Manchester United v Leicester City Preview; Go safe on Draw Updated for December 2024

Updated: 12th December 2024

EPL: Manchester United v Leicester City Preview – August 10, 2018 – Old Trafford – 20:00 hrs

Manchester United v Leicester City Preview

Manchester United begin their Premier League season with a fixture against Leicester City on Friday, August the 10th. The opener may not have many of the big names, some of them yet to recover from World Cup Russia blues and others owing to injury.

Nemanja Matic, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young could be among those not likely to feature in the Premier League 2018-19 opener at Old Trafford.

Anthony Martial, whose presence was under a cloud some weeks earlier, looks likely to stay on and start off against Leicester. For 20-year old Marcus Rashford it could be an opportunity to spend more time on the pitch. Diogo Dalot, United's young defensive import from Porto, is reported injured and would be fit only in September.

Victor Lindelöf, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling could very well start off at the back. With David De Gea in doubt for Friday's opener, it could be an opportunity for 2nd choice goalie, Argentine Sergio Romero to make his mark.

A well-rested Alexis Sanchez (Chile not having qualified for Russia 2018) could spearhead United's attack. He could have the attacking mid-fielder Scott McTominay giving him company upfront along with the likes of Martial and Rashford. United's £47 million signing, Fred, from Shakhtar Donetsk could also start off against Leicester.

Claude Puel's Leicester City will miss the vital services of start forward Riyad Mahrez, the 27-year old Algerian having moved to Manchester City on a £60 million deal. The attacking onus will hence fall entirely on the shoulders of Jamie Vardy although the Foxes are not entirely short of talent upfront with names like Kelechi Iheanacho, Islam Slimani and Shinji Okazaki cropping up. 22-yaer old Demarai Gray who was very impressive last season could also make his mark in the mid-field and in the wings.

Apart from Gray, Marc Albrighton and Andy King should be the mainstays for Leicester in that space. Center-back Harry Maguire, who shone in England's World Cup show could still feature for the Foxes, his move to Old Trafford running into a bit of a snag.

Puel has made some solid recruits at the back with Portugal full-back Ricardo Pereira and Northern Ireland center-half Jonny Evans. Another move to fill in the big shoes of Mahrez in the mid-field has been the £22 million signing of Norwich midfielder James Maddison. Whether goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who was so brilliant for Denmark in the World Cup, would be able to start off on Friday remains to be seen.

Leicester City managed to stay in the Top Ten in the 2017-season despite suffering defeats in five of their seven last games. But closing with a 3-1 win over Arsenal and a close 4-5 defeat to formidable Tottenham seemed to have lifted their spirits towards the end.

Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils are favorites to win the Friday night's opener despite fielding a potentially depleted side while it be up to the visiting Foxes to make the most of the situation. Even a draw would serve their cause well.

Manchester United v Leicester City Tips

The betting advice on this game will be a no bet on this occasion as it's too early in the Premier League season for a correct score prediction.

Manchester United v Leicester City Best Odds

Best Odds correct as of 09/08/2018 – subject to change.

1/2 Manchester United

3/1 Draw

7/1 Leicester City

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