Manchester United vs Leicester – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·30 ottobre 2024

Manchester United vs Leicester – Match preview and team news

Managerless Manchester United welcome Leicester City to Old Trafford as they battle it out for a place in the last eight of the Carabao Cup.

After Erik ten Hag was relieved of his duties on Monday morning, Ruud van Nistelrooy will take temporary charge of the Red Devils.

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Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly close to signing a deal to replace Ten Hag but any potential move will not be completed before tonight’s cup tie.

Meanwhile, Leicester progressed into this round by unconvincingly knocking out League Two side Walsall in a penalty shootout after the game had ended goalless.

In terms of injury news, Luke Shaw has suffered another injury setback for Manchester United but Leny Yoro is nearing a return after working on his rehabilitation from a foot injury sustained in pre-season.

Leicester boss Steve Cooper has been handed a massive boost with experienced central defender Jannik Vestergaard expected to be ready for Wednesday’s clash.

Manchester United vs Leicester – Match preview and team news

Form

Manchester United: DDWDL

A stoppage-time spot-kick from Jarrod Bowen sealed Erik ten Hag’s fate at the weekend as Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham condemned the Dutchman to the sack.

Controversy surrounded the nature of the penalty decision, as VAR overturned the on-field decision not to give a penalty after Matthijs de Ligt made contact with Danny Ings inside the penalty area.

A new responsibility in familiar surroundings for Ruud this evening ❤️ Read the passionate matchday notes from our interim head coach ⬇️ #MUFC || #CarabaoCup
– mercoledì 30 ottobre 2024

Of course, Ten Hag did not get sacked due to that result alone. Manchester United are currently on a run of one win from eight matches and find themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.

They have had some joy in this competition though, having demolished League One Barnsley 7-0 in the previous round.

Leicester City: DLWWL

There was uncertainty surrounding the club after the opening few weeks of the campaign but Steve Cooper has steadied the ship at the King Power Stadium.

Consecutive victories against Bournemouth and Southampton were extremely important for Cooper and indicated that his side have the capability to survive the drop this term.

However, Cooper’s former employers Nottingham Forest ran out 3-1 winners in Leicester on Friday night, a defeat that saw former Foxes striker Chris Wood net a brace.

Steve Cooper on our @Carabao_Cup test in #MUNLEI tomorrow night 🎥
– martedì 29 ottobre 2024

Last Meeting: Manchester United 3-0 Leicester City, Premier League, 19th February 2023.

Manchester United swept aside Leicester with a 3-0 win over Brendan Rodgers’ side in the last meeting between the teams.

Marcus Rashford was in blistering form at the start of that calendar year and netted a brace in the triumph.

However, it was the visitors who should have opened the scoring as David De Gea made two inspired stops to deny the Foxes. First, Harvey Barnes was denied by a brilliant stop from the Spaniard at point-blank range before Kelechi Iheanacho’s header was clawed away by a strong palm from the goalkeeper.

Leicester were made to rue those missed chances as Rashford ruthlessly drilled the ball past Danny Ward, after Bruno Fernandes had played the forward through with a delightful pass using the outside of his foot.

Rashford grabbed his second in a similar fashion. This time it was Fred’s turn to play a defence-splitting pass and Rashford finished with aplomb.

Jadon Sancho tapped home following a neat interchange between the winger and Fernandes to seal the three points for Erik ten Hag’s team.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester United: Bayindir; Dalot, Evans, Lindelof, Martinez; Eriksen, Ugarte; Amad, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee

Leicester City: Ward; Justin, Vestergaard, Coady, Thomas; Skipp, Soumare; Reid, El Khannous, Ayew; Edouard

Who is the referee?

Andy Madley will be the match official. He will be assisted by Nick Hopton and Constantine Hatzidakis while Michael Salisbury will be the fourth official. VAR will not be in operation.