Manchester United scored in an eventful first half, as Leicester City missed chances
Manchester United started the match with their customary 4-2-3-1 formation and were expected to dominate the proceedings. Yet, Leicester had several clear chances during the initial 20 minutes. The visitors kept winning the ball inside the opposition half repeatedly. That allowed them to play a number of through balls to get behind United’s defensive line.
On one occasion, Harvey Barnes played a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho before trying to score past David De Gea. Unfounately for Iheanacho, The United keeper made a very good save to deny him. Then, Tete played a quality cross from the right that was headed on goal by Iheanacho. Once again, De Gea once again turned the saviour with his outstretched hand to keep the ball out.
Leicester tormented United on the right flank, with Timothy Castagne combining with Tete repeatedly. However, as Alejandro Garnacho started dropping down more frequently to help Luke Shaw midway through the half. That saw Leicester’s influence down the right decrease.
The home side got their goal against the run of play. Wout Faes lost the ball with a missed pass and Marcel Sabitzer got hold of it. Sabitzer then played the ball to Bruno Fernandes, who played a long pass to an onrushing Rashford. The 25-year-old English forward finished the chance to put the Red Devils ahead.
Fernandes, playing on the right flank with Wout Weghorst playing as the number 10, could have registered another assist. On that occasion, Diogo Dalot could not meet his cross, missing a golden opportunity. In the dying minutes of the half, James Maddison took a shot through the inside-left channel that missed the goal by a whisker, as the Foxes were left to rue missed opportunities.
Manchester United sliced Leicester open in the second half
Ten Hag replaced an ineffective Alejandro Garnacho with Sancho at the start of the second half. Rashford switched to the left and Weghorst started playing as the centre forward. Sancho became the number 10 and Manchester United looked a different side with a skillful player in the middle.
A few minutes later, Fred intercepted a pass from Leicester near the half-line and played a through ball to Rashford, who ran in to slot it past the goalkeeper. Rashford now has 24 goals in the current season already.
United was at it again following yet another turnover as Fernandes played a cross to Sancho from the right and the latter made no mistake in scoring United’s third. Sancho looked quite good while playing in the middle if the park and one might see him play there frequently in the upcoming matches.
Ten Hag then took off Rashford and Luke Shaw to introduce Anthony Elanga and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, respectively. Manchester United could not score after that, but they had done enough for the day to keep the pressure on Arsenal and Manchester City.
The end of the season is still a long way from here, but the United supporters will take heart from the way their team continues to perform despite the absence of the likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.