By Graham Ruthven
Foxes never quit
Sitting nine points from safety in the Premier League table, Leicester City can’t wait any longer to make their great escape from relegation trouble starting with this weekend’s home match against Manchester United.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team enter Sunday’s game in dreadful form. Leicester have lost their last six games in-a-row in all competitions with even bottom-of-the-table Southampton in better form than the Foxes.
However, they say ‘Foxes never quit’ at the King Power Stadium and so there remains a belief around the club that Leicester can secure their Premier League survival even if others have lost faith.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are making tentative steps forward under Rúben Amorim. Indeed, the Red Devils are unbeaten in their last three league games and are fresh from having made the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.
Another win over Leicester this weekend would represent yet more progress for United after a big week of off-the-field news which saw the club announce plans for a new stadium.
Key players
Jamie Vardy has scored six times in 18 games against Manchester United over the course of his career and, even at the age of 38, will give Leicester threat in behind on Sunday.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid was the last player to score for Leicester, and that came against Manchester United in the FA Cup. However, the Jamaican started on the bench against Chelsea in the Foxes’ last fixture.
Van Nistelrooy needs much more out of his attacking line for Leicester to stand any chance of pulling themselves out of danger. The likes of Patson Daka, Bilal El Khannouss and Vardy must step up.
Bruno Fernandes remains United’s most consistent difference-maker, as demonstrated by his hat trick in the Europa League victory over Real Sociedad during the week. The Portuguese will be a goal threat at the King Power Stadium.
Joshua Zirkzee continues to grow in stature and is expected to start in the Manchester United forward in the number 10 position Amorim has used to get more out of the Netherlands international.
Ayden Heaven could keep his place in the lineup after impressing off the bench against Arsenal last weekend and from the start against Real Sociedad. The teenager already looks the part as a member of Amorim’s back three.
Team news
Abdul Fatawu is the only player still sidelined for Leicester City with Ricardo Pereira and Harry Souttar both available for selection again after a period out through injury. Odsonne Édouard, however, is also a doubt for the home team this weekend. Otherwise, van Nistelrooy has a full squad to choose from.
United still have a long injury list to contend with. Indeed, Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martínez, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Jonny Evans are all sidelined while Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte are all carrying knocks.
Prediction
With United enjoying a better period of late and Leicester’s problems compounded by Wolves’ win, on Saturday, which extended the gap between themselves and safety, we have to go with an away win: Leicester 0-1 Manchester United.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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