the unpredictable nature of the league. The VAR was criticized last season for taking the elements of football out of games, with many saying the new technology will eventually kill the game. This new Premier League season has already seen some crazy VAR rulings, including a handball call in the United vs. Wolves game last night.
NO penalty…correct decision? 🤔👇 pic.twitter.com/z8vLw3B6Nv
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 14, 2023
Marcus Rashford was getting on a simple cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka when his header hit Wolves’ Nelson Semedo on his hands, leading to a widespread protest in the stands. VAR ruled in favor of Wolves and denied United a penalty call, leading to divided opinions on social media regarding the controversial decision. The explanation was that Nelson Semedo’s hand was close to his body, making any penalty protrusion impossible.
A similar incident occurred in the Chelsea vs. Liverpool game on Sunday when Luis Diaz’s header hit Nicolas Jackson’s hand in the box, with VAR shutting off any penalty calls by Liverpool.
Why Liverpool were not awarded penalty for Nicolas Jackson's handball vs Chelsea pic.twitter.com/UigZSwAA4A
— Samlock (@Samlock83316059) August 13, 2023
Manchester United defeat Wolves
Manchester United overcame a disjointed performance to defeat Wolves in the club’s opening Premier League game. Erik Ten Hag fielded a strong side, with Marcus Rashford leading the line as new signing Rasmus Hojlund continues to recover from his back injury. Wolves played a good game against a United side that lacked chemistry and were unfortunate not to come out with at least a point in the contest.
Raphael Varane scored the game’s only goal, getting on the other end of an Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross to give United the lead in the 76th minute. Wolves tried to get back in the game but were denied by an in-form Andre Onana, who had a solid Premier League debut for his new club.
Where will Manchester United finish in the Premier League this season? Let us know your predictions in the comments section.
