Pull out every “must-win” cliche you can think of when describing the importance of Manchester United’s match on Sunday against Leicester City.
Both teams are looking for a Champions League birth and it’s as simple as this; United need just a point to qualify, Leicester needs to win to qualify (although a point could also be enough for Leicester if Chelsea were to lose to Wolverhampton Wanderers).
The Foxes have been decent at the King Power Stadium this season, winning 11 of their 18 league games with just three defeats, but Leicester has struggled since returning to the field last month, picking up just two wins from their eight league matches, suffering three defeats in the process, to drop outside of the Champions League positions.
There is no doubt that United are tired and the last three matches have shown that, but at this point but if they can’t get excited to play on Sunday, something is wrong.
Expect the usual high-powered Premier League squad that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has deployed since the restart.
The once stable David De Gea will no doubt get the start but fingers crossed he doesn’t show the same lack of form as he displayed in the FA Cup match loss on Sunday
United will again be without Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones through injury, but Solskjaer said during Friday’s pre-match press conference that Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly could both be available.
Nemanja Matic is set to feature alongside Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes in midfield, with Mason Greenwood joining Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford as part of a front three.
Odion Ighalo, Juan Mata, Fred, and Daniel James should be left in reserve.
Leicester have no fresh injury concerns heading into Sunday’s contest, but the Foxes are still without key players in the shape of James Maddison, Ben Chilwell, and Ricardo Pereira through injury.
Christian Fuchs and Daniel Amartey are also sidelined, while key center-back Caglar Soyuncu is suspended, meaning that Wes Morgan will again play in a back three alongside Jonny Evans and Ryan Bennett.
Marc Albrighton is in contention to return, having missed the side’s last two squads through injury, although Harvey Barnes and Ayoze Perez are again likely to support Jamie Vardy in the final third of the field.
Leicester possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Bennett, Morgan, Evans; Thomas, Tielemans, Ndidi, Justin; Barnes, Vardy, Perez
United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Matic, Pogba; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
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