United have an injury crisis and the fact a whole host of their key men have only just returned to training following the World Cup. Nemanja Matic is ruled out after undergoing surgery on an injury he first picked up during the World Cup. Right-back duo Antonio Valencia and Diogo Dalot are also both crocked, so we think either Victor Lindelof or Eric Bailly could be asked to fill in by Jose Mourinho.
Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba were the latest to return to training following their World Cup exploits so are unlikely to make it beyond the bench. Romelu Lukaku returned early, alongside Marcus Rashford and Phil Jones, but the Belgium striker did not play in the last friendly against Bayern Munich. That means Rashford is more likely to lead the line, although he could play on the left with Alexis Sanchez through the middle.
Anthony Martial is also an option, should he remain beyond deadline day. Brazilian midfielder Fred is in line for a debut, while Andreas Pereira has also impressed in pre-season following his loan at Valencia last year.
Leicester City Team News
Claude Puel does not have as many personnel issues as Mourinho but key men Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire did return late to training following their World Cup exploits. The French manager claims neither will start but a slight injury to Jonny Evans means he could rethink and name Maguire in the line-up.
Kelechi Iheanacho has scored four goals in three pre-season games so should lead the line and allow Vardy time to recover. New boy James Maddison is a slight doubt but we expect him to start ahead of fellow signing Rachid Ghezzal, who has only just arrived in the Midlands.
Manchester United expected line-up (4-3-3) – De Gea; Lindelof, Bailly, Smalling, Shaw; Fred, Herrera, Pereira; Mata, Sanchez, Rashford.
Leicester expected line-up (4-2-3-1) – Schmeichel; Pereira, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Ndidi, Iborra; Diabate, Maddison, Albrighton; Iheanacho
Manchester United v Leicester Head to Head
Leicester have won just one of their last 20 matches against United, losing 15 and drawing four of the other 19
In their title-winning 2015/16 season they drew 1-1 at home and away but the following year lost 2-1 in the Community Shield, and were thrashed 4-1 at Old Trafford and 3-0 at the King Power. Last year they lost 2-0 at Old Trafford early in the season – Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini scoring United’s goals – but Leicester did claim a 2-2 draw at home thanks to Harry Maguire’s last-minute equaliser. Jamie Vardy had earlier given Leicester the lead, before Juan Mata’s two goals looked to be sending another three points United’s way until Maguire’s late leveller.
Man Utd v Leicester Betting Tips
It might not be a happy place at Old Trafford at the moment, but Manchester United are still comfortable odds-on favourites to start the new season with a win. A Man Utd win is 4/9 with Betbright.
They beat Leicester to nil last time out, and with David de Gea between the sticks will hope to start with a clean sheet too – a United win to nil improves those odds to 6/5. That could be the clever bet.
United have not set the world alight in pre-season, however – far from it, in fact – and their uninspiring football has been a concern throughout the past 12 months. Under 2.5 goals will return just 17/20, combining that with a United win is 9/4 with Betbright. Alexis Sanchez will be United’s key man and he is evens to score at any time.
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