Manchester United VS Leicester Live Football Match Score 19/2/2023

Manchester United VS Leicester Live Football Match Score 19/2/2023

Manchester United welcome a resurgent Leicester City to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday. The hosts will be heavy favourites having not lost a domestic home game since the opening weekend of the season. Despite not wanting to label themselves as title challengers, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United are just five points off the Premier League summit going into the weekend.That is due to their excellent form since the World Cup, as United have lost only once in their 16 matches in all competitions following the return of club football. The exploits of Marcus Rashford has been integral to that, as he has been in blistering form over the last two months.

He has only failed to score in two matches where he has started since the mid-season break, racking up 22 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils now this season. He was on form again at Camp Nou on Thursday too, scoring the equaliser before getting the assist for Jules Kounde’s own goal. They are in the ascendancy in that tie following a 2-2 draw away from home before the second leg on Thursday, meaning that they may well continue to fight on four fronts. Leicester also have a man in form, James Maddison, and his return from injury has come at a crucial time for the Foxes.Back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur saw Leicester score four on both occasions, as they looked clinical in attack, with Harvey Barnes and Kelechi Iheanacho also in form.

Maddison was unsurprisingly on the scoresheet in both games, and that has fuelled more talk about his future, with clubs starting to show interest in him as he has less than 18 months left on his contract. His return was much needed as Leicester lost all four Premier League games in his absence shortly after the World Cup. It is a surprise they are still just six points above the relegation zone, considering they have scored more goals than Newcastle United and Fulham, who are both in the European places. However, no clean sheets in any of their league games since the World Cup break suggests that their attackers need to remain on top of their game to win them points. They do have a good record against Man United though, as Brendan Rodgers’s side have registered three wins and two draws in their last six meetings.

Another win here would end United’s 16-game unbeaten home run, as well as making it three consecutive league victories for the first time in over two years for Leicester.Casemiro will serve the final game of his domestic three-match ban for violent conduct here, before returning for the EFL Cup final next weekend. His Brazilian compatriot Antony is set to miss this game too with a minor injury, while Scott McTominay remains doubtful. Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek are out long term, while Anthony Martial will not be ready for another week at least. Youri Tielemans should return to the Leicester side after he missed the win over Spurs with a calf injury.

Boubakary Soumare should also make a comeback here after almost two months out, but this game will come too soon for ex-United man Jonny Evans. Full-back duo James Justin and Ryan Bertrand remain out having suffered long-term injuries, but the latter is edging closer to a return. Manchester United will be looking to continue their impressive unbeaten run when they face Leicester at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon. The Red Devils have not lost any of their last seven matches in all competitions since the 3-2 defeat at Arsenal in January and are building some momentum ahead of the EFL Cup final. Erik ten Hag’s side take on Newcastle on February 26 but also play Barcelona in-between that and the Leicester fixture.

As Ten Hag has said all season, they will take each game as it comes, and Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes are their next test. Leicester have won their last two matches, scoring eight goals in the process, and it will no doubt be a tricky fixture for the Red Devils as they try and record another important victory.In goal, David de Gea is set to keep his place in net with the Spaniard a firm fixture in the side this season. He has made 33 appearances and could reach up to 60 should United progress in all four competitions.

Meanwhile, predicting the back-line is more of a lottery as Ten Hag likes to rotate and shuffle his pack in those positions. It helps that the Dutchman has a plethora of quality options and players that are making decisions much harder for him.At right-back, Diogo Dalot could get the nod ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire as the centre-back partnership. Raphael Varane might be handed a rest with the second leg against Barcelona coming up while Lisandro Martinez could also be saved for those two huge matches looming. Luke Shaw has played a lot of football recently but his form has been nothing short of sensational, so he is virtually undroppable.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Tyrell Malacia in the XI, however, with the Dutchman also finding some form in recent weeks and impressed against Barcelona on Thursday. Having missed the clash at the Camp Nou due to suspension, Marcel Sabitzer is expected to return to the side in place of Casemiro, who is set to serve the final instalment of his three-match Premier League ban. The Brazilian picked up a red card in the win over Crystal Palace earlier in the month and missed the double-header against Leeds.

Sabitzer could partner Fred in the double-pivot, with Bruno Fernandes ahead of them in the no.10 role. The Portuguese star has failed to find the net in his last three appearances after scoring against Palace but is an important cog at the Red Devils and should start against Leeds. Across the front three, Marcus Rashford is in the form of his life and could either start off the left or through the middle depending who Ten Hag decides to pick. The 25-year-old could be handed a rest by his manager but given the form he is right now, he should start given how important he is to the United side.

Wout Weghorst’s all-round contribution has been impressive since his January arrival, although he has found the net just once in nine appearances since his loan move from Burnley. Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho has excelled after coming back into the team, having scored once in his four appearances since returning.