Manchester United v Leicester predictions: Faltering favourites can be opposed

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester United v Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Leicester or draw double chance
3pts 31-20 Coral

Team news

Manchester United
Edinson Cavani picked up an injury while playing for Uruguay but Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane have recovered from knocks. Fred and Alex Telles will be assessed after their World Cup qualifying exertions in South America.

Leicester
Wilfred Ndidi, Ryan Bertrand and Danny Ward are sidelined. Defenders Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana should return but Jamie Vardy is unlikely to be risked as he recovers from injury.

Match preview

There are plenty of short-priced favourites on this weekend's Premier League coupon but one of them, Manchester United, are worth swerving when they host Leicester.

Unconvincing United needed a brilliant hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo to see off Tottenham 3-2 in their most recent league match at Old Trafford and they were swiftly brought down to earth by Champions League last-16 opponents Atletico Madrid, who knocked out Ralf Rangnick's side with a 1-0 second-leg win in Manchester.

Rangnick, like his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has struggled to get a consistent tune out of his team and United have dropped points in seven of their 13 league matches since Christmas.

The 4-1 drubbing by champions Manchester City which preceded the Tottenham win was hardly a surprise given the gulf in class between the derby rivals.

However, United's post-Christmas results also include draws with Newcastle, Aston Villa, Burnley, Southampton and relegation-threatened Watford as well as a 1-0 home defeat to Wolves on January 3.

Cup competitions have brought little cheer to the Old Trafford faithful, who have seen their team knocked out of three competitions at home this season.

Before their tame Champions League defeat to Atletico, United were beaten on penalties by Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and earlier in the season West Ham won 1-0 at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup.

Several of their players have had draining international commitments during the past week. Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes in Portugal's World Cup playoff wins over Turkey and North Macedonia while teammate Bruno Fernandes featured for 80 and 88 minutes.

The out-of-sorts Harry Maguire received a hostile reception from some England fans at Wembley, Edinson Cavani was injured playing for Uruguay against Chile, and Brazilian pair Fred and Alex Telles also made the long return trip to South America.

The international break is unlikely to enhance the performance of a side who have lacked fluency under Rangnick and Leicester are an appealing bet to avoid defeat at Old Trafford.

The Foxes have had a tough season, not helped by persistent injury problems, and star striker Jamie Vardy is unlikely to be rushed back for this game.

However, there have been signs of resurgence as their last four league results include wins over Burnley, Leeds and Brentford and Brendan Rodgers' men also beat in-form Rennes, the highest-scoring team in Ligue 1 this term, to reach the Europa Conference League quarter-finals.

Defensive vulnerability has undermined Leicester for much of the campaign but Rodgers should have central defenders Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana back to bolster the backline.

The Foxes have a fine recent record against the Red Devils, winning 4-2 in a frantic contest at the King Power Stadium in October, and claiming two wins and a draw in three league and cup meetings in the 2020-21 season so punters should be cool on the chances of hotpots United.

Key stat

Leicester have won their last three league and cup games against Manchester United, scoring nine goals.

Inside info

Manchester United

Penalty taker Cristiano Ronaldo
Free-kick wizard Cristiano Ronaldo/Bruno Fernandes
Set-piece aerial threat Harry Maguire
Card magnet Scott McTominay

Leicester

Penalty taker Youri Tielemans
Free-kick wizard James Maddison
Set-piece aerial threat Caglar Soyuncu
Card magnet Caglar Soyuncu

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