Ruud van Nistelrooy will look to end his short tenure on a high when Manchester United and Leicester City clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The dreaded international break is nearly upon us, with Gameweek 11 of the 2024/25 Premier League season ending this weekend. The action on Sunday will kick off with three simultaneous matches, including Manchester United vs Leicester City at Old Trafford.
Ruud van Nistelrooy began his spell as the interim Manchester United manager with a 5-2 win over Leicester City in the EFL Cup and will end his tenure against the Foxes. Between these two matches, he has overseen a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League and a 2-0 win over PAOK in the UEFA Europa League.
The unbeaten run has eased the tensions at Old Trafford in the last ten days, with Ruben Amorim set to take over from van Nistelrooy as the new manager on Monday. On the other hand, Leicester City began the 2024/25 season amid pressure surrounding Steve Cooper in the first few weeks.
While the Foxes kicked off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a creditable 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, they had to wait until Gameweek 7 to register their first win. Cooper’s men have lost only one of their last four Premier League games, with the run of results lifting them five points clear of the drop zone.
Manchester United beat Leicester City 5-2 when the two teams clashed in the EFL Cup last week. The most recent Premier League match at Old Trafford ended in a 3-0 win for the Red Devils. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Ruud van Nistelrooy has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his final game in charge. The Manchester United interim manager might be bereft of the services of six first-team players vs Leicester City on Sunday.
Amad Diallo is the latest absentee, with the Ivorian attacker recovering from a knock he picked up earlier this week against PAOK. The 22-year-old might return, but Luke Shaw (calf), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Harry Maguire (calf), Leny Yoro (foot), and Kobbie Mainoo (hamstring) remain on the sidelines. However, Shaw, Yoro, and Malacia are closing in on returning to action.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Leicester City on Sunday. The backline should feature Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Noussair Mazraoui.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte in the double pivot. Bruno Fernandes will reprise the no. 10 role, with Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford being the two wide attackers. However, Alejandro Garnacho will start if Diallo is not fit. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line for Manchester United against Leicester City on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, de Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui; Casemiro, Ugarte; Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Leicester City
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Steve Cooper barely has any issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Leicester City manager might be without four first-team players on Sunday.
Hamza Choudhury (shoulder), Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Achilles), and Patson Daka (ankle) are closing in on returning to action, and the trio might feature in the matchday squad. However, Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle) remains on the sidelines, although he will likely return after the international break.
Mads Hermansen will take his spot between the sticks, with Leicester City lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. The backline will feature James Justin, Wout Faes, Caleb Okoli, and Victor Kristiansen.
As for the midfield unit, Boubakary Soumare and Harry Winks should pair up in the double pivot, with Wilfred Ndidi and Oliver Skipp missing out. Facundo Buonanotte will reprise the no. 10 role, with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Jordan Ayew being the two wide attackers. Finally, Jamie Vardy will spearhead the Leicester City attack against Manchester United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Soumare, Winks; Fatawu, Buonanotte, Ayew; Vardy
Key Stats
- Manchester United have won their last three matches vs Leicester City in all competitions, most recently beating them 5-2 in the EFL Cup a few days ago in their first match after Erik ten Hag’s sacking. The Foxes have emerged victorious in only one of their most recent 14 Premier League visits to Old Trafford (D3 L10), a 2-1 victory in May 2021.
- Manchester United have won only one of their last six Premier League games (D3 L2). The Red Devils have managed just 12 points from their opening ten outings, their lowest total at this stage since the 1986/87 campaign. Their tally of nine goals is their lowest at this point of a top-flight season since 1973/74.
- Heading into Gameweek 11, Leicester City and Manchester City are the only two teams to have scored in all of their Premier League outings thus far this season.
- Manchester United have scored two first-half goals, the joint-lowest tally in the Premier League this season, alongside Crystal Palace.
- Steve Cooper has lost all six fixtures as a manager against Manchester United in all competitions by an aggregate score of 18-4. All four goals by his team came at Old Trafford.
Player to Watch
Amad Diallo
While Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Jamie Vardy were options for this section, we have picked Amad Diallo as our Player to Watch. The Ivory Coast international has endured a frustrating spell after a solid start to the 2024/25 season, with Erik ten Hag inexplicably dropping him from the starting eleven.
However, the 22-year-old showed why he deserves more opportunities by scoring a match-winning brace earlier this week in the 2-0 win over PAOK in the UEFA Europa League. Meanwhile, Manchester United will look to tie him to a bumper new contract, and more game-changing performances will vindicate that decision.
Prediction
Manchester United 3-1 Leicester City
While Manchester United cruised to a 5-2 win over Leicester City in the EFL Cup, the two clubs will dish out much-changed starting elevens this weekend. That will mean that a heavy victory is not a straightforward prediction. However, Leicester City’s defensive struggles might help the Red Devils return to winning ways in the Premier League.
The Foxes have conceded the opening goal in a league-high eight of their ten top-flight fixtures this season. Manchester United will add to that number this weekend, but Leicester City will not go down without a fight. Ultimately, Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes will deliver the goods, with The Hard Tackle predicting a 3-1 win for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s final match as the interim boss.