Prediction: Both teams to score and Manchester United to win
Odds: 13/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
The Premier League returns on Friday evening as Manchester United welcome Leicester City to Old Trafford.
Both José Mourinho and Claude Puel will be keen to have a positive start of the season with pressure having built on each of them towards the conclusion of 2017/18.
Manchester United
Having finished second and 19 points behind Premier League winners Manchester City last season, most Red Devil supporters will be hoping that they can assemble more of a challenge for the crown this time around. Last season’s finish was United’s best in the league since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Despite that, they also suffered frustration in the transfer window. Diogo Dalot and Fred joined from FC Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk respectively. Lee Grant also signed from relegated Stoke City to provide some competition in the goalkeeping department. Mourinho wanted further additions in defence but his moves for Toby Alderweireld, Jerome Boateng and Harry Maguire all fell through.
The team also had a relatively mixed pre-season in preparation for their game against Leicester. They kicked off with a 1-1 draw with Club America before a 0-0 stalemate with San Jose Earthquakes. The first win came in the form of a penalty shoot-out victory over Italian giants AC Milan but they then fell to a 4-1 humbling at the hands of Liverpool. United edged past Real Madrid 2-1 before a 1-0 loss to German champions rounded off their pre-season fixtures.
Team News
Manchester United had plenty of World Cup participation over the summer and as a result could have a few players missing. Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard and Marouane Fellaini are all doubts due to their fitness. Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matić, Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo, Sergio Romero and summer signing Diogo Dalot are all however ruled out with respective injuries. Central defender Eric Bailly should be fit to start.
Leicester City
On paper, ninth in the Premier League table did not look too disastrous for Claude Puel at the King Power Stadium last season. Nevertheless, the Foxes only won five out of their last 21 league games, leading to speculation that the Frenchman could be sacked. He kept his job, however, and will be keen to improve this campaign. The East-Midlanders have been busy in the transfer window as a result. Ricardo Pereira was the first to arrive from FC Porto and he quickly was followed by Jonny Evans and James Maddison who were acquired from West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City respectively. Danny Ward was drafted in as goalkeeping competition before Rachid Ghezzal was signed as a replacement for Riyad Mahrez who left for Manchester City. Puel made two further defensive signings as he swooped for highly rated defenders Filip Benković and Çağlar Söyüncü on deadline day.
Much like the Red Devils, the former champions had a mixed bag of pre-season results. They begun with a 4-1 win over Notts County before a 0-0 draw with Akhisarspor. Italian outfit Udinese were their next opponents but they fell to a 2-1 defeat. The Foxes got back to form in their final two fixtures as they drew 1-1 with Valencia and earned a comeback 2-1 win over Lille.
Team News
Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire are slight doubts due to their participation at the World Cup. Former Red Devil Jonny Evans is touch and go with a muscle injury, whilst Demarai Gray could be restricted to the sidelines with an ankle problem. Midfielders Matty James and Nampalys Mendy are not in contention with injury.
Key Facts To Consider
- Manchester United have the far better record between the two sides (W64, D29, L33)
- Leicester have not won at Old Trafford in 20 years
- José Mourinho has never lost an opening fixture of the Premier League season
- Kelechi Iheanacho has scored four goals in three pre-season games
- The Foxes have only kept two clean sheets in their last 15 Premier League away games
Conclusion
Watchers of the Premier League should be treated to an excellent game on Friday evening. The Foxes will give United a real run for their money and there should be plenty of goals in the game. Both teams could look slightly different due to World Cup participation in the summer. The Red Devils’ quality though should see them edge ahead of Claude Puel’s men.
Prediction: Both teams to score and Manchester United to win
Odds: 13/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
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