Today, July 26, 2020, all the Premier League clubs will file out to play their last Premier League games for the 2019-2020 season at 4 PM (UK time). But the biggest Match among the 10 games is definitely the match between 5th placed Leicester City and 3rd placed Manchester United.
One of the interesting aspects of this game is that by this time a week ago, Leicester City was ahead of Manchester United on the league table. In fact, before the Premier League returned from the coronavirus break, Leicester City were occupying the spot Manchester United are currently sitting on while United were occupying the 5th spot.
Unfortunately for Leicester City, the return from the coronavirus break did not help the squad as much as Manchester United which have the opportunity to have some of their best legs – Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford back for the remaining Premier League games.
Why Leicester City vs Manchester United match is so important
Though every other 9 fixtures that will go down this Sunday are very important in their own rights, yet, the importance of Manchester United visit to the Kings Power Stadium can not be overemphasized. This match alone can singlehandedly change 50 per cent of the current set up of the top four.
For instance, Manchester United are sitting on the 3rd spot with 63 points and with 28 goals difference, Chelsea is sitting on the 4th spot with 63 points and with 13 goals difference, while Leicester City is sitting on the 5th spot with 62 points and with 28 goals difference.
This means that if Manchester United lose to Leicester City this evening, Leicester will have 65 points and return to the top four while United will either drop or finish 4th depending on the outcome of Chelsea match against Wolves.
However, a draw is enough to guarantee Manchester United a top-four finish. While a win is the only chance Leicester City have to play in the Champions League next season. In the other hand, a draw or a win is enough for Chelsea to finish on the top four but that will be difficult to achieve since they are up against a 6th placed team that need to win to guarantee themselves of Europa League football next season.
Leicester Premier League form: LWDLWL
Man United Premier League form: WWWDWD
Man United form (in all competitions): WWDWLD
Leicester City Team News
Brendan Rodgers, the manager of Leicester City is going into the last game of the season without some of his biggest players who are out with different degrees of injuries.
Top on the list of players that will not be available for selection this evening are: James Maddison and Christian Fuchs are out with hip injury, while Ben Chilwell is out with foot injury. Caglar Soyuncu is still serving his ban.
For the final time this season – thank you 👏 pic.twitter.com/VkClk88Pcv
— Leicester City (@LCFC) July 26, 2020
Leicester City likely starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Bennett, Morgan, Evans; Thomas, Tielemans, Ndidi, Justin; Barnes, Vardy, Perez
Manchester United Team News
The manager of Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, will continue to be without Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe in today’s encounter with Leicester City. Eric Bailly and Luke Shaw are still battling to regain their fitness but they might be available for today’s game.
Both players missed Manchester United last match against West Ham United which ended in a draw. They are said to be recovering from minor injuries.
Matchday 3️⃣8️⃣ of the 2019/20 #PL: we're ready 👊
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 26, 2020
Come on United! 🔴⚪⚫#MUFC #LEIMUN
Manchester United likely starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Matic, Pogba; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Prediction: Leicester City 1 Manchester United 2
Opta stats
Leicester City have won just one of their 13 Premier League home games against Manchester United (D4 L8), beating them 5-3 in September 2014.
Leicester have lost just one of their last 12 final league games of the season (W7 D4, excluding play-offs), losing 4-5 at Spurs in 2017-18.
Leicester are averaging just 1.1 points-per-game in the Premier League since the restart (9 points from 8 games), compared to 1.8 points-per-game this season before the enforced break (53 points from 29 games).
Should he start, Harry Maguire would become the first Man Utd outfield player since Gary Pallister in 1994-95 to start every game in a Premier League campaign for United.
