Manchester United v Leicester City preview, predictions & possible XIs
Manchester United host Leicester City on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.
The Red Devils haven’t picked up three points since their opening day thrashing of Chelsea, drawing away to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton either side of a disappointing home defeat to Crystal Palace since.
Things have been far more promising for Leicester, who are unbeaten in their first four Premier League games, taking a point away at Chelsea in week two and winning their last three games in all competitions.
As a result, the Foxes now sit third in the Premier League table and the feel-good factor being generated by Brendan Rodgers is palpable.
Read on for Man Utd v Leicester preview, predictions, TV info and team news.
When is Man Utd vs Leicester City and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Old Trafford
Date: Saturday, 14 September 2019
Kick-off: 3 PM BST
TV coverage (UK): N/A
Last five meetings: Man Utd vs Leicester City
03 Feb 2019: Leicester City 0-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
10 Aug 2018: Man Utd 2-1 Leicester City (Premier League)
23 Dec 2017: Leicester City 2-2 Man Utd (Premier League)
26 Aug 2017: Man Utd 2-0 Leicester City (Premier League)
05 Feb 2017: Leicester City 0-3 Man Utd (Premier League)
Aggregate Score: Man Utd (WWDWW) 10-3 Leicester City (LLDLL)
Ones to watch
Man Utd: Harry Maguire
Saturday presents an opportunity for Harry Maguire to face off against his former club for the first time, albeit slightly earlier in his United career than he probably would have liked.
While Maguire started life at United in positive fashion with a commanding performance against Chelsea, there is a feeling still he has a way to go if he is to be the solution for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s defence, as eluded to by former skipper Roy Keane.
“I think he’s done OK,” said Keane. “We were talking about how good he is on the ball, but defensively I still have one or two question marks over him.
“I always worry about his pace on the turn, I remember the first goal against Crystal Palace where he’s not doing the basics – covering round his other centre-half.”
That said, the change in the United defence hasn’t been dished out by Maguire, it’s come from his partner, Victor Lindelof. The spotlight will be on the England international on Saturday, though.
Key stat: Maguire has won more aerial duels (20) and completed more interceptions (8) than any other United player so far this season.
Leicester City: Çağlar Söyüncü
There were real fears at the King Power Stadium that Rodgers had been unable to replace Maguire and, given his previous track record for dodgy defences, that the Foxes would suffer as a result.
Step forth, Çağlar Söyüncü. The Turkish centre-back has been brilliant so far, both in the air and on the ground, and as the song goes from Leicester fans: “We don’t need you, we’ve got Söyüncü.”
Anyone looking to make a direct comparison between Leicester centre-backs past and present will get a great chance to do so on Saturday and how they play for their respective sides will likely have a big say in where the points end up come full-time.
Key stat: Söyüncü has won more aerial duels (18) and completed more passes (251) than any other Leicester player in the Premier League this season.
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Team news
Man Utd
Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are all out for United’s game against Leicester, while there are major doubts over the fitness of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jesse Lingard, who are recovering from a back injury and illness, respectively.
Anthony Martial has been ruled out with a muscle issue and, critically, Paul Pogba’s withdrawal from international duty now appears to be more than just precaution, with the Frenchman set to sit Saturday out with an ankle injury.
Predicted XI: De Gea; Jones, Maguire, Lindelof, Young; Matic, McTominay; James, Mata, Pereira; Rashford.
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Leicester City
Daniel Amartey and Matthew James are both long-term absentees for Leicester, while the Foxes may be without captain Wes Morgan, who is a doubt due to a back injury.
Predicted XI: Schmeichel; Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison; Albrighton, Barnes, Vardy.
Squawka prediction
United really have stuttered since their promising win over Chelsea and Saturday faces them with quite a daunting task against an unbeaten Leicester side.
The Foxes are playing with style in possession and look strong without it, so the pace of Marcus Rashford and Daniel James could make or break the day for Solskjaer and Co.
Scoreline prediction: Man Utd 1-1 Leicester City
