Marcus Rashford bagged a brace as Manchester United thrashed Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City at Old Trafford to consolidate their push for Premier League top four finish.
Starting Lineup
Manchester United: de Gea; Shaw, Martinez, Lindelof, Dalot; Sabitzer, Fred, Fernandez, Weghorst, Garnacho, Rashford
Leicester City: Ward; Cristiansen, Faes, Souttar, Castagne, Mendy , Dewsberry-Hall, Tete, Maddison, Barnes, and Iheanacho
It was a pretty good start by the Foxes at Old Trafford. They held the threats and ripped apart Manchester United’s defense in the first few minutes of the game.
The match was widely open from both ends. Brendan Rodgers and Erik Ten Hag adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation with a free-styled attacking disposition.
Backed by Maddison, Tete and Barnes, Nigeria international Iheanacho spearheaded the Foxes’ attack while Marcus Rashford led the United attack flanked by Wout Weghorst, Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
Erik Ten Hag repeated a subtle twist in the Man United linuep as done in the game against Barcelona in the Europa League playoffs.
He played Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst as an attacking midfielder behind Marcus Rashford. Bruno Fernandes shifted to the right flank of the midfield while Marcel Sabitzer retreated to the center half.
It was a pretty genius maneuver by the former Ajax manager. With a similar formation, attacking disposition left the game opened from both sides.
Leicester City were absolutely dangerous charging forward as the referee set the game rolling. Iheanacho missed a clearcut chance that would have given the Foxes the lead early in the game. His shot deflected off Lindelof for corner kick after he fired at goal from inside the Man United box.
After an initial attacking threats and domination by the Foxes, Manchester United began to contest for the ball, but were still playing second fiddle to Leicester City. They, however, maintained a clinical attacking edge when with the ball.
In the 25th minute, Rashford fired the Red Devils in front against the run of play. Bruno Fernandes tore open the Foxes defence with a long through ball. Rashford positioned well and escaped the offside trap. He then charged forward with the ball and came one-on-one with Ward before firing into the bottom-left corner.
Leicester continued to dominate the game but could not bring the game level before the half-time break. Manchester United scored again, but after VAR check the goal was ruled out.
Brendan Rodgers boys were good with the ball, but were clueless in the Man United box. In the 56th minute, Marcus Rashford scored again to double Man United’s lead.
He picked Fred’s pass and beat off the challenge by Leicester City defender Castagne as he charged forward before slotting home the ball into the net to make it 2-0 for the Red Devils.
Brendan Rodgers made some changes to the squad as he tried to navigate through a clinical and overwhelming display by the Red Devils, all to no avail.
In the 61st minute, Jadon Sancho sank the Foxes and smashed all hopes of a comeback for the away side.
Leicester City forward Iheanacho had cheaply lost the ball in his own half and United wasted no time breaking with a counter led by Marcus Rashford.
Marcus Rashford picks Sancho who then ran off with a quick one-two with Bruno Fernandes before steering home a clinical finish to make it 3-0 for Manchester United.
The match ended with Erik Ten Hag bagging all three points at Old Trafford with another cool and classic display despite Leicester’s spirited showing throughout the game.
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