Man United vs Leicester City result, highlights and analysis as Marcus Rashford leads Red Devils to victory

Joe Wright

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Man United vs Leicester City result, highlights and analysis as Marcus Rashford leads Red Devils to victory image

Marcus Rashford continued his stunning form as Manchester United eased to a 3-0 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford.

The England international took his goal tally to 24 in all competitions this season — his best return in a United shirt — by scoring in each half against the Foxes. He was also involved in a fine third goal scored by substitute Jadon Sancho.

This was another performance and result to keep United at least on the fringes of the Premier League title race. They are now only three points behind Manchester City, who were held by Nottingham Forest on Saturday, and five adrift of leaders Arsenal, having played a game more. The win also opened up a 10-point gap to fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their match against West Ham on Sunday.

It also means they head into the coming week in a positive frame of mind ahead of their Europa League playoff second leg against Barcelona, and the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.

Man United vs Leicester City final score

  1H 2H Final
Man United 1 3 3
Leicester City 0 0 0

Goals: MAN UNITED — Rashford — 25th min

            MAN UNITED — Rashford — 56th min

            MAN UNITED — Sancho — 61st min

Still, they did not enjoy 90 minutes of comfort against Brendan Rodgers' visitors. Leicester, who had scored eight goals across their previous two games against Aston Villa and Spurs, should really have been ahead in the first half. David de Gea produced a brilliant one-on-one save to deny Harvey Barnes and then arguably an even better stop to claw away a header from Kelechi Iheanacho.

Indeed, Leicester were the team on top when they found themselves a goal down — a goal that came about from centre-back mistakes. Wout Faes' pass was cut out by Marcel Sabitzer, and as Bruno Fernandes looked to play the ball over the top to Rashford, Harry Souttar stepped up too late to play offside. It left Rashford with time to compose himself before rifling past Danny Ward.

MORE: Man United takeover: Who are the bidders who want to buy out the Glazers?

Had the game continued in the same pattern, Rodgers would have been confident of Leicester getting back into the contest. But when United raised their standards after halftime, the visitors just couldn't match them.

There was some good fortune to Rashford's second goal, which was initially ruled out for offside. A VAR check showed Faes was playing the forward onside by mere centimetres as he ran around the outside of Timothy Castagne onto Fred's first-time pass. The finish was, of course, unerring.

With Old Trafford rocking and Leicester looking vulnerable, United killed the contest five minutes later. This time, Rashford was involved in the build-up, finding Sancho just outside the visitors' box. Sancho passed right to Bruno Fernandes and raced in to meet the Portuguese's cross with a first-time finish.

United really should have scored more — Luke Shaw scuffed a shot from a promising position, and Wout Weghorst could hardly believe it when Ward denied him following more good work from Sancho — but they were able to ease through a final half-hour in which Kobbie Mainoo made his league debut at Old Trafford. They will head into next week, one of the most important in their season, in good spirits.

Is the real Jadon Sancho back?

Erik ten Hag's insistence that Jadon Sancho would only return from a break from first-team duties when he was absolutely ready seems to have paid dividends. After scoring in the comeback draw with Leeds United, Sancho's introduction here helped to take the game away from Leicester.

Crucially, the 22-year-old looked fully fit, strong, and confident. Deployed as a No.10 — a role Ten Hag has said previously that he could thrive in — Sancho exploited space in front of the Leicester centre-backs with aplomb. He linked well with Rashford and Fernandes throughout, most clinically when he finished an excellent team move started by Lisandro Martinez winning back the ball on the halfway line.

If he can keep up this sort of standard, we could start seeing the Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund again.

David de Gea deserves his place in Man Utd history

De Gea has enjoyed an excellent season despite initial questions over whether he was a keeper to suit Ten Hag's preferred style. There are still some doubts regarding his distribution, it's true, but when it comes to the art of shot-stopping, there are few better in the world.

His saves to deny Barnes and Iheanacho showcased his quick footwork and exceptional reactions, and they stopped Leicester from capitalising on their early play. From then on, he was a dependable presence from set-pieces and hopeful Leicester attempts, ensuring he was able to celebrate a 180th clean sheet for the club, equalling the record held by Peter Schmeichel.

Given his contribution to United during some difficult years, De Gea deserves his place in the annals of United history.

Man United must cut out slow starts

There has been a pattern to United's last two home matches against Leeds and Leicester: a sluggishness in the opening stages. They were behind to Leeds after a minute of the contest and could easily have trailed Leicester at halftime of this fixture.

Second-half improvements meant they have taken four points from those two games, but, as well as Leeds and Leicester performed at times, they are teams having difficult seasons. The same cannot be said of La Liga leaders Barcelona, who visit Old Trafford on Thursday, or of Carabao Cup final opponents Newcastle.

"We are happy with a great result," Ten Hag said to Sky Sports. "Today, the first half was really tough. First, Leicester played brilliantly; second, we were rubbish. It was only by David de Gea that we had a clean sheet at halftime.

"Luckily, we had a halftime, we could repair some stuff, and the second half was brilliant. It was the way I want to see our team playing."

If they start their next two games in the same slow manner, they may well be left to regret it.

Man United vs Leicester City commentary, highlights

FT: It ends in a 3-0 win for Man United. It might have been a difficult first half, but the Red Devils were by far the better team in the second period. They've now won 13 of their 17 games since the World Cup, and they are just three points behind second-place Manchester City in the table, and five off leaders Arsenal.

90 + 4 mins: Jadon Sancho sets up Bruno Fernandes for a chipped attempt, but it lands on top of Danny Ward's goal. The keeper takes the resulting goal kick... and that's that! Fulltime.

90th min: We're into four additional minutes. James Maddison is still trying to get Leicester a goal, but his latest attempt with his left foot is a comfortable one for David de Gea.

88th min: Wout Weghorst can't believe it! Jadon Sancho has the Leicester defence backpeddling, he lays it off to Weghorst just inside the box, but Danny Ward saves well with his legs. The big striker sinks to the floor, head in his hands.

86th min: Leicester are having a bit of a go at getting a goal back, but Harvey Barnes can't quite control a good pass from Youri Tielemans. United are seeing this out fairly comfortably.

80th min: The excellent Marcel Sabitzer is off, and it's a Premier League debut at Old Trafford for academy star Kobbie Mainoo. He's got 10 minutes or so to show the Stretford End what he's got.

75th min: Jamie Vardy is on for Leicester City. "Rooney! Rooney!" cries the United fanbase.

72nd min: Two more chances come and go for United, as Jadon Sancho fails to convert a one-on-one before Wout Weghorst glances a header narrowly wide. Moments later, substitute Aaron Wan-Bissaka combines with Marcel Sabitzer, but his cross to Weghorst is just cut out by Timothy Castagne.

69th min: Marcus Rashford's work for the day is done: he's off for Anthony Elanga. He'll now rest up for Barcelona.

63rd min: Luke Shaw finds himself on the edge of the area but his shot with his weaker foot is comfortable for Danny Ward. United have raised their game in this half, and Leicester haven't managed to match them.

61st min: JADON SANCHO MAKES IT 3-0! It's a terrific goal from Man United. Kelechi Iheanacho is too easily shrugged off the ball by Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford can lead another attack. He finds Sancho, who goes wide to Bruno Fernandes and bursts into the box to convert the Portuguese's first-time cross.

Watch Sancho finish a fine team move (USA):

UK:

56th min: 2-0!! IT'S MARCUS RASHFORD AGAIN! Fred plays a first-time throughball and Rashford races behind Timothy Castagne before shooting beneath Danny Ward. The offside flag is immediately raised, but after a VAR check, it seems Wout Faes was just playing the forward onside. The goal stands!

Watch Rashford's second goal (USA):

UK:

Australia:

53rd min: James Maddison lines up a free-kick, 25 yards from goal, but hits it straight into the wall. That was a promising position for the Leicester man. At the other end, a United break ends with Wout Weghorst scooping the ball over the bar with his back to goal after Fred's header.

51st min: Marcus Rashford skips into the box but shoots straight at Danny Ward. That came after Bruno Fernandes fired a shot into the gloves of the Leicester keeper. United have started the half well, much as they did at the beginning of the game.

49th min: Off the bar! Luke Shaw swings in a free-kick, Lisandro Martinez rises unmarked to meet it, but his header crashes off the crossbar.

46th min: We're back underway. United have made a change at halftime: Jadon Sancho, who scored the only goal when these teams last met, has come on for Alejandro Garnacho.

HT: Luke Shaw tries a shot, but it goes over, and that's the last kick of the half. United have a 1-0 lead but have been far from comfortable, and Leicester would have been in front were it not for two brilliant David de Gea saves.

45 + 2 mins: Wout Faes miscontrols the ball, makes a good tackle on Marcus Rashford, then is booked for cleaning out Bruno Fernandes. United have a free-kick on the edge of the box down the right.

44th min: United are ending the half in the ascendancy, but they can't quite open up the Leicester defence. Marcel Sabitzer finds Bruno Fernandes with a raking cross-field pass, but Wout Faes does well to cover and win the ball back from Wout Weghorst. We'll have two minutes of injury time.

37th min: Diogo Dalot, how have you missed that?! The United full-back finds Bruno Fernandes to his right and runs into the box to meet his compatriot's cross. Unmarked from six yards, Dalot can't make a clean connection with his right foot, and the chance is gone.

34th min: This is now officially Marcus Rashford's best goalscoring season for Manchester United. He's now on 23 in all competitions. He might even be in the Premier League golden boot race where it not for some guy called Erling Haaland.

30th min: James Maddison leads another Leicester break and lays the ball back for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who can't keep his shot on target. At the other end, Wout Weghorst wins a free-kick in a promising position down the United right, but when the delivery falls to Alejandro Garnacho, his shot is high and wide.

25th min: GOAL FOR MAN UNITED! Marcus Rashford does it again! Leicester are hit by a sucker punch from the home side. Marcel Sabitzer intercepts the ball in midfield and Bruno Fernandes plays an outside-of-the-foot pass through the Leicester defence, where Harry Souttar steps up to try to play offside. Rashford has a clear run at goal and rifles the ball into the bottom-left corner — and he was clearly onside.

Watch Rashford's opening goal (USA):

USA:

21st min: DAVID DE GEA AGAIN! United's defence is all over the place as Timothy Castagne gets in down the right once more. He picks out Kelechi Iheanacho at the far post, but De Gea claws the striker's header away as it looked destined for the bottom-left corner. United have got to liven up.

19th min: Tete flashes the ball across the box from the right but it flies out of play. Leicester have already had eight shots to United's three at Old Trafford.

15th min: After another spell of United possession, Leicester break quickly and Fred has to cut out a teasing cross from Tete. The home side do look open whenever Leicester are able to turn the ball over.

11th min: Another chance for Leicester as James Maddison slides a pass through to Kelechi Iheanacho, but his scuffed shot is blocked by Victor Lindelof. The Foxes are the more threatening side right now.

8th min: What a save, David de Gea! Fred gives the ball away in midfield and Harvey Barnes leads a break. After a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho, he's through on goal, but De Gea sticks out a hand to keep out his attempt. Harry Souttar heads over from the resulting corner.

Watch De Gea's save from Barnes (UK):

USA:

Australia:

7th min: Leicester have settled now and Timothy Castagne should perhaps have done more with a cross from the right that was cut out by Marcel Sabitzer. The visitors are enjoying a good spell of possession.

5th min: United win a corner as Marcus Rashford's shot is blocked behind. Nampalys Mendy is able to clear.

1st min: The first thing to note is that United are setting up much as they did against Barcelona, with Marcus Rashford as the No.9, Wout Weghorst behind him, and Bruno Fernandes on the right. The Red Devils are started brightly, too.

KO: We're underway at Old Trafford!

5 mins before KO: Players will wear black armbands today as a mark of respect for Christian Atsu and the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

30 mins before KO: This will be Bruno Fernandes' 150th start for Manchester United in all competitions. He's started more games than any player in Europe's top five leagues since his debut in February 2020.

1 hour before KO: Erik ten Hag does indeed ring the changes. Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez all come into the defence after missing the Barcelona match, while Marcel Sabitzer returns having been banned for the Europa League game. There is also a start for Alejandro Garnacho. Scott McTominay is fit enough for the bench, but Antony and Anthony Martial remain out. Harry Maguire is sidelined with a knee injury.

1 hour 30 mins before KO: United have a huge week coming up, in which they will go toe-to-toe with Barcelona in a Europa League knockout playoff second leg just three days before the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United. Erik ten Hag is likely to make the most of his squad for today's game, particularly with Casemiro serving the final match of his domestic suspension. His lineup will be interesting.

2 hours before KO: A win for Man United today, and they will be back to within three points of second-place Manchester City. They beat Leicester in the reverse fixture thanks to a solitary goal from Jadon Sancho, assisted by Marcus Rashford — the man who is arguably the league's most in-form player right now.

Man United vs Leicester City live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch all of the action from this match in some of the major territories:

  TV channel Streaming
USA NBC USA Network, Telemundo fuboTV, NBC app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Canada — fuboTV Canada
UK Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League Sky GO
Australia — Optus Sport
New Zealand Sky Sport Premier League Sky Sport NOW
India Star Sports Select 1 Jio TV, Hotstar VIP
Hong Kong Now Premier League TV (Ch. 620-621) now TV
Malaysia Astro SuperSport 3

Astro GO, sooka

Singapore 221 Hub Premier 1, 222 Hub Premier 2 StarHub TV+

UK: This match will be broadcast live in the UK via Sky Sports' TV and streaming services.

USA: This match streams on NBC's USA Network platform for subscribers in both English and Spanish.

Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streaming exclusively via fuboTV in Canada.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

MORE: Watch every Premier League match live with fuboTV in Canada

Man United vs Leicester City lineups

Ten Hag is still without Anthony Martial and Antony but Scott McTominay is back in the matchday squad.

Antony's fellow Brazilian Casemiro is still out, as he serves the final game of a three-match Premier League ban, but Lisandro Martinez is available after a Europa League suspension along with Marcel Sabitzer. Harry Maguire is not involved as he has a knee injury.

Man United starting XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea (GK) — Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw — Fred, Sabitzer — Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho — Weghorst

Man United subs: Heaton (GK), Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Malacia, Elanga, Pellistri, Mainoo, McTominay, Sancho

Brendan Rodgers keeps the faith with the team that beat Tottenham so impressively last time, with James Maddison starting as captain. Youri Tielemans is on the bench.

Leicester City starting XI (4-2-3-1): Ward (GK) — Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen — Mendy, Dewsbury-Hall — Tete, Maddison, Barnes — Iheanacho

Leicester City subs: Iversen (GK), Tielemans, Ndidi, Soumare, Vardy, Daka, Praet, Pereira, Amartey

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a Senior Editor at Sporting News. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has reported live on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia.