What are the odds of the Foxes grabbing another five goals against United this afternoon? Well, it has been an excellent January for them. 2 league wins, one draw and they have advanced to the last 16 of the FA Cup. Given the hosts’ patchiness in recent weeks, Nigel Pearson’s side may just fancy their chances of nicking something here.
As always, we’d love to get your thoughts. Email eoin@the42.ie, tweet us at football_ie or leave a comment on our Facebook page.
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Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to our coverage of Manchester United’s clash with Leicester at Old Trafford.
The last time the sides met, we got eight goals and an incredibly unlikely result. Let’s hope for a similar amount of entertainment today.
Some interesting team news to bring you.
Adnan Januzaj makes his first league start since 8th November while Michael Carrick misses out because of injury. It’s an incredibly attack-minded side and Van Gaal has confirmed he’s reverting to 4-4-2, so Jones and Rojo will be the centre-backs, Blind and Rooney in central midfield.
The guests bring in Marcin Wasilewski at the back in what is their only change – Liam Moore misses out.
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Shaw; Blind, Januzaj, Di Maria, Rooney; Van Persie, Falcao.
Subs: Mata, Smalling, Herrera, Fellaini, Valdes, McNair, Wilson
Leicester XI: Schwarzer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, De Laet; Drinkwater, King, Schlupp; Vardy, Kramaric, Ulloa.
Subs: Konchesky, Upson, Hammond, Albrighton, Hamer, Cambiasso, Nugent.
If the top-flight table was decided only on home form, Manchester United would be in second, still five points behind Chelsea.
From 11 games, they’ve won 8 and scored 22 goals. It says much about their troubles away from Old Trafford that they’ve won 11 games and scored 36 goals in total.
During the first half on the 5-3 loss to Leicester back in September, they played really well. But, as Louis van Gaal alluded to yesterday was that they failed to control the game after that. Clearly in recent weeks, the manager has grown tired of a less-than-impressive defence and United not having enough protection. He’s sacrificed some attacking flair and changed formation to make things tighter.
But, they haven’t created enough chances.
So, the Dutchman is gambling today.
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Van Gaal, rocking the Lenny Kravitz look as he arrived at Old Trafford earlier.
By the way, 42 year-old Mark Schwarzer makes his Premier League debut for Leicester today.
A sombre day at Old Trafford as tributes are paid to the 23 people who died in the Munich Air Disaster on 6th February 1958.
The players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect.
Kick-off in a few moments.
AND WE’RE OFF!
Di Maria, already looking so much more comfortable in a deeper role, looks up and tries to play in Falcao in the right channel but the striker is just a fraction or so offside.
Energetic start for United here. Leicester content to sit back and try and absorb the pressure. Every player seems keen to work the ball quickly, get turned and take things to the guests.
Di Maria stretches the legs and races down the left wing, closely followed by Drinkwater. The ex-United defender does well and wins the ball back. The Argentine wants a free-kick but referee Martin Atkinson waves away the protests.
Little bit of a warning for United as the ball nearly breaks for Jamie Vardy in the area. The player who tore them apart in the reverse fixture. The United defence stands firm and they get it clear eventually.
Great work from Di Maria who chases a long ball from Rooney and forces Schlupp into a cheap giveaway as the Leicester man tried to nurse it out for a goal-kick. The winger nicked possession back but his cross came to nothing.
Dangerous free-kick from Rooney almost picks out the head of Falcao but Wes Morgan does really well and heads it clear. The striker was in an offside position too though and the flag goes up.
Free-kick for United and Di Maria stands over it. Looks a decent position but he can’t get it over the wall and a decent chance is wasted.
United’s pace in the opening 15 minutes has been much better in comparison to other recent, sluggish performances.
CLOSE! Best opportunity so far. Van Persie lets the ball run across his body and Falcao picks it up and races towards goal. He tries to flick it back inside onto his left and away from a challenge but he doesn’t get his feet right and it rolls away from him. He’s forced wide, feeds Valencia and the cross is dealt with by the Leicester defence.
Good pressure from United but they’re finding it difficult to make a real breakthrough owing to Leicester’s strength in numbers. They work it wide on the left and make space for some crosses but they come to nothing. One delivery breaks for Di Maria on the edge of the area – his volley is well-executed but too high to bother Schwarzer.
Really, really odd from Phil Jones. He went off the pitch because of a problem with his boots. But the ball is in play and a poor pass from Rooney goes straight to Schlupp who drives right at the area of the pitch Jones should be in. Luckily for the defender and United, the shot is well wide.
Quick break from United and Shaw races up the left. The cross finds Van Persie but his shot is that of a man really out of sorts. It balloons into the air and drifts wide of the far post. Something to build on though. Get it wide and fast.
GOAL! Van Persie!
And just like that, United are in front. Blind capitalises on a slip in the Leicester defence and clips a ball over the top for his compatriot to run onto. It seems very tight, offside-wise. But he does so well to finish. The ball drops onto his right side and he slides home on the half volley to the far corner.
Double Dutch for United. Attackers should get the benefit of any borderline offside call…
GOAL! Falcao!
Well, Leicester have been blitzed. United break in the final third as Van Persie gets turned, looks up and spreads it wide to a rampaging Di Maria who gets into the area and drives a low shot towards goal. Schwarzer can only parry and Falcao is following it up and slides (along with a few Leicester defenders) towards the loose ball. It’s forced over the line and Falcao is certainly claiming it. On the replay, it appears it did touch him last.
His fourth of the season, does well to follow up and United are well in control now. Ruthless in front of goal – Van Gaal will be pleased.
In their usual way, United have sat back in the last few minutes and allowed Leicester get amongst them. An easy half-time team-talk from Van Gaal given their 3-1 lead against Leicester that evaporated earlier this season.
CLOSE! Leicester are living dangerously by committing bodies forward. Falcao turns, looks up and Di Maria goes chasing through the left-channel unmarked. The pass finds him, he jinks inside one challenge before slipping it through for Falcao again but there’s a little too much on the pass and the Colombian has to recycle and lay it off. The cross from Rooney is easily dealt with.
GOAL! Morgan own goal!
Rooney whips in a corner, Daley Blind gets a flick on to help it into the six yard area and Wes Morgan just tries to get a head on it but succeeds in sending it to the corner of the net. United in cruise control.
CLOSE! Luke Shaw is very fortunate. Wasilewski tries to get Vardy in around the back of the United defender and Shaw completely loses his bearings. As Vardy takes a touch to set up the shot, the ex-Southampton man has the speed to get back and make the block but a momentary scare for United.
AND THAT’S HALF-TIME!
A strange half. Everything United have offered offensively has come off. They’ve looked likely to score anytime they’ve been close to the Leicester goal but it hasn’t been a flawless display. The Van Persie goal settled them down while Falcao’s came just a few minutes later.
Wes Morgan’s own goal has surely put the game well beyond the visitors. A second sensational comeback against United in the same season? That’s maybe a little too optimistic.
Not quite the same but…
AND WE’RE BACK UNDERWAY!
SUBSTITUTION! Cambiasso (on) – Vardy (off)
Leicester want to tighten things up and avoid conceding any more so the experienced Argentine comes in.
Danny Drinkwater just gets a little excited as he races into the right channel. He has the space to deliver a decent cross but he blazes it right across goal and there’s no Leicester player to take advantage.
CLOSE! Great work from Januzaj, who’s got plenty of guile on the ball. Teases Danny Simpson, he gets sucked in and then the Belgian pushes it away from him, scampers down the wing and whips in a great cross. Falcao comes within an inch of making contact and Schwarzer gets down to smother.
Kramaric launches himself into the air and attempts an acrobatic effort after Wes Morgan sends in a cross from the right. But it’s a pretty poor effort and it draws a couple of howls from the United support.
CLOSE! Well, Leicester squander possession again and Di Maria sends it through for Rooney. He’s got Falcao in the middle and he knocks it to the Colombian but it’s just got a little too much pace on it. Falcao, again, has to check back and try to create another chance but when he passes to Van Persie, he’s swallowed up by blue shirts and the move fizzes out.
PENALTY CLAIM! Out of nothing, Ulloa is one v one with Rojo and the attacker races into the area. He tries to check back onto his left boot but Rojo stands up and Ulloa seems to merely lose his footing and drop to the floor. He turns to Martin Atkinson but he waves away the half-hearted appeals.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Albrighton & Nugent (on) – Kramaric & Ulloa (off)
Pearson plays all his cards and will try and give the United defence something new to worry about for the remaining 25 minutes.
CLOSE! Dear me. Phil Jones chases back to retrieve a long Leicester ball. He’s chased by Nugent and the defender makes an absolute mess of his attempted back-pass. He sells David de Gea too short and Nugent looks to flick the ball past the goalkeeper and then tap in to an empty net. But De Gea’s reaction is terrific. He blocks with one hand and then gets down to gather.
SUBSTITUTION! McNair (on) – Van Persie (off)
Good to see Paddy McNair’s continued involvement in United’s first-team squad. He’s going to take up a position at right-back.
He’s mopped up, screened the back-four well and popped up with a delightful assist too. A good day for the Dutchman.
Good strength shown by Falcao to hold off Wes Morgan. He feeds Januzaj who takes off on a run though he’s challenged expertly and possession is squandered.
SUBSTITUTION! Mata (on) – Valencia (off)
The Spaniard has featured prominently under Van Gaal. But he has to make do with about a 15-minute cameo here. Valencia, once more, largely under-inspiring.
GOAL! Wasilewski!
This makes things interesting. Marc Albrighton is in space on the right side and Cambiasso tees it up for him. His cross is an excellent one and picks out Wasilewski at the far post and his header is too hot for De Gea who gets a piece of it.
SUBSTITUTION! Wilson (on) – Falcao (off)
The youngster’s pace is always nice to have for games like this. He can stretch the Leicester defence and, like he did against QPR, able to pick up something on the break.
Chances at both ends. Firstly, Albrighton smacks one from distance that just misses the crossbar. Then, Rooney releases Di Maria over the top, his first touch is immaculate but he blazes over when he seemed certain to score.
Meanwhile, here’s the Wasilewski goal.
One thing we have got since Leicester scored: much more entertainment. United have tried to find a fourth in the last few moments but a strange moment when McNair, under pressure, plays a pass back to his defence and keeps possession. It gets jeers from the United fans. Moments later, because of keeping the ball, Di Maria slips it through for Januzaj who should do better from an excellent position.
There’s going to be 3 minutes of injury time. United could nick a fourth before the end…Wilson is the latest to go close.
Di Maria combines with Blind and the midfielder gets a shot in from a narrow angle. Schwarzer gets down at his near post to make the stop.
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME!
Quite straightforward for United. They changed formation, they were better, more fluid and Blind and Rooney were disciplined enough in midfield to ensure they weren’t vulnerable to the counter attack.
Confidence-boosting game for Falcao and Van Persie, Januzaj did well on his first league start since November and Di Maria looked sharp and full of energy.
It was tough for Leicester after conceding two in quick succession. They were forced to come out a little and stretch things but that inevitably led to gaps appearing at the back.
The fixture list seems reasonably kind to United for a few weeks – games against West Ham, Burnley, Swansea, Sunderland and Newcastle coming up.
This should provide some momentum and it was an improved performance compared to what we’ve seen over the last while.
Thanks for staying with us throughout our coverage.
A big day in the top-flight and we have coverage of Chelsea’s clash with Man City right here.
