Leicester City will host Manchester United at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, with former Red Devils legend Ruud van Nistelrooy facing his old club as he fights to save the Foxes from relegation.
Van Nistelrooy took over as Leicester manager in November after Steve Cooper’s sacking, but his side has struggled, losing 13 of their last 17 matches. Leicester now sits 19th in the Premier League, six points from safety, and is on a six-game losing streak across all competitions.
On the other hand, Manchester United, now managed by Ruben Amorim, have endured a disappointing league campaign. Currently sitting in 14th place, United are focused on winning the Europa League to secure a Champions League spot, following a 4-1 win against Real Sociedad.
The two sides have already met three times this season, with United winning all encounters, including a 5-2 victory in the League Cup and a 3-0 triumph in the Premier League. Their most recent clash saw Harry Maguire and Joshua Zirkzee secure a 2-1 win for United in the FA Cup.
For Manchester United, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes will lead the attack, while Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo will control the midfield. In defense, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane will aim to shut down Leicester’s limited attacking threat.
Leicester’s leaky defense, which has conceded 62 goals this season, is second only to Southampton’s record of 68. With United’s hopes of European qualification via the league fading, Amorim’s side will still aim to build momentum for their upcoming Europa League quarter-final against Lyon.
United’s away form has been poor, with only three wins from 13 away fixtures. However, Leicester’s struggles at home are even worse, with the Foxes failing to score in their last six league games at the King Power Stadium. Key players like Jamie Vardy, James Maddison, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will need to step up to turn their fortunes around.
Van Nistelrooy’s familiarity with the United squad could give Leicester a slight edge, but unless the Foxes can break their goal drought and tighten up at the back, a return to the Championship seems inevitable.