Leicester City and Manchester United injury latest and team news ahead of Premier League clash
Manchester United returns to the Premier League at Old Trafford. Kick-off is at 2pm on Sunday when they host Brendan Rodgers and his Leicester City side, currently 13th in the league.
Between United’s Europa League play-off round of 16 against Barcelona and a week before United’s League Cup final against Newcastle, Leicester will believe they can stage an upset on Sunday afternoon.
Leicester have won their last two league games, scoring four goals in each, so they have the ability to hurt United, especially with James Maddison fit again.
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Team news from Leicester
Rodgers beat Spurs 4-1 at the King Power last weekend and is unlikely to make any significant changes to his team. The biggest selection dilemma is whether Youri Tielemans will return to the side after missing the Spurs game with a minor calf injury.
Leicester will line up in a 4-2-3-1 setup, similar to ten Hag’s United. Your likely 11 will be: Ward; Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen; Mendy, Dewsbury-Hall, Maddison; Tete, Iheanacho, Barnes.
The only likely departure from this line-up would be Tielemans coming on the team in place of Mendy. Such a change would be tough after Mendy impressed and even helped with a goal against Spurs.
Current shape
In their last five league games, Leicester have won two, lost two and drawn one, with those two wins coming in their last two games.
Those two games were a 4-2 win at Villa Park and a 4-1 home win over Spurs, which also happened to be Maddison’s first league start since the World Cup.
Leicester had a disastrous start to the season, with their first win not coming until early October. Their form has recovered, opening a six-point lead over the relegation zone.
key figures
Leicester’s key man is undoubtedly James Maddison. He is their top scorer with nine goals and assists provider with five and ranks in the 99th percentile for midfielders in both goals and assists.
United will have to limit their creativity, but their 2.42 key passes per game and threat from set pieces will pose a significant challenge to United’s likely midfield duo, Fred and Sabitzer.
Maddison’s creativity is particularly fueled by Kelechi Iheanacho, the ex-City striker who has scored in each of Leicester’s last two games.
Iheanacho serves as an effective link player due to his ball security. He ranks in the 99th percentile for assists among forwards. If he can get Barnes and Tetê in the game effectively, Leicester will cause problems.
Defensively, the £15million acquisition of Harry Souttar from Stoke in January looks like a smart addition to bolster the leaky defense seen in the first part of the season
He played well against Spurs despite an unlucky own goal against Villa. The 6ft 6in centre-back impressed Australia at the World Cup and seems to be another example of Leicester’s smart recruitment.
United team news and form
Ten Hag will want to keep United’s momentum with a strong team likely: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fred, Sabitzer; Rashford, Fernandes, Sancho; Weghorst.
They remain just five points behind City, leaders, and if they are to keep any hope of a title challenge then three points is a necessity.
United’s eyes will be on the Barcelona and Newcastle games in the week ahead, but Leicester offer an immediate test. Ten Hag may make a few changes, but he’s previously emphasized the importance of having momentum and keeping his players on track with the game, so any changes are likely to be minimal.
United need the points but the extra caution from players who don’t want to injure themselves for games in Barcelona or Newcastle could play into the hands of a recently resurgent Leicester.
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