Man Utd v Leicester Bet Boosts: Red Devils to strengthen top four hopes

Liam Williams Updated: 07 Mar 23 15:09 Published: 17 Feb 23 11:28

Manchester United return to Premier League action on Sunday, hosting a Leicester side unbeaten in three and looking to further ease their relegation fears.

The Foxes’ miserable start to the season saw them rooted to the bottom of the table with one point from their first seven games, but 16 points from their next eight hoisted them away from danger.

Another poor run of four straight defeats upon their return from the World Cup with just one goal scored and eight conceded left them two points above the drop zone, but the 2-2 draw with Brighton, followed by superb 4-2 and 4-1 wins over Aston Villa and Tottenham respectively have moved them six points clear.

Brendan Rodgers’ side should have enough to avoid the drop considering the fortunes of some of those around them, but in a season where most of the bottom half could still find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle, Leicester may view their trip to Old Trafford as something as a free hit.

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Manchester United, meanwhile, are still continuing to fight on four fronts after their 2-2 draw in Camp Nou on Thursday evening, but it feels like a matter of time before Erik ten Hag’s rotation policy (or lack of) catches up with him.

Playing a near-full-strength side in the FA Cup against Reading left Christian Eriksen out for most of the season, and the Dutchman wasn’t helped by Casemiro picking up a three-match ban with Scott McTominay also on the sidelines.

Harry Maguire’s shaky performance against Leeds at Elland Road won’t have filled Ten Hag with much confidence, but it’s unlikely he’ll demand Raphael Varane play two games a week for the next few months meaning Maguire and Victor Lindelof should see more minutes in the next couple of months.

With their Europa League tie with Barcelona finely poised, Ten Hag will be unlikely to rest any of his big hitters, though he does have the EFL Cup final the following Sunday to keep in mind. Though the United manager has said he doesn’t like rotating players, and would rather his strongest XI become more familiar with each other, Sunday is one of the few opportunities he has to rotate, and Leicester may take advantage.

With the congested fixture list, Alejandro Garnacho is in line for just his fourth Premier League start of the season, and despite his terrific breakout season, the Spaniard only has two goals to his name and may well add to that on Sunday.

Since returning to the starting XI, Kelechi Iheanacho has scored two goals and laid on three assists in two games. He also scored in his only other Premier League start this season in the 5-2 defeat at Brighton earlier in the season.

He’s never quite been able to oust Jamie Vardy, even after his excellent run of 11 goals in 11 games in 2021, but maybe his time is finally coming, and the former City man will be a threat at Old Trafford.