It’s been a long wait, but the English Premier League is back this evening at 20:00pm with Manchester United against Leicester City. Hot off the heels from a disappointing summer transfer window, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will have to rally his troops with a similar squad to last season, after failing to sign a central defender in time before yesterday’s 5:00pm transfer deadline.
The most notable of Manchester United’s few signings is Fred, from Shakhtar Donetsk, a busy creative central midfielder that cost United £52 million, and who was part of Brazil’s national team in the World Cup in Russia. Manchester United have been cited for having a very unsuccessful pre-season, with many injured players and also with problems in signing new players.
On the other hand, Leicester City’s Claude Puel has been busy in the summer transfer window, buying Rachid Ghezzal, James Maddison, Caglar Söyüncü, Johnny Evans, Ricardo Perreira, Nampalys Mendy and Filip Benkovic, however, it is not clear as to who will make the starting line up tonight.
Brazilian footballer Fred is now playing for Manchester United. Credit: Sky Sports
Manchester United have a long list of unavailable players such as Matic, Valencia, Dalot, Rojo, Herrera and Sergio Romero, who are all out injured, whilst Eric Bailly, Marouanne Fellaini, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young, Paul Pogba and Phil Jones are all doubtful picks for tonight’s clash.
Leicester City have Matty James injured, while Nampalys Mendy, Johnny Evans, and James Maddison are all doubtful choices, whilst star players Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire are both ruled out for tonight’s battle. Harry Maguire was subject to a potential £70 million bid from Manchester United after a successful World Cup in Russia, but the transfer never materialised, which was probably for the best for both sides.
So in tonight’s game, we cannot expect both teams fielding their strongest sides due to injuries and fitness problems, which could pave the way for players like Andreas Perreira, who has spent the last couple seasons out on loan, to finally perform for the Red Devils.
Harry Maguire remains at Leicester City but will not feature tonight. Credit: Leicester Mercury
Additionally, much expectation will be placed on Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez, who signed up in the January transfer window, and now starts his first full season for Manchester United, declared fully fit after not playing in the summers’ World Cup tournament. Other players that need to prove themselves this season (more so than before) will be Marcus Rashford, who has apparently inherited the number “10” shirt formerly worn by Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
For Leicester City, Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho will be entrusted to bang in the goals after an impressive pre-season campaign, but they may find it difficult to contain Sanchez and Rashford tonight, without the likes of Harry Maguire in defence.
Match Prediction: Manchester United v Leicester City 2-1
Story by The Narrator
Featured Photo Credit: Goli Sports