Manchester United may have ended their run of three straight defeats, but they cannot avoid another slip-up in the Premier League when reigning champions Leicester City travel to Old Trafford this Saturday. Manager Jose Mourinho is already under pressure just eight matches into his reign at United, although no one at the club is panicking just yet. Chelsea failure exposes Mourinho's weakness to impact start at Man Utd.
However, suffering defeat by Watford in the league last time out and losing the Manchester derby has not helped Mourinho’s cause, yet a win over Leicester can go a long way to erasing those memories. Much debate surrounds Wayne Rooney’s potential inclusion, with critics believing he should be dropped in order for United to find the right balance in their heavily-stacked midfield. Leicester meanwhile are looking to continue their resurgence after a slow start, having comfortably dispatched Burnley 3-0 last weekend, although they suffered a 4-2 defeat in the EFL Cup on Tuesday at the hands of Mourinho’s former club Leicester.
It’s a big game for players like:
Wayne Rooney: The United captain risks losing his place in the starting line-up this weekend after a poor start to the 2016/17 campaign. If he retains his place, he will certainly be in the last-chance saloon and will need to deliver a performance that we have not seen from him for some time. If he is dropped to the bench, how will he react? Throwing his toys out of the pram could spell the end of his career at Old Trafford.
Remember when Leicester beat United 5-3? Louis van Gaal was still getting to grips with life at Old Trafford when relegation candidates Leicester rocked up under the guidance of former manager Nigel Pearson. Eight goals, one red card and furious backlash from the United fans gave a sign of things to come for Van Gaal.
Players to watch out for are:
Riyad Mahrez: The Algerian has not hit his best in the Premier League this season yet, but he was at his best to craft Leicester’s Champions League victory over Brugge. Mahrez is a man for the big occasions, and you wouldn’t put it past him from spoiling the afternoon for Mourinho and the United faithful.
Predicted teams:
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Pogba, Fellaini; Rashford, Rooney, Martial; Ibrahimovic.
Leicester City: Zieler; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Albrighton, Amartey, Drinkwater, Mahrez; Slimani, Vardy.
Past three meetings...
Leicester 1 (Vardy) Manchester United 2 (Lingard, Ibrahimovic), Community Shield, August 2016.
Manchester United 1 (Martial) Leicester 1 (Morgan), Premier League, May 2016.
Leicester 1 (Vardy) Manchester United 1 (Schweinsteiger), Premier League, November 2015.
