Manchester United were beaten 2-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers in a dismal Boxing Day performance to leave them floundering in the depths of the Premier League bottom half.
Despite the result, several of United’s defensive players can emerge with some credit and none more so than Harry Maguire, who continued his mini-renaissance under Ruben Amorim.
Wolves went ahead from a Matheus Cunha corner, which sailed straight over goalkeeper Andre Onana’s head, and doubled the advantage in the dying seconds as United threw everything forward.
Aside from these moments the hosts were largely kept at bay, managing fewer shots than the well-beaten Red Devils, and Maguire was the pick of United’s backline.
The Englishman made six clearances, more than anyone else on the pitch, and intercepted the ball three times – the most of anyone in a red shirt.
He also chipped in with one tackle and one blocked shot as he continues to impress as the central defender in a back three.
This role is one of the most important in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, with the ball held in the heart of the defence as moves start building.
Accordingly, Maguire had 72 touches, just behind Noussair Mazraoui’s 75, and was reliable with his passing.
The 31-year-old made the most passes of anyone on his team, completing 49 of an attempted 58 to produce an 84% passing accuracy.
In a bid to show some range, Maguire attempted 10 long balls, of which five found their man.
He was typically tough in the duel, and more often than not came out on top when going head to head with the men in gold.
On the ground, Maguire won two out of three duels contested, and he won two out of four aerial duels.
All stats taken from sofascore.
Featured image Naomi Baker via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
