With a goal in the first half against Leicester City in the East Midlands,
Manchester United prevailed.
Additionally, Manchester United travelled to the King Power Stadium
to face Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City in their most recent Premier League match.
After beating Southampton 0-1
the previous weekend,
the Red Devils entered the game looking for three straight road victories.
Leicester City Manchester United goals 1-0
Erik ten Hag selected the same starting lineup from the game
on the south coast in an effort to earn all three points and a third straight league victory.
After winning United‘s player of the month award for August,
Lisandro Martinez kept his spot in the lineup as “the Butcher”
sought to build on a successful start to his Manchester United career.
Ten Hag chose to bench Cristiano Ronaldo for the second straight
game instead of giving summer acquisition Casemiro his first United start.
Despite being introduced to the United supporters on deadline day,
the Dutch manager’s statement signing Antony did not participate in any way because of his delayed registration.
Jadon Sancho’s lone goal in the first half ultimately gave the Red Devils the victory in Leicester.
Initial Half
Both teams exchanged possession during the initial phase of the game,
but neither made a strong impression.
In an effort to secure a crucial three points,
Brendan Rodger’s Leicester City started the game with a clear attacking intent; nevertheless,
Manchester United made the game’s first significant effort.
Christian Eriksen’s effort just fizzed beyond Danny Ward’s
near post after intricate link-up play from the United
forwards in the tenth minute.
Erik ten Hag’s team appeared to be settling into the game
and receiving the lion’s share of possession after a cagey
first stanza from both teams.
David De Gea was forced into action for the first time on minute 20
when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall hammered a free-kick towards goal,
but the Spanish shot-stopper easily held onto the goal despite the Red Devils’
possession of the ball.
Manchester United would make the most of their times
on the ball just two minutes after Leicester
made its first meaningful attempt of the match.
When the foxes played loose ball,
Bruno Fernandes would have a great opportunity because he would have two teammates
rushing ahead of him and only three Leicester defenders standing between him and the goal.
In order to set up his England colleague,
the Portuguese playmaker decided to pass via Marcus Rashford.
Jadon Sancho then took the ball around a stranded Danny Ward
to score the game’s first goal for Erik ten Hag’s team.
The East Midlands team was stunned by this goal,
while Brendan Rodgers’
team and the King Power Stadium were equally as stunned as Manchester United did.
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United
were in full swing as the first half progressed,
playing aggressive and intense football.
The Red Devils,
were assured and confident even without the ball
as they pressed the Foxes and repeatedly forced them to turn over control.
Jadon Sancho nearly benefited from United’s fluid football in the 35th minute.
but the English winger’s shot bounced into Danny Ward’s arms.
With Erik ten Hag’s team leading 0-1 at the half,
Later Half
The second stanza got off to the liveliest start as Manchester United attempted to build on their first-half momentum.
However,
Leicester came close to tying the score just four minutes after the break.
but David De Gea made a last-ditch save to preserve United’s lead.
Later,
Harvey Barnes received a cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall that he was unable to deflect in the direction of the goal.
These early opportunities for the home team indicated that they would not succumb to dominance as quickly as they had in the first half.
Erik ten Hag would make his first substitution of the night after this barrage of Leicester chances,
bringing on Casemiro to help his team regain some composure.
Leicester came close to tying the score just four minutes after the break,
though.
James Maddison appeared to have levelled the game for the foxes with a central free-kick that was headed for the top corner,
but David De Gea saved the United goal by making a last-ditch save on the English midfielder.
Harvey Barnes couldn’t direct a cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
in the direction of the goal a few moments later after it was lashed onto his head.
With these early opportunities,
the home team demonstrated that they would not be as easily controlled as they were in the first half.
Erik ten Hag would make his first change of the night following this flurry of Leicester opportunities,
bringing on Casemiro to help his team regain some composure.
For the first time in nine months,
Manchester United defeated Leicester City 1-0
on Thursday in a forgettable game at the King Power Stadium to clinch their third straight league victory. Midway through a comfortable first half,
Jadon Sancho scored the game’s only goal, but Leicester bounced back to put some pressure on in the second.
For the third straight game,
United manager Erik ten Hag stuck with the same starting lineup,
which meant Casemiro once more started on the bench because new acquisition Antony was ineligible on the same day that his move from Ajax was officially finalised. Nevertheless,
the advantages of a constant lineup were clear throughout the first half,
when a self-assured United dominated possession and seized the lead right away.
Erik ten Hag decided to stick with the same lineup from the successful matches against Liverpool and Southampton.
Harry Maguire, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Casemiro,
who is probably being rested for his debut start against Arsenal, all remained on the substitutes’ bench.
Jadon Sancho’s goal allowed United to win both of its away games in the Premier League for the first time since the 2020–21 campaign,
clearly riding the confidence from the victory against Southampton.
