After four consecutive matches at Old Trafford, United are back on the road to face Leicester at the King Power Stadium later today. It's a 3pm kickoff (UK time), a lengthy two weeks on from the dismal 1-1 draw against Everton.
The result against Rafa Benitez's side epitomises the rocky patch that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have endured over the weeks prior to the international break, with only one win in the last four matches (two in the past six). Nonetheless, United do remain 4th in the league - only two points adrift of leaders Chelsea after seven matches. It doesn't sound too bad, but the difference is that we haven't yet faced any necessarily top sides.
Today marks the start of an incredibly difficult run stemming until the end of November. Leicester are essentially becoming established as a 'top six' side, thus (on paper) should offer the greatest challenge so far; fixtures against the other five members of the traditional 'big six' account for five of the six subsequent matches.
United still withhold their 29 match Premier League unbeaten run since January 2020, with 34 of the 67 points amassed coming from losing positions. Clean sheets have been hard to come by for the reds (as shown by the need to recover from losing positions), with only one shutout in the previous 18 matches.
Solskjaer is without his first choice centre back pairing of Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane tomorrow, with Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof expected to deputise - a possible further hindrance to exacerbate our clean sheet struggles. Maguire promisingly “was on the grass" yesterday for the first time since picking up a calf injury against Aston Villa, though Varane is expected to be out for a “few weeks” with the groin strain sustained in the Nations League Final for France.
Both Fred and Edinson Cavani featured last night as Brazil comfortably overcame Uruguay, with the former picking up a classy assist for the impressive Neymar. Consequently - even if they do return in time via a private jet reportedly conjunctionally acquired by United, City and Liverpool - it’s almost impossible to imagine them being involved due to factors such as fatigue and jet lag. There are no injuries to worry about with the South American duo, so they should return to the squad for the midweek encounter with Atalanta.
Luke Shaw seems clear to feature following the knock to his shoulder (picked up against Villa) and bout of illness prior to the international break - he missed England’s meeting with Andorra having returned to action for United against Everton, but did play against Hungary at Wembley during the week. Amad Diallo also seems to be nearing full fitness, admitting that he’s “feeling happy”. Most significantly, Marcus Rashford is poised to be in the matchday squad for the first time this season after his lay-off following shoulder surgery; both the shoulder and ankle issues are now gone thanks to the period sidelined.
“If he’s going to start or not, I can’t tell you now because it wouldn’t be right but he’s worked really hard throughout the whole lay-off. He’s been really bright this week, he had a 60-minute involvement in a behind-closed-doors game last week so he’s fit and raring to go.” Solskjaer later said, “He does look fresh, he looks keen, he looks fit. He's bulked up a little bit, with some muscle."
Leicester are also quite short defensively - similar to United. James Justin has been absent since last season, whilst Wesley Fofana continues to recover from his pre-season leg break. The latter's replacement Jannick Vestergaard requires assessment for an unspecified fitness concern, with Jonny Evans only just returning from a phase of injury and illness. Similarly, Wilfred Ndidi missed the Foxes' last two matches.
Brendan Rodgers' side have commenced the season uncharacteristically poorly, sitting 13th on a mere eight points. The current level is far from that which would allow Leicester to match last season's battle for European football (with the Champions League once again slipping from their grasp near the death but Europa League football secured nevertheless). They looks considerably off the standard of the team which won the FA Cup in May.
The Foxes' season was kicked off in style with Community Shield success, but such prowess quickly diminished. They have only won twice in the league so far this term, with the gain of six points sandwiching a solitary loss (against West Ham) in August. Now, they are enduring a run of only a single victory in seven matches - against Millwall in the Carabao Cup. The current run of four matches winless at the moment has seen Rodgers' worst run at the club matched, but successive draws in the league are a development on consecutive losses. Regardless, it remains wholly underwhelming - especially the collapse from 2-0 up to take only a point against Crystal Palace prior to the international break. The Europa League tells a similar story so far, with only a single point taken from their opening two group matches.
Since the start of April, Leicester's eight defeats in 16 Premier League matches is the third worst record of any team in the competition. Like United, their struggle for clean sheets has seen Kasper Schmeichel keep only one in 13 league games. Such record bodes well for today's visitors, who have scored in each of their last 24 league matches against Leicester.
United will be discouraged, however, by their inability to defeat Leicester over three encounters last season. Boxing Day saw a 2-2 draw at the King Power, with the reverse fixture seeing the Foxes defeat a disjointed United outfit 2-1 amidst scheduling chaos. In the midst of this, eventual winners Leicester convincingly overcame the reds 3-1 at the FA Cup quarter-final stage. Defeat later on could therefore see United lose three consecutive matches against today's opposition for the first time in 120 years. Conversely, the reds have only lost once in 15 Premier League matches on the road against Leicester.
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