Leicester v Man Utd betting tips, preview, team news & TV channel

Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event, 2.05pm Sunday

Manchester United have surfed a wave of optimism since appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but their top-four challenge was blown off course by a 2-2 draw at home to Burnley on Tuesday. And they may be heading for more choppy waters at Leicester, where they have won just once in their last four visits.

Solskjaer's first six weeks in the job have been hugely successful with United banking 19 points from a possible 21 and getting through rounds three and four of the FA Cup.

But February brings tougher challenges, including the home leg of the Champions League tie against Paris St-Germain, the FA Cup fifth- round clash at Chelsea and a home league game against Liverpool.

Those fixtures will have a huge bearing on United's season but the Leicester match also carries significance because Solskjaer's side can ill afford to lose more ground in the push for a top-four finish.

It is a dangerous fixture because the Foxes have given several examples of their effectiveness against the top teams.

The latest was on Wednesday when they deservedly drew 1-1 at Liverpool and ended the Reds' sequence of seven successive home league wins.

They caused Liverpool a lot of problems with their counter-attacking style and defended superbly, restricting Jurgen Klopp's side to just three shots on target.

Goalscorer Harry Maguire – a reported Manchester United transfer target last summer – was effective in both boxes and looked fully recovered from the minor injury which restricted his movement during last month's 4-3 loss at Wolves.

Leicester needed a strong response to the Wolves defeat for the sake of manager Claude Puel, who continues to top the next-manager-to-go betting.

Expectations have risen since the Foxes won the title in 2015-16 but talk of a managerial change seems harsh with Puel's side still in the hunt to finish seventh.

Puel has not been helped by some poor performances and results against the league's lesser lights, including home defeats to Cardiff (1-0) and Southampton (2-1).

But Leicester seem to relish the big occasion and in striker Jamie Vardy they possess the ideal weapon to expose the lack of pace in the United defence.

However, beating United is going to be tough. There has been a greater confidence about them since Jose Mourinho's departure and they showed impressive resilience to draw with Burnley after being 2-0 down after 86 minutes.

That point may still have some value in a tight battle for top-four places and the last-ditch recovery helps to preserve the notion that United are a totally different beast under Solskjaer.

However, their tally of six wins from 12 away league games is less impressive and it may not be increased this weekend.

Recommendation
Draw
1pt 5-2 general

Team news
Leicester
There are no fresh injuries and Youri Tielemans could feature for the first time.

Manchester United
Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial are doubts with minor injuries, Chris Smalling returns to contention and Marcos Rojo is sidelined.

Key stat
Leicester are unbeaten in their last four matches against big-six teams.

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