Leicester City vs Manchester United
It’s second versus third in a Boxing Day Premier League clash – now that’s what English football is all about isn’t it?
Quite whether Manchester United agree after being involved in a tough midweek cup tie while Leicester have had nearly a week without a game is debatable, but whether we like it or not, that is what the festive fixture list can often throw up – more so than ever in the congested 2020/21 campaign.
Over the years, meetings between these sides have led to a fair few Premier League highlights and it’s reasonable to expect more again.
Talking Points
Leicester go into this contest in second place after an impressive victory over earlier leaders Spurs last Sunday. United also had an impressive win over their own last time out in the league as they hit Leeds United for six.
This game, though, comes less than 72 hours after they faced a League Cup quarter-final at Everton.
Both sides continue to baffle and frustrate their fans with their inconsistency – one minute winning tough games in comprehensive fashion, the other slipping to embarrassing home defeats.
That Jekyll n’ Hyde approach is well highlighted by two statistics: Leicester have actually failed to score in four of their last eight home top flight matches (going back to the end of last season), while United have conceded 13 goals in their last seven games.
On the flipside, since Brendan Rodgers’ first game in charge of Leicester, Jamie Vardy has scored more Premier League goals than any other player (43), while United are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games, winning six of them.
Leicester, of course, should not even be competing at this end of the table given their comparative lack of resources alongside the big hitters of the Premier League and continue to punch above their weight.
Vardy picked up a knock against Tottenham but Rodgers has declared him fit to play in this one, while Caglar Soyuncu is reportedly close to a return to boost the home side’s options at centre back.
Full-back Ricardo Pereira is still missing with a groin problem but on the other flank Timothy Castagne, signed from Atalanta in the summer, was back for the win against Spurs and has made an impressive start to his Premier League career.
For the visitors, Scott McTominay must be a serious doubt after missing out in midweek after he left the fray in the closing minutes of last weekend’s victory over Leeds.
It is likely frontmen Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford will be tasked with leading the line again after they were rested for more than an hour of the midweek League Cup tie.
There’s plenty to play for at the King Power. Will Leicester gain a modicum of revenge against the side who hunted down a 14 point deficit to overtake them last season? Will United beat the Foxes again to leapfrog them into second place?
All to play for and all will be revealed as footballers do what they do every Christmas – play lots of games!
History
These two sides were so well matched last term that it came down to a final day shoot-out in the East Midlands to determine who secured a Champions League spot.
Of course, United triumphed 2-0 at the King Power that day to seal their place, courtesy of goals from Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard.
Leicester, who were missing key players during the run-in, had to settle for a spot in the Europa League.
The earlier league meeting at Old Trafford was decided by an early Rashford penalty to seal victory for United.
Overall, United have won 68 of their meetings with 33 Leicester successes and 29 draws.
You have to go back 13 games to the last time the Foxes beat the Red Devils – a game that will live long in the memory of Leicester fans as they overturned 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to record a 5-3 success in the early days of Louis van Gaal’s reign as United boss.
Betting Tip
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Leicester City vs Manchester United | Over 2.75 @ 1.88 |
| December 26, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
United have the edge with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
The Red Devils are available to tip 1X2 @ 2.33 and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.33, while Leicester are on offer 1X2 @ 2.97 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.25.
If there is to be a repeat of the final day of last season – correct score 0-2 – you will be in line to win with odds of @ 13.00.
Perhaps a draw is due – 1X2 draw is on offer @ 3.30 – given that Leicester have not drawn on a single occasion in the league this season.
I expect goals in this one from two teams who have plenty of firepower in attack, yet are inconsistent in defence.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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