Manchester United could reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the second consecutive year as we travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City in the quarter-final on Sunday. Both sides are pursuing a place in the top four of the Premier League. However, we will be seeing the FA Cup as a chance to achieve silverware at the end of the season.
United come into this game off the back of the 1-0 win against AC Milan on Thursday evening in the Europa League. It was thanks to a Paul Pogba goal, who made the difference for us as we advanced to the quarter-finals of Europe’s second-tier competition. The Red Devils now meet Granada in the next round.
Fighting On All Three Fronts
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team is in a good run of form. We are unbeaten in the last 14 games across all competitions. This form is split evenly with 7 wins and 7 draws. United’s have not been beaten in a domestic away game since January 2020. This will be the first away match in the FA Cup this season. We have won the last 12 out of 15 games away from Old Trafford in the competition.
The route to the quarter-finals has seen us overcome Watford, Liverpool, and West Ham in the previous round after needing a goal in extra time to make it through. If United were to get past Leicester City, it would be mean a record 31st time in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. It will be no easy task to get past the Foxes who will bring the confidence of their big win against Sheffield United into this tie.
United has a good record against Leicester City in the FA Cup having beaten them on two previous occasions. There was a 2-1 win in the fifth round of the competition back in 1976. We also had the 3-1 victory against the Foxes in the 1963 cup final.
Opposition Preview
Leicester City arrives into the quarter-final tie after thrashing Sheffield United 5-0 in the Premier League last weekend. The victory over the Blades followed a narrow win over Brighton to give them back-to-back wins. This brought to an end their three-game winless run previous to this.
The Foxes’s route to the quarter-finals has seen them overcome Brighton in the last round of the competition. They had also seen off both Stoke City and Brentford before that. They have won the last six of eight home games in the FA Cup. The two defeats they did have came at the quarter-final stage of the competition. The most recent defeat was last season when they were beaten by Chelsea.
Leicester City has not won against United in the last 13 matches since beating the Red Devils 5-3 back in September 2014.
Leicester City vs Manchester United Match Details
Teams: Leicester City vs Manchester United
Date: March 21st, 2020 (Tuesday)
KO Time: 17:00 GMT
Competition: FA Cup
Stadium: King Power Stadium
Referee: Craig Pawson
Managers: Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Brendon Rodgers
Manchester United Team News
United will assess the fitness of Marcus Rashford ahead of the game after being substituted at half-time during the 1-0 victory against AC Milan. Ole Gunnar Solskjær has said he had done this as a precaution and is hoping he will be fit so he can play some part, though he concedes it is unlikely.
If Rashford is absent from the game, it would leave United a bit short in attack. Both Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani are doubts as they nurse their respective injuries. Eric Bailly is also a doubt which could mean that Victor Lindelof partners Harry Maguire in the centre of the defence.
Solskjær is likely to make changes to fresh up the side and one of those would be starting fit-again Paul Pogba. He came off the bench at half-time and scored within three minutes to give United the victory over AC Milan on Thursday evening.
Leicester City vs Manchester United Pre-Match Press Conference
During the pre-match press conference, Ole was asked about the importance of winning a trophy and have now the chance in the Europa League and FA Cup. He said, “I spoke earlier about trophies and it can hide sometimes what you’re doing in the background but for me, I feel we’re improving all the time and getting closer. To win a trophy could be a boost for everyone, yes, it would be.”
He was also asked about the United defence and how much confidence they have after not conceding a lot of goals recently. Ole said, ”Sky-high. We’re used to speculation. Every goal you concede at Manchester United is going to be scrutinised. That’s just the way it is. You know, I know these boys have become so much stronger mentally and to deal with these things. We work on things. You know, when we had a set-back like we did against Milan in the last minute, we had a little… not row but a bit of a meeting and you saw against West Ham and tonight that there was no chance we were going to let any goals in. They’re proud defenders. Even though, they can play football, they can play out from the back and all this but when you see defenders wanting to defend, you’re pleased.”
Leicester City Team News
For our opponents, Leicester City will be without a host of key players for this quarter-final game. James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Cengiz Under, James Justin, and Wes Morgan remained out with their respective injuries. Another doubt for the United game is Ricardo Pereira who suffered a hamstring injury last weekend. Both Dennis Praet and Sidnei Tavares are expected to be available. Kelechi Iheanacho’s hat-trick against Sheffield United is likely to earn him a starting place on Sunday.
Manchester United and Leicester City Form Guide
United’s FA Cup form: WWW
United’s form (all competitions): DDWDWW
Leicester City FA Cup form: WWW
Leicester City form (all competitions): WLLDWW
Interesting Facts
- Manchester United are looking to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for a record 31st time, with the Red Devils currently level with Arsenal on appearances in the last four of the competition. (source: Opta)
- Manchester United have won each of the previous two FA Cup clashes with Leicester City, a 2-1 win in the fifth round in 1976 and a 3-1 victory in the 1963 final of the competition – lifting the trophy for the third time. (source: Opta)
- United have won 12 of their last 15 FA Cup matches away from home.
- Manchester United have not lost an away game since their December defeat to Leipzig and are unbeaten since the controversial loss to Sheffield United in January.
- Manchester United have not lost to Leicester since 2014 (W9 D4)- a 5-3 defeat at the King Power. During this time, United have scored 26 goals in 14 games but kept only 5 clean sheets.
Predicted Lineup
Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles; Fred, Matic; James, Fernandes, Pogba, and Greenwood
Prediction
In the Premier League, there is barely anything separating both United and Leicester City as we chase a place in the top four. It makes this FA Cup quarter-final match even more intriguing. United’s away record this season will give the players the confidence to go to the King Power stadium and progress to the semi-finals. A fit-again Paul Pogba could prove key in this game after helping us achieve the victory over AC Milan on Thursday evening.
Predicted Score
Leicester City 1-2 Manchester United
