Leicester City will be desperate for three points, while Manchester United will be eager to continue the recent unbeaten run at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
The international break is nearly upon us, and the curtains will fall on Gameweek 29 of the 2024/25 Premier League season on Sunday. The action on the day will start with two simultaneous games before ending with Leicester City vs Manchester United at the King Power Stadium.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Leicester City since sacking Steve Cooper. The new manager bounce under Ruud van Nistelrooy lasted only two games, and the Foxes have raked in only three points in their subsequent 13 top-flight outings. With their survival hopes fading after going nine behind Wolverhampton Wanderers, the hosts desperately need to rack up victories in the coming weeks.
On the other hand, Manchester United have shown some positive signs in the last few weeks, even though they have now piled up the wins. However, the Red Devils produced arguably their finest performance of the 2024/25 season when they came from a goal down to beat Real Sociedad 4-1 in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 16. That result has meant Ruben Amorim’s men have not lost a game in regulation time in six outings.
Leicester City and Manchester United have locked horns thrice this season, with the Red Devils winning each match. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Leicester City
Ruud van Nistelrooy has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Leicester City manager will be bereft of the services of only one first-team player, with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku recovering from a season-ending knee injury.
Mads Hermansen will take his spot between the sticks, with Leicester City lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. The central defensive unit should feature Conor Coady, Wout Faes, and Luke Thomas.
James Justin and Victor Kristiansen will likely be the two wing-backs. The wide duo will provide width in the final third but primarily protect the three centre-backs. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare in the central areas, with the pair aiming to keep things tight in the middle of the park.
Finally, Jamie Vardy will lead the line for Leicester City against Manchester United, with Facundo Buonanotte and Bilal Khannouss providing creative support.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hermansen; Coady, Faes, Thomas; Justin, Ndidi, Soumare, Kristiansen; El Khannouss, Buonanotte; Vardy
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Leicester City dugout, Ruben Amorim has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of the trip to the King Power Stadium. The Manchester United manager might be without eight first-team players on Sunday.
Harry Maguire and Mason Mount are close to returning to action and might be in the matchday squad. However, Patrick Dorgu will finish his Premier League suspension. In addition, Altay Bayindir (unspecified), Tom Heaton (knock), Luke Shaw (calf), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Leny Yoro (foot), Kobbie Mainoo (calf), and Amad Diallo (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Leicester City on Sunday. The central defensive unit should feature Victor Lindelof, Matthijs de Ligt, and Ayden Heaven. Meanwhile, there is no looking past Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui as the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will take creative charge on the flanks, allowing Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen to wreak havoc through the central areas. Manuel Ugarte will likely replace Casemiro as Bruno Fernandes’s midfield partner, with the Brazilian midfield getting some rest. Finally, Joshua Zirkzee will likely spearhead the Manchester United attack against Leicester City on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; Lindelof, de Ligt, Heaven; Dalot, Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes, Mazraoui; Garnacho, Eriksen; Zirkzee
Key Stats
- Leicester City have lost their last three Premier League games vs Manchester United without scoring. The Foxes had been unbeaten in the previous four meetings. Meanwhile, the Red Devils have lost just one of their eight most recent Premier League fixtures at the King Power Stadium, a 4-2 defeat in October 2021.
- Leicester City have lost 12 of their last 13 Premier League games, including their five most recent outings without scoring a single goal. The Foxes could become only the fifth Premier League team to fail to find the back of the net in six successive matches. They have lost their last six Premier League home games by an aggregate score of 15-0.
- Manchester United are yet to win consecutive league games this season, their longest wait for successive league victories in a single campaign since 1968/69 when they won their 32nd and 33rd games. Meanwhile, the Red Devils have conceded 25 Premier League goals in matches at Old Trafford this season, as opposed to 15 in top-flight games on the road.
- Leicester City have conceded 998 goals in 678 Premier League games. Eleven clubs have let in 1000 goals in the competition, but the Foxes would be the first to do it in fewer than 700 matches.
- Rasmus Hojlund has not found the back of the net in his last 21 appearances across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
While Joshua Zirkzee, Jamie Vardy, and Wilfred Ndidi were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Bruno Fernandes as our Player to Watch for Sunday’s Premier League game between Leicester City and Manchester United at the King Power Stadium. But who else other than the Manchester United captain, really?
Bruno Fernandes has seven goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season; both totals are the highest of any Manchester United player in the 2024/25 campaign. The Portuguese international has almost exclusively earned the Red Devils points, draws, and victories across all competitions in the last few weeks.
The 30-year-old illustrated that perfectly when his match-winning hat-trick carried Manchester United to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. So, Fernandes will unsurprisingly be Ruben Amorim’s go-to man again this weekend.
Prediction
Leicester City 0-2 Manchester United
Manchester United’s performances have improved in the last few weeks, while Leicester City’s struggles show no signs of ending. The Foxes cannot even find the back of the net, going five Premier League games without scoring. In addition, the Red Devils have been better travellers than hosts, although the 4-1 win over Real Sociedad promises a well-rounded turnaround.
Nevertheless, all signs point towards Manchester United clinching another morale-boosting win, with Leicester City’s struggles continuing for another two weeks. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 victory for Ruben Amorim and his charges. Ruud van Nistelrooy masterminded two of the triumphs for Manchester United vs Leicester City earlier this season but will fail to eke a reverse for the Foxes.
