Game Week 31 Predictions: United must beat Leicester at Old Trafford

Manchester United must beat Leicester to keep pace on top four rivals, Leicester would make this fun for the neutrals. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

 Manchester United vs Leicester City

Old Trafford Stadium

5:30pm

There’s so much to celebrate at Old Trafford this minute but on the bigger picture, there’s so little to celebrate that is if you consider Bruno Fernandes’ new contract and United’s season respectively.

The Portuguese confirmed on Friday that he has extended his Old Trafford contract for another four years and that means they can now focus on the likes of Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo and contract expiry fronts.

Top four fight is on and United are fast falling off the ladder with Tottenham now ahead of United on the log. Manchester United are four points off Arsenal in fourth and have played a game more than the Gunners, they must beat Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday to avoid worsening their own situation.

Leicester City are having a bad season considering their runs since their sensational league title in 2015, they’re yet to sparkle this season and it might be time for them to start thinking about life after Jamie Vardy with the former England striker set to miss out again this weekend.

Leicester are in tenth and hopes of returning to Europe via the league aren’t bright but they can make the Europa League via the Europa Conference League and that would be something they can cherish, they will have to negotiate AS Roma in that regard.

Manchester United must win here, but that isn’t something they have done many times in recent fixtures against the Foxes, they have lost three of the last five against Leicester and only won once, that must change here or else they cede further grounds to top four rivals.

Arsenal play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday, United would have played two more than the Gunners by then and they don’t want to slip further down, Tottenham are another team in the mix and are also above United on the table.

United will also be wary of Westham who are just two points behind them and host Everton on Sunday, if form is anything to go by, then it’s an easy fixture for the Hammers. United must put their house in order or risk another shocker.

How will they both approach this? Leicester have nothing to lose, they have Wesley Fofana back and that means defensive solidity, United are without Edison Cavani but everyone else is fit to play, it will be a case of United attacks and the Foxes defend.

Verdict: Both teams to score.