KING POWER STADIUM, LEICESTER — Manchester United produced a third successive victory to continue their revival, with Jadon Sancho’s goal enough to keep Leicester City rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.
With the eyes of the world on transfer deadline day, the actual football was in danger of becoming an afterthought — and a relatively drab game here in the East Midlands did little to steal the limelight. The Foxes look a broken team, with United comfortably seeing out the win with not much effort.
Erik ten Hag’s starting XI will soon change thanks to the signing of winger Antony earlier in the day, but for now, the Dutchman chose to stick by the team which defeated Southampton on the road on Saturday.
Sancho did his part in convincing Ten Hag that Antony’s spot in the team won’t be at the England international’s expense, by striking in the first half for the the second time in three games, latching onto a through ball from Marcus Rashford before running beyond Danny Ward and coolly slotting in. The former Borussia Dortmund star began the game well, interchanging with Bruno Fernandes and each of United’s attacks seeming to flow through him.
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United took their foot off the gas and controlled proceedings with comfort, as Leicester struggled to make any inroads. Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall and Harvey Barnes were their brightest lights, but couldn’t quite craft the chances to break into the 18-yard box.
Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo emerged from the bench in the second half to add a sprinkling of star quality, but save for a trio of Ronaldo chances in quick succession and a very late James Justin chance to equalise, the game petered out.
The Red Devils held on to end a run of five games against Leicester without a win, and ensure spirits are high ahead of Sunday’s huge home clash with league leaders Arsenal.
Rodgers on the brink as Foxes offer little spark
Leicester's era under Brendan Rodgers looks to be nearing its end, with the Northern Irishman's spell at any club looking like it has a three-year shelf-life. The Foxes, who have won both the FA Cup and Community Shield under his stewardship, seem to now be out of ideas.
A difficult summer in the transfer market hasn't helped, but the quality on that field should still be producing more inspiration than it currently is. All eyes were on Youri Tielemans and James Maddison after their failed moves away this summer, but the pair of Dewsbury-Hall and Barnes were the standouts in Leicester's forward-thinking midfield four.
Leicester's best moments came from moves involving Dewbury-Hall, who was trying moves others weren't and constantly found himself in space, unafraid to take on United players in one-on-ones as he tried to surge through the Red Devils rather than beyond them. Barnes was lively at times from the left, too, but neither could break into the area.
The Foxes' best moments — and they were fleeting moments, rather than sustained periods — resulted in efforts from long range. There was such little invention in breaking past a midfield two of Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay, who were there to be got at. Jamie Vardy's fire up top also seemed to be out.
Rodgers' men have taken a single point from 15 available; coming up is a difficult pair of road games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur sandwiching what looks to be an early six-pointer with Aston Villa here at King Power Stadium.
Quality ready to be unleashed for Ten Hag's controlled side
There wasn't a whole lot to be learned from that United display, due to the opposition. The visitors did what they needed to, which was ultimately very little. But that in itself will satisfy the Dutchman, who rode the rockiest of waves to start his United career, and has now enjoyed a memorable win over Liverpool to stem the tide and some plain sailing with back-to-back away victories.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are clearly United's best centre-back pairing, with an assuredness that isn't offered with Harry Maguire. They never looked in trouble tonight, setting the tone early on by sniffing out a searching Tielemans ball for Vardy that in the past would've caused no end of problems as the spiky No.9 latched onto it.
Casemiro's cameo from the bench was strong overall, albeit with one worrying moment as his misplaced pass and rebound led to a Maddison run towards United's box. He generally oozed quality, particularly with his first touches, jinking past a Leicester midfielder with ease. Moments later, the Brazilian made an interception in a dangerous area and then immediately played a great cross-field ball to Fernandes on the right flank. He kept his hand in going forward, and looks ready to start.
Ronaldo was surprisingly strong from the bench, too, crafting several opportunities to extend the lead, and being lively across the frontline. Having shifted Fernandes to the right, Rashford to the left and Eriksen further forward to accommodate the two former Real Madrid superstars, Ten Hag's side showed promise in its fluidity.
Fernandes was the key for United, perpetually involved. Sancho showed flashes of real quality, and the pair look primed to be unleashed when the gameplan has more license for attack, over retaining possession in midfield to kill the game. The link-up and movement was smart. Add in Antony, and that's a frightening prospect as a trio behind either Rashford or Ronaldo.
The Sporting News followed the match live from the East Midlands, providing updates below.
Leicester vs. Man United score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Leicester | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Man United | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Goals: Sancho (23)
Leicester vs. Man United live updates, highlights from Premier League
FULL-TIME: The boos from the Leicester faithful are much louder than 45 minutes ago, as the Foxes remain rooted to the bottom of the table. It finishes 1-0 to United.
93rd min: A very big chance for James Justin to equalise, as the right-back breaks into the box but fires over. That was the moment.
90th min: Very nearly a spectacular own goal from Iheanacho, as a Fernandes cross hits the Nigerian at pace and flashes narrowly over. There are four minutes of added time.
88th min: Vardy's last act is a lunging challenge on Malacia, which is rightly punished with a booking. Patson Daka is on for the No.9. United switch out Rashford for Fred as Ten Hag looks to shut the game down. Following the recent "Wagatha Christie" trial, United fans chant the name of Wayne Rooney.
85th min: Jonny Evans slides in to deny Eriksen at the back post, with Ronaldo's square ball across the area nearly coming off for United. Moments later, Ronaldo and Rashford start a move that eventually moves across to the right and then back to the No.7 at the back post, with his bicycle-kick effort going wide. Fernandes then plays in his compatriot for a third chance, but Ronaldo goes too wide and there are no teammates to meet his ball across the box.
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77th min: The likes of Youri Tielemans are becoming snappier in the midfield in trying to win possession back, but the game is in danger of petering out for Leicester, who are offering little spark. The Belgian is replaced by striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who joins Vardy in a front pair.
69th min: Goalscoring hero Sancho makes way for Ronaldo, who certainly still has the support of the travelling fans here. Ronaldo is of course up top, with Rashford moving to the left.
67th min: Casemiro had a couple of beautiful touches in his first few minutes, but his latest contribution is a mishit pass and rebound off him which gets Maddison within shooting position. Eventually the Englishman is fouled, and his resulting free-kick comes to nothing. Elsewhere, Ronaldo is warming up.
59th min: Casemiro is on for Elanga, who has been quiet, so some positional changes here. Initially, Fernandes looks to have shifted out to the right with Eriksen moving further up field in the Portuguese star's place, to make room for Casemiro in front of the backline.
51st min: Dewbsury-Hall makes a surging run towards David De Gea's goal, but is cynically brought down by Lisandro Martinez en route for another United yellow. The playmaker was the only Leicester man in United's half, but it was dangerous. Maddison fires the resulting free-kick on target, but De Gea claws it out of the top corner. At the other end of the field, Rashford and Sancho began the half enjoying themselves with a couple of party pieces. A good sign for their own confidence after a tough 2022 so far, but Ten Hag's men perhaps getting a little too comfortable.
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46th min: We're back in action. No substitutions at the break.
HALF-TIME: Boos from a smattering of home fans as the players head down the tunnel. 1-0 to the visitors at the break.
45th min: The energy has died as we approach the interval, with United in control. It's simply too comfortable, with Rodgers' men unable to get into the 18-yard box.
39th min: Leicester living dangerously playing short balls out from the back while under pressure, as United begin to camp out in their half. A deflected Sancho effort is the latest opportunity. In the opposite box, two half-chances: a long-range Barnes strike which goes wide, and a Dewsbury-Hall through ball which he slightly misplaced, with Vardy having made a decent run.
30th min: United are quite happy to keep possession now, with the scoreline giving Christian Eriksen a chance to start purring from his deep midfield position. James Maddison's balls aren't quite coming off for Leicester, while Diogo Dalot picks up the game's first yellow card for halting Barnes' progression on the left.
23rd min: GOAL! The Foxes' resurgence is halted. United strike as Rashford plays a nice short ball behind Leicester's last man and into the path of Sancho, who gets beyond Danny Ward and slots in coolly. 1-0 to United.
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22nd min: Leicester are becoming a lot more comfortable. Kiernan Dewbury-Hall is the key man within that - a few balls around the corner that nearly came off, a free-kick on target, one teasing cross and generally involved in each forward foray. Harvey Barnes is also ensuring the Foxes' attacks are largely coming down the left, with Anthony Elanga needing to track back.
15th min: Fernandes almost got himself an assist as Christian Eriksen flashed a shot wide. Other than that, a bitty last few minutes in which Leicester fans are only being woken up by refereeing decisions they don't like.
7th min: United are growing into the game, with Jadon Sancho looking like he'll be key to this. The interchanging with Bruno Fernandes has nearly created a couple of openings, with Marcus Rashford also showing glimpses. Aside from one searching Youri Tielemans ball for Jamie Vardy, the game has settled into a rhythm to United's beat.
1st min: The United corner of this ground is all pulling in the same direction: "We want Glazers out" is the chant early doors, as they rally against the ownership of the club.
KICK-OFF: We're underway in the Premier League's final slice of midweek action.
5 mins to KO: After a spectacular light show in the East Midlands, we're nearly ready to go.
20 mins to KO: The Red Devils are searching for a first win in six over Leicester. The hosts' current streak of three wins and two draws comes after a period of dominance in the fixture from United, who responded to 2014's infamous Jamie Vardy-inspired 5-3 loss with a run of 14 unbeaten.
40 mins to KO: After closing out last season with back-to-back victories here, Leicester have gone ahead in each of their first two home games of 2022/23, against Brentford and Southampton, emerging with just a single point.
1 hour to KO: Team news is in - and Casemiro is made to wait for his first start. He joins Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench once again, as Ten Hag sticks with the XI that defeated Southampton on Saturday.
1 hour 20 mins to KO: Thursdays are about to become a regular part of United's calendar, with this being the first of three straight weeks of the Thursday-Sunday rhythm, due to their UEFA Europa League participation. Of all Premier League teams to have played five or more times on this particular weekday, the Red Devils have the best win ratio (59%).
1 hour 40 mins to KO: In the matchday programme, Brendan Rodgers has spoken of his confidence, despite the doom and gloom seemingly surrounding the Foxes. Through matchday four, the manager saw "enough positives for us to retain our belief that we will climb the table quickly." Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi stressed that "sticking together" as a squad will be key amid the pressure.
2 hours to KO: Welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage from King Power Stadium. Of course, the dominant discussion tonight is transfer deadline day, with United having concluded their business with the signings of Martin Dubravka and Antony.
The latter, an £88m arrival from Ajax, will be expected to go straight into this disjointed Red Devils XI by the weekend, but he will not make his debut this evening, having not been registered before the Premier League's cutoff.
Leicester, meanwhile, have endured an extremely quiet summer in terms of incomings. Earlier today, though, centre-back Wout Faes completed his move to the East Midlands, as a replacement for Wesley Fofana. Real Madrid legend Marcelo was heavily linked with a shock move here this afternoon, but those rumours have since been quashed.
What time is Leicester vs. Man United?
Leicester play host to Man United at King Power Stadium. It kicks off at 8 p.m. local time on Thursday, September 1.
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| Date | Thursday, September 1 | Thursday, September 1 | Thursday, September 1 | Friday, September 2 |
| Time | 20:00 BST | 15:00 ET | 15:00 ET | 05:00 AEST |
How to watch Leicester vs. Man United
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | |
| TV channel | BT Sport 1 | USA Network | - | - |
| Streaming | BT Sport app | fuboTV | fuboTV | Optus Sport |
USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamed on fuboTV. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.
Canada: Every Premier League game streams live and on demand exclusively via fuboTV.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream matches live and on demand on Optus Sport.