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The contest appeared to be drifting towards a stalemate at Old Trafford, with both sides demonstrating a general lack of quality in the final third.

United had produced superb spells of possession and build-up play, but was lacking the finish, with Kobbie Mainoo, Rasmus Hojlund and substitute Mason Mount unable to hit the target.

However, Sarabia climbed off the bench to curl a superb 20-yard free-kick into the top corner 13 minutes from time to seal Wolves' top-flight status for another season.

Meanwhile, the hosts were unable to build on the momentum of their midweek heroics against Lyon as their winless league streak extended to four matches.

Wolves moved level on points with Ruben Amorim's side after a fifth straight victory, and 17 clear of 18th-place Ipswich Town, which was beaten 4-0 by Arsenal.

Amorim said that finishing chances is the "biggest problem" for United to rectify.

"If you don't score goals you don't win games," Amorim said. "We need to score goals.

"There was a time we didn't score, but we didn't create. We had lots chances to score, but didn't – that's the biggest problem for our team," he added.

Hojlund registered just one shot in 70 minutes on the field as he went a sixth consecutive game without scoring in all competitions.

"We need to continue to work but it is not just Rasmus. The whole team missed a lot of opportunities," Amorim said.

"This season is going to end like this so we need to take the positives and work on what we need to improve.

"We have to look at everything: our squad, what we have to do in the market. We will see."

Amorim has now lost 11 of his 22 Premier League matches with United, which is as many as he suffered across his final 114 league games at Sporting CP.

"We talk every day about next season and with time we will get what we need to improve the team," the United boss said.

Amorim handed a debut to 20-year-old Tyler Fredricson and also started fellow youngster Harry Amass but it was ultimately a day to forget for the hosts, who are 14th in the league and just two points clear of West Ham United in 17th.

"I think they played really well," Amorim said. "We need to score goals so that the kids have better memories.

"These days are really disappointing. We were better than the opponents but if you don't score goals, you don't win games."

Sarabia's superb free-kick from 20 yards earned in-form Wolves a first league double over United since the 1979-1980 campaign.

"It was not our best match. Technically and tactically, we know that we can play better," boss Vitor Pereira said.

"We played with our souls, with our spirit and that is what I saw in the game. The supporters believed and the moment that we had a chance, we scored.

"We are building something good for the future. We have to go into the next game and believe and with our supporters we can do it."

Wolves host Leicester next weekend whilst United travels to Bournemouth ahead of its UEFA Europa League semi-final with Athletic Club.