Arguably the most eye-catching fixture in the final gameweek of the season will take place at the King Power Stadium as Manchester United take on Leicester City in a match crucial to both sides’ chances of finishing in the Premier League top four and ensuring Champions League football next season.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
*Please note that this article was written prior to the gameweek 37 fixtures for print purposes
Leicester City vs Manchester United | Sunday 26 July | King Power Stadium | 17:00
To Win (90 Mins)
Leicester City 9/4
Draw 22/10
Man United 23/20
Leicester City
Brendan Rodgers’ men had looked a shoo-in for Champions League football, but their dreadful run since the restart allowed Chelsea to take third place. Frank Lampard’s side face Liverpool in midweek and then Wolves on Sunday. They need just one win to guarantee Champions League football next season.
Leicester’s chances of a top four finish are on a knife-edge after their 3-0 loss at Tottenham last time out. If the Foxes lose to Solskjaer’s Red Devils on Sunday then Chelsea need do nothing but start planning for next season’s Champions League.
Leicester’s last victory over United came in the 2014/15 campaign when they made their return to the English top-flight. Coached by Nigel Pearson at the time, the Foxes came from 3-1 down to record a stunning 5-3 victory against Louis van Gaal’s team.
Since then, the Foxes have played United 11 times, suffering eight defeats. Seven of those have come from their last eight meetings, while Rodgers’ men will be hoping to avoid a fourth straight loss against the Red Devils.
The head to head stats certainly doesn’t bode well for Rodgers’ men, but after seeing United’s defensive frailties exposed against Chelsea, the Foxes will fancy their chances. Leicester are unbeaten in their last four games at the King Power Stadium. They beat Aston Villa (4-0), Crystal Palace (3-0) and Sheffield United (2-0) and played out a goalless draw with Brighton.
This is a must-win game for Leicester as they try and seal a top-four finish, but it’s going to be incredibly difficult as they come up against the Premier League’s form side and without Caglar Soyuncu, Ben Chilwell, James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira.
It would be a bitter pill for Rodgers to swallow if Leicester miss out on a Champions League qualification spot, but whatever happens on Sunday, Rodgers should be proud of his overachieving young side.
Manchester United
Manchester United were outplayed, outclassed and outwitted by Chelsea last weekend as they crashed out of the FA Cup, but they can still secure their season-long aim of Champions League qualification and challenge for the Europa League crown.
The Red Devils have been the Premier League’s form side since the season resumed last month and now hold their fate in their own hands. Maximum points against West Ham in midweek and Leicester on Sunday will guarantee Champions League football next season.
With the Foxes missing a host of key players and the head to head stats heavily in United’s favour, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be confident his side can achieve their top four target and leave the King Power Stadium with all three points.
Since the restart, United have taken 10 points from a possible 12 away from home in the Premier League. Following their 1-1 draw at Tottenham, they recorded wins over Brighton (0-3), Aston Villa (0-3) and Crystal Palace (0-2). The Red Devils will be aiming to make it four away wins in a row.
Solskjaer paid the price for leaving out Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba from his starting lineup against Chelsea last weekend, but you can expect to see the aforementioned trio on his teamsheet against the Foxes.
With the likes of Martial, Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Pogba, the Red Devils will be confident of getting the job done against Leicester, who they’ve beaten three times in a row.
Prediction: Manchester United (23/20)
Leicester will treat this game like a cup final and throw everything at one last shot to claim a Champions League spot when everybody is writing them off. Can United deal with the pressure and deliver when it really counts? I think so. The attacking threat of Martial, Greenwood, Rashford and Bruno should prove too much for the Foxes. Back the Red Devils to bag all three points.
Written by Chad Nagel
