Our live stream ahead of Boxing days Premier League match, Leicester City vs Man Utd is now up, kicking off at 12.30 GMT
You can keep an eye on the commentary as it happens below, but first, we take a preview into the fixture, lineups, predictions and much more…
Leicester come into the game in great form, having won four of their last five in all competitions, with their latest Premier League outing resulting in a 2-0 win away at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
No team in the top half of the Premier League table has lost more matches than Leicester (five) this season, but the Foxes have recorded the joint-most wins with Liverpool (nine). As a result, a total of 27 points has left them second in the table, which represents an excellent opening to the 2020-21 campaign.
There is no question that the hosts have the tools to beat United on Boxing Day, but the Foxes have lost their last four Premier League matches with the Red Devils, while they have not beaten the 20-time English champions since a 5-3 success in September 2014.
United’s Premier League form has been excellent, winning six of their last seven. They come into the game off the back of an impressive 2-0 win at Everton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, which allowed them to book their spot in the semi-finals of the competition.
A record of eight wins, two draws and three defeats from 13 matches has brought them 26 points, which is enough for third spot in the table with a game in hand.
Considering Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s position as United boss has been called into question on a number of occasions already this season, its amazing to see how quickly things can turn in a matter of weeks.
They now sit only five points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand and have recently been mentioned as possible title contenders. Incredible considering their struggles in the early stages of the campaign.
Leicester and Manchester United clubs last met in July with United winning 2-0 away at Leicester…
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Brendan Rodgers
On fitness…
“Vardy will be fine for the game. It’s just a bit of soreness. It will be pretty much the same squad. Soyuncu may be close. If not for Saturday, he could be ready for Monday.”
On Manchester United…
“I think Ole’s doing a fantastic job. They’ll be disappointed to go out of the Champions League because it’s a competition they have history in. Ole has reshaped the club in terms of the values, and he’s looking to develop young players. I think he’s done a very good job. They’ve got big quality.”
New training ground…
“It’s one of the best facilities in the world. It’s also a sadness to leave a training facility. We’ve been at Belvoir Drive for 56 years, but the legacy is that the women’s team move in. It’s the biggest investment the new owners have made. It really underlines their commitment to developing players.”
Impact on recovery and transfers?
“On the recovery of players, the facilities are elite for sports science. Recovery is such an important aspect in modern football, with the speed and intensity of the games.”
“We have rooms for players to rest in too. In terms of recruitment of players, it will really help. We will always be in the market for a certain level of player.”
“We don’t have £50m to spend on one player, but being able to bring in talented players, when they see the facility, that will help no doubt. We’re moving into an elite venue.”
First on the golf course?
“We’re trying to leave that for Khun Top. We’re hoping he has the first tee-off. When you spend over £100, you should be allowed to go first off the tee. To have nine holes of golf surrounding it will be nice for the players and staff to use it.”
Ricardo helping Justin?
“It tells you everything about the spirit of the team that his closest rival is helping him. From a manager’s perspective, he’s been a dream. Since he’s come in, he’s got better and better.”
“He can play in a number of positions, but he has a robustness. He managed Son’s speed, then I moved his position and it was seamless. He’s really taken to the level. The senior players are really helping him.”
How has Justin coped with the death of his dad this year?
“I’ve got nothing but the biggest admiration for him. I lost my father nine or 10 years ago and I was a lot older than what James was. For him to lose his father just as he was coming through.”
“It’s been remarkable, the spirit he has shown. He’s been incredible. He never flinches. He doesn’t change, he’s so reliable. You saw the second goal we scored, he’s bombing up the outside when Albrighton crosses it.”
“His passing is getting better, he was really crisp and precise in his passing at the weekend. He’s a humble boy.”
Difference between very good training ground and elite training ground?
“It will have hydrotherapy, altitude units, cryotherapy. It’s a training ground that facilitates everyone, from the young players, so you can monitor everything.”
“We have a 500-seater stadium for the second team to play at. The pitches for the academy, young players will never play on better surfaces. There’s an area for parents, because they have to be there so many hours, but they will have somewhere to relax.”
“I remember coming to Belvoir Drive as a young coach. It’s amazing, but the new site is a different world altogether.”
Are City in form?
“It’s just the nature of the season. Every team will be in a position where you go on a good run and then have a bump in the road. Everyone is looking to win every game, but you can’t.”
“We’re human, we’re going to drop points. We were disappointed after Everton but you have to move on quickly. You can’t get too disappointed.”
Learn much from United v Leeds?
“I didn’t learn so much from the game. When you’re a neutral you can enjoy it. In space, Manchester United have got incredible players. And you know Leeds don’t change. You’re looking at it from a tactical aspect.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
I just wanted to talk about Anthony Martial’s recent form. He seems to be growing in confidence and back to his best…
“Yeah, Anthony has made some important contributions lately: assists, scored goals, he is getting fitter. I think he showed against Leeds that he knows that I’m on to him about this and his running stats from that game set a new standard for him, which I want to see more of. “
“He’s always going to have the quality. Maybe his confidence has been bruised a little bit by what happened earlier in the season, with the red card and he had some criticism. But Anthony is going to be better and better. When we get Mason [Greenwood], Marcus [Rashford] and Anthony firing on all cylinders, we’ll be a bigger threat for teams.”
How difficult a test do Leicester pose? Is it that sort of thing where you just get your head down in the league without any other distractions for a bit – is that a welcomed thing?
“Well, it’s game by game, we have to think like that now. But Leicester… we’ve had some good games against Leicester, very tight games. They’re a very good side with a very good coach and I’ve enjoyed watching them under Brendan [Rodgers].”
“It was a big test for us to go down there at their stadium for the last league game of last season in the summer. We passed that one with flying colours. I felt we really controlled the game.”
“I know it’s not going to be the same now because it’s a different time of the season. They have some threats that you have to look for and we’ll just sit down and think about who’s fit and who’s not fit.”
You mentioned fitness earlier – how impressed have you been with the numbers over recent games which shows they’re getting into their running properly? Which maybe you didn’t have the advantage of with no pre-season…
“We’re getting better and better. These boys know what I want from my team. Certain games give you a chance to run in a different way; they’re all different in their own way.”
“The Leeds game was very open and end to end, loads of running. That shows we do have the capability if required.”
Obviously you’re in a very good position in the league and you’ve got a match in hand as well. How do you deal with this talk of you being title challengers? It is something you welcome or something you’d rather not hear and just keep the noise out?
“There is noise around Man United anyway. For us, it’s about improving as team, take it game by game – we have to. That’s the name of the game, that’s the only way you’re going to challenge for anything at the end of the season anyway.”
“It’s not something we talk about. The only thing we talk about is improving day by day, learning how to deal with different situations and maybe now at the moment we’re getting praise. That’s another thing we need to learn how to deal with.”
Do you find yourself scratching your head at Man United’s away results? You just seem to be so strong away from home at the moment…
“No, why should I? I go into every single game thinking we can win it. If it’s at home or away it doesn’t really matter at the moment, even though tonight [against Everton] we had some fans and the noise was really good and enjoyable. It’s not like it used to be a year ago. Away or home, it doesn’t really matter.”
You did it today, but with Leicester coming up, how important is it to keep a clean sheet away from home? Also, in the league, knowing that you had to come from behind in every away league game this season?
“It’s going to catch up with you if you keep letting the other team take the lead, and Leicester are one of those teams who you don’t want to give a one or two-goal lead to because they have got so many players on the transition.”
“If they can play on the result, you could easily concede two, three or four. So, we have to start as well as we did today. I thought we started excellently today and against Leeds. Of course, the first goal in any game is a very important one.”
FORM:
Leicester City Premier League form: LLWWLW
Leicester City form (all competitions): LWWWLW
Manchester United Premier League form: WWWDWW
Manchester United form (all competitions): WLDWWW
LINEUPS:
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Fofana, Evans, Fuchs; Albrighton, Ndidi, Tielemans, Justin; Barnes, Vardy, Maddison
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
THATSAGOAL TIP:
Over 3.5 Goals – 8/5 with FanTeam
Manchester United have hit a run of solid results in the league and are suddenly being talked up as outside title challengers. That may be a bit premature the run of results needs to be taken seriously.
Solskjaer has got his side scoring a lot of goals in some very high-scoring games. A 6-2 win over Leeds was in no small part thanks to their opponents chaotic match approach but recent scorelines suggest the goals will keep coming.
Both sides should score in a game likely to see a few goals.
Time to take a look at our Leicester City vs Man Utd live match stream as it happens…
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