Premier League

Leicester vs Man Utd prediction

Manchester United’s excellent form and 100% win record on the road faces a real threat when they travel to Leicester City on Boxing Day.

This match at the King Power Stadium sees second host third as both seek the three points to maintain the pressure on leaders and defending champions Liverpool.

United head to the East Midlands off the back of their 6-2 affiliation of Leeds United last Sunday, in which Scott McTominay scored twice in the opening three minutes. That has certainly been their most impressive performance of the season, but most of the hype has been their performances away from Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have six wins from six, but most of the opposition are in the bottom half:

3-2 at Brighton & Hove Albion (Bruno Fernandes’ 100th minute winner)
4-1 at Newcastle United (3 goals in the final 5 minutes)
3-1 at Everton
3-2 at Southampton (from 0-2 at half-time with Edinson Cavani scoring a 92nd minute winner)
3-1 at West Ham United (0-1 and completely outperformed in the first half)
3-2 at Sheffield United (who had 1 point at the time)

Leicester City promise to deliver a whole different class of football than what Sheffield United have been playing of late. Brendan Rodgers’ side are more than capable of finishing in the top four this season, and rebounded from their defeat at home to Everton by winning 2-0 away to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Admittedly, the Foxes’ form doesn’t look great on paper, but two of their three defeats since October have been to current top four sides. I believe the likes of Jamie Vardy, Harvey Barnes, James Maddison and co will be too good for United’s back four to hold out. As per the results above, the Red Devils are without a clean sheet on their travels this season, which includes conceding two each to Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

I think Manchester United’s odds are a little shorter than they deserve to be, but that’s a result of the pummeling they gave Leeds last time out. I expect both teams to score but if there’s to be a winner in this game I would have to lean towards Leicester.

Best bet: Lay Manchester United at 2.4 with Betfair