Manchester United continue their push for a top-three finish in this home clash against Leicester City.
Victory would see Man Utd stay third but move to within five points of league leaders, Arsenal, whilst Leicester can go 12th with a win.
Team News
Man Utd will be without Carlos Casemiro as the midfielder serves the last of a three domestic match ban, having featured in the 2-2 draw in first leg of their Europa League knockout play-off against Barcelona in midweek.
Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer are both back in contention after the pair were suspended for Utd’s 2-2 draw at Barcelona in midweek.
Antony (leg) and Scott McTominay (knock) are doubts whilst Christian Eriksen (ankle), Donny van de Beek (knee), Anthony Martial (leg) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain absent.
Leicester could welcome Youri Tielemans back into contention after he missed last weekend’s comeback win over Tottenham with a minor calf injury.
Boubakary Soumare (hamstring) is a doubt but Jonny Evans (calf), James Justin (Achilles) and Ryan Bertrand (knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Leicester at 2pm GMT on Sunday 19 February at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports in UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd have won just one of their last five Premier League meetings against Leicester (W1, D2, L2).
- Leicester have won just one of their last six previous Premier League visits to Old Trafford (W1, D1, L4).
- Leicester’s Caglar Soyuncu has scored in his last two appearances against Utd, but has since been an unused substitute in the two recent meetings between these two clubs.
- Marcus Rashford has scored eight goals in eight of Utd’s nine league matches since returning from the World Cup break, except for their 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace in January 2023.
- Leicester are looking to win three consecutive league matches for the first time since January 2021.
Prediction
Utd’s unbeaten train just continues to roll on following a cracking 2-2 draw at Barcelona in midweek, where they defended resiliently and rode waves of intense pressure whilst matching Barcelona’s attacking quality with two cracking goals.
It is therefore interesting to see how Erik Ten Hag approaches this game ahead of their home leg against Barcelona, because Utd certainly won’t want to lose momentum given that they’re on the fringes of the title fight yet they will have one eye on their cup dreams this season.
Leicester meanwhile will be coming to Old Trafford dreaming of a second consecutive shock result against a top team, having produced four goals in each of their last two matches with excellent attacking play and physical pressing which should worry Utd’s defence.
Old Trafford though hasn’t exactly been a kind away ground for Leicester but I do expect them to come out and test Utd to their limits, especially if Ten Hag rotates his squad with one eye on their return leg against Barcelona then Carabao Cup Final next weekend.
A draw therefore is something which Leicester will believe that they can get at minimum but this Utd team are in fierce form at present, and I would be surprised if the hosts lose this game.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City
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