Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash between
Leicester City and
Manchester United as the top two go head to head at the King Power Stadium. Both sides have showcased contrasting styles throughout the campaign so far, and it will be interesting to see whether the attacking prowess of Leicester or defensive solidity of United prevails today. Before we get to that, though, let's take a look at the two teams...
LEICESTER STARTING XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy
LEICESTER SUBS: De Laet, King, Schlupp, Ulloa, Dyer, Schwarzer, Inler
MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Darmian, McNair, Smalling, Blind; Carrick, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Young, Rooney; Martial
MAN UTD SUBS: Romero, Borthwick-Jackson, Fellaini, Memphis, Pereira, Schneiderlin, Rashford
What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, there really is only one place to start and that is with the incredible form of
Jamie Vardy. All eyes will be on the England international today as he goes in search of the Premier League record for scoring in consecutive games. He is currently level with Ruud van Nistelrooy on 10 in a row following his strike against Newcastle last time out, and he has a chance to rewrite the record books against the Dutchman's former club today. It may be his toughest ask of the streak, but you wouldn't back against him at the moment.
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It really is remarkable what Vardy has been able to achieve at the highest level having been playing non-league football just a few years ago. All in all he has 13 Premier League goals in as many games this season, and when you consider some of the players who have played in this league - the likes of Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alan Shearer - and that none of them have got close to what Vardy could achieve today, it puts it into a bit of perspective about just how special a run this is for the striker.
Vardy will be the first to tell people that it has not been a one-man show, however, despite already having equalled Tony Cottee's club record for goals in a single Premier League season. Alongside Vardy, the Foxes' other standout player has been Riyad Mahrez, who has contributed seven goals and six assists of his own. The tricky winger can be a nightmare for defenders to play against, such is his unpredictability, and he has been very bit as important to the Leicester cause as Vardy this term.
Claudio Ranieri has made just the one change to the side that cruised past Newcastle last weekend, with Okazaki, scorer of a comical third goal at St James' Park, brought into the starting lineup in place of Ulloa, who drops to the bench despite also getting on the scoresheet in that game. Around him, the likes of Albrighton and Drinkwater will look to continue their good form, with that energy potentially causing this United side some problems.
United themselves have made four changes to the side that drew with PSV Eindhoven in the week, with one of those coming at the back. Darmian continues on the right of defence having been left out for a number of games recently, while Rojo is the man to drop out and be replaced by McNair. Smalling, who has arguably been United's player of the season so far, once again starts in the middle of the defence while Blind switches out to the left having partnered Smalling in midweek.
Another change comes in midfield as Carrick is handed a start in place of Schneiderlin, who drops to the bench. The midfielder has been struggling with an ankle injury picked up on international duty recently, but is deemed fit enough to start today after a rather flat showing from Schneiderlin in midweek. However Schweinsteiger, who also didn't do himself justice against PSV, retains his place in the middle of the park.
Ashley Young has been playing much of his football at right-back in recent seasons, but he is handed a start further forward this afternoon as Lingard's run of appearances in the first XI comes to an end. Mata, who was also tellingly absent against PSV, is the fourth change to the side and Van Gaal will be hoping that his craft and guile are enough to unlock what has been a suspect Leicester defence at times this season.
Ultimately the bulk of the responsibility for breaching that defence will fall to Rooney and Martial, though. The former has been heavily criticised for his performances so far this season, managing just two league goals and one assist so far. As mentioned, Leicester's defence is likely to give him chances to improve that record today but, in truth, he currently looks a shadow of his former self. Martial, meanwhile, began his United career in style with three goals in his first two league games, but he hasn't scored in the Premier League in his last six outings.
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Leicester certainly come into this match a lot better placed than anyone was expecting at this stage of the season, with the Foxes starting today as the Premier League leaders following a magnificent opening 13 outings. They do look like they will lose top spot before they kick off, with Manchester City currently leading Southampton 3-1, but victory today would ensure that they start December at the summit.
They would be the first club outside the Premier League's traditional big five to achieve that feat for 14 years should they manage it, but records seem to come by on a weekly basis for Leicester at the moment. They come into this match having won each of their last four league outings, and another three-point haul today would give them five on the bounce in the Premier League for the first time in the club's history. Indeed, they haven't won five top-flight games in a row since way back in the 1963-64 season, more than 50 years ago.
Incredibly, they were bottom of the table at this stage last season, which just goes to show the dramatic turnaround in fortunes from the club. They only survived due to a great escape in the closing weeks of last season, and they have carried that form through the summer and into the current campaign. It is easy to see where the main improvement has come too, with Leicester having conceded just one goal fewer after 13 games this season than at the same stage last, despite being at opposite ends of the table.
As you might have guessed, then, their defensive record has not been great so far. No team has conceded more goals outside the bottom six in the table, with Leicester shipping 20 in their 13 outings. That is probably the biggest thing preventing them from being taken seriously as top-four contenders this season, with very few teams enjoying major success when leaking so many goals. It is true that most successful sides as built on a strong defence, and that is an area that Ranieri could do with improving.
So far, though, Leicester have been bailed out by their magnificent form in front of goal. After 13 rounds of fixtures they were the highest scorers in the league, netting 28 times from 13 games. They are the only side to have scored in every single one of their matches this season, and you are almost guaranteed entertainment when watching the Foxes. There have been 48 goals in the 13 matches involving them this season, which is comfortable the highest tally in the league.
Stretching back to last season, Leicester have lost just one of their last 17 Premier League games and two of their last 22, with those defeats coming at the hands of Chelsea, who were on their way to being crowned champions, and Arsenal. That defeat to the Gunners remains their solitary loss this season, putting them level with Tottenham as the side with fewest defeats so far. They have won five and lost none of the six games since then, although that loss - and the one to Chelsea towards the end of last season - did come at home.
One major reason behind why Leicester have been so successful this season is their never-say-die attitude. The likes of Vardy, Mahrez and Albrighton look unstoppable when they have the wind in their sails, and that momentum is a major reason behind why they have recovered 10 points from losing positions this season - the highest tally in the Premier League. Things do get tougher in the coming weeks, though, with United, Swansea, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool and Manchester City to come in their final six games of 2015. If they are still around top spot come the New Year, we may need to start taking them very seriously.
There is little doubt that
Louis van Gaal will be taking them very seriously today, if only after watching his side beaten 5-3 in the corresponding fixture last term. United started the day in a seemingly strong position, just one point off the top of the table and potentially 90 minutes away from the last 16 of the Champions League. Even with Man City's win earlier, which leaves United two off top spot, a victory today would ensure that they start December as the Premier League leaders.
That does not quite tell the story of United's season, though. The fans are growing increasingly frustrated with what they see as boring football, so much so that the full-time whistle during their game with PSV at the weekend was greeted by boos at Old Trafford. It is easy to understand why they are unhappy too as it was a very uninspiring performance from United, while the fans have been spoilt for so many years by the attack-minded football played by Sir Alex Ferguson's successful teams.
As far as the Champions League is concerned, their situation is a little more perilous than their position may suggest. They do currently occupy one of the top two places in Group B, but they could well need a victory away to Wolfsburg on the final matchday to guarantee progress, with PSV expected to clinch a home victory over the already-eliminated CSKA Moscow. A couple of bad results in the league, failure to qualify in Europe and a lack of improvement in the playing style could see Van Gaal come under a little bit of pressure considering the money that he has spent.
For now, though, United are unbeaten inside 90 minutes in their last nine matches in all competitions, so things certainly could be worse for them. Their surprise 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the start of October is their only loss in their last 14 outings, excluding penalties, while it is just one defeat in nine - and none in their last five - in the Premier League following a 2-1 win over Watford last time out.
United's stats for the season are in complete contrast to those of Leicester, with the Red Devils having relied on the Premier League's meanest defence so far. They have conceded just nine goals in their 13 games - an average of 0.69 per game - while they have kept clean sheets in six of their last seven games in all competitions. That goal came from the penalty spot too, meaning that their last goal conceded from open play came more than 12 hours ago against CSKA Moscow - and even that was the rebound from a penalty after David de Gea had made the save.
There is no getting away from the fact that United have not been the most exciting team to watch so far this season, but such defensive records deserve recognition. They have kept eight clean sheets in their 13 league outings and have only conceded to a Troy Deeney penalty since that first-half collapse against the Gunners last month. It is at the other end of the field where things do need to improve, with Wednesday's blank making it four of the last seven games in which United have failed to score. Their tally of 19 league goals scored is also the lowest in the top eight of the table.
United have generally been better at home than on their travels under Van Gaal, but their away record this season is still fairly impressive. Only Leicester and Arsenal had picked up more points on the road after gameweek 13, with United taking 13 from their seven outings. The loss to Arsenal at the Emirates is the only reverse in their last five away Premier League games and last six in all competitions.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes from kickoff at the King Power Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction! This really is a tough one to call, with Leicester exciting, attacking style of play coming up against United's tight defensive work. It depends on which style comes out on top, and for the neutral's sake hopefully it is Leicester's. The Foxes have the energy and hunger to trouble what has been a sluggish United side at times this season, so I'm going to back a 2-1 victory for the hosts.
Find out what the
Sports Mole sofa had to say ahead of this top-of-the-table showdown below:
In a perfect world, we might get something approaching the corresponding fixture last season here this afternoon. Leicester memorably ran out 5-3 winners over United on that occasions, twice coming from two goals behind before eventually picking up the win. In doing so, they became the only team in Premier League history to have recovered a two-goal deficit and gone on to beat United. That high-scoring affair contributed to the recent goal-fests that this fixture has provided, with 18 goals being scored in the last four league meetings.
That Leicester victory was very much the exception to the rule in recent years, though. United have won the other 10 of the last 11 meetings between the two sides, including the most recent one as Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and a Wes Morgan own goal helped the Red Devils to a 3-1 triumph at Old Trafford in January.
These two sides actually met each other when Leicester were top of the table and United second back in October 2000, when Leicester were still playing at Filbert Street. They were well beaten on that occasion, though, losing 3-0 before going on to finish 13th in the table, while United ended the season as champions.
KICKOFF: Here we go then! Manchester United get us underway at a very noisy King Power Stadium on what could be an historic day as Vardy goes chasing that record. Will it be his day again today?
There really is a raucous atmosphere inside the stadium here. The home fans truly believe they can win this one, and why not? Carrick and Schweinsteiger are not the quickest of duos in the centre of midfield for United, and Leicester have the players to prey on that.
Interestingly, United have started with Martial out on the right and Rooney leading the line here. Mata is playing in the number 10 role, with Young out on the left as a wing-back and United playing three at the back.
It's been a rather cautious start from both sides here as they look to ease their way into the game. United may well be trying to quieten down this crowd, but that doesn't look like happening any time soon.
SAVE! The first shot of the afternoon comes from the visitors as Leicester's first real counter-attacking chance breaks down. The ball is worked out to Rooney on the left, but his stabbed effort is easy for Schmeichel.
Well, one of the big questions before kickoff was which team's style would influence the match most and I'm afraid to say that so far it has been United's. Not too much has happened yet, but it is still very early days.
Half a chance for Vardy as Carrick gifts him the ball deep inside his own half, but it never really opens up for the in-form striker to have a shot. In the end Leicester are able to win a corner, but that comes to nothing.
YELLOW CARD! Young picks up an early booking for a block on Mahrez when trying to stop the counter-attack moments after Rooney had missed a good chance to play Mata clean through on goal.
Vardy is understandably going to be desperate to get on the scoresheet today, but he needs to be wary of becoming too hung up on the idea. It will be interesting to see what choice he makes if he has the option of a shot or playing a teammate in in a better position. He had that choice last week against Newcastle and chose the shot, which was the wrong option.
A slight glimpse of goal for United as the ball drops to Rooney outside the area, but he doesn't catch his volley right and it is easy for Schmeichel to gather.
Vardy almost has his first sight of goal at the other end, making a dart to the near post in an attempt to get on the end of a cross from the left. He is just a yard or so short of making contact, though.
United have quite clearly been given the brief to stop a Leicester counter-attack by whatever means necessary here. That is likely to result in a few yellow cards, though, and Blind is very fortunate to get away without one here following a blatant bodycheck on Mahrez.
Good block from Morgan as Martial does well down the left and manages to pull a low cross back into the box. Schweinsteiger has ghosted in almost unnoticed, but Morgan gets himself in the way of the German's poke goalwards.
CHANCE! Half a chance for Smalling as he gets a yard on Huth from a corner and rises to meet the delivery with little pressure on him. However, he can only get the faintest contact on it when a better header could have caused Leicester problems.
GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Manchester United (Jamie Vardy)
He's done it! Jamie Vardy makes Premier League history by scoring in an 11th match in a row, and it is vintage Leicester on the counter. They break forward from a corner and Fuchs is the man to deliver the pass down the right channel for the unstoppable striker. From there, there is little doubt about what happens next as Vardy drills a low strike past De Gea and into the bottom corner. What an achievement from Vardy, and he deserves all the credit that will come his way. Incredible scenes.
If the King Power Stadium was noisy before kickoff, it is absolutely bouncing now. Vardy's name is pouring down from the stands, and rightly so. He breaks Ruud van Nistelrooy's record against the Dutchman's former team, and who is to say when this run is going to end?!
Rooney looks to provide a quick response to going behind with another volley from range, but this time it is accuracy that is the problem as the ball goes a long way wide.
Almost a chance for Leicester to double their lead as Vardy puts great pressure on De Gea, who panics with the clearance and gives it straight to Mahrez. The winger's first touch is poor, however, and United escape.
SAVE! Leicester are looking the more dangerous of the two teams at the moment, and Mahrez threatens to add a second with a one-two with Okazaki to take him into the box. The angle is against him, but De Gea still needs to make the save with his feet at the near post.
It doesn't really matter what happens in the next hour of this match - the headlines will all be dominated by the record-breaking Vardy. That may well be a blessing in disguise for United right now as it is the same old story for them so far - plenty of possession but not enough cutting edge.
Rooney tries to inject a bit of pace into the United attack by bursting past Fuchs, but he goes to ground having anticipated the tackle from the Leicester defender. Fuchs took his leg away just in time, though, and in fairness to Rooney he didn't appeal for anything.
Here he is. Sheer...ermmmm.. joy(?) on Vardy's face moments after becoming the most prolific Premier League striker of all time. Okay, that may be a stretch, but it is history nonetheless for Vardy. What an achievement.
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Good work from Martial down the left as he isolates one blue shirt before coasting past him with evry little room to work with. He passes a low ball into the box towards the front post, but Schmeichel gets it behind.
CHANCE! Good chance for United to pull one back as a corner arrives to an unmarked Rooney in the middle, but Smalling's jump just in front of the skipper means that he sees it late and can't get good contact on his effort.
United are back to controlling possession here, but it is Leicester who continually look the most like scoring. They look capable of causing problems every time they break forward, while United's play is once again too slow and unimaginative.
Just a couple of minutes remain in this first half and United haven't shown many signs of getting a goal back before the interval. The fans are still making plenty of noise, as they have from the moment the two teams emerged from the tunnel today.
GOAL! Leicester 1-1 Manchester United (Bastian Schweinsteiger)
What do I know, hey? United do get the equaliser before the interval, and it comes from a corner, which Leicester have struggled to deal with so far today. Schweinsteiger outmuscles his marker Okazaki before planting a header past the man on the line from close range. Schmeichel perhaps could have come, but it was Okazaki who was most to blame there.
HALF TIME: Leicester City 1-1 Manchester United
It is United who will go into the break a little happier, then, after that late equaliser with one of the final actions of the opening 45 minutes. It is unlikely to have altered Ranieri's team talk too much, though, as his side have looked the more threatening of the two. I asked before the game which style would prevail today and, so far, it has been a mixture of the two cancelling each other out.
There is no doubt about the standout moment of the half, with Jamie Vardy scoring in a record 11th consecutive Premier League game, overtaking former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. The landmark arrived in the 24th minute as Leicester hit United with a textbook counter-attack, starting with Schmeichel bowling the ball out to Fuchs. The full-back played the ball down the right channel for Vardy, who had escaped the attentions of Young before slotting it past De Gea.
United did get the equaliser in first-half stoppage time, though, and it came through
Bastian Schweinsteiger's first goal for the club. The German and Okazaki were involved in a tussle in the box which Schweinsteiger won - illegally or not - allowing him to plant his header home from close range. Schmeichel may feel that he should have come for it, but he made the decision to stay and was helpless to stop the header.
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It is corners that have provided United with their best moments of the half, with both Smalling and Rooney failing to get good contact on headers in space before the equaliser. The visitors have enjoyed the lion's share of possession, as usual, but have been forced to rely on those set pieces to really threaten. It has. by and large, been more of the same from United, with very little cutting edge to go with all of their possession.
As for Leicester, they have been playing in the same way that has served them so well up to this point, hitting United on the break with pace whenever possible. De Gea has not been tested too much, with one save to deny Mahrez the only serious piece of work he has had to do aside from Vardy's goal, but the hosts do carry a threat every time they come forward. They are just so difficult to deal with when they flood forward.
It has been no real surprise how this match has panned out in truth. The criticisms that can be levelled at United so far are nothing new, while Leicester's gameplan has barely changed throughout the season. The hosts have been particularly good in the second half this season, though, and Ranieri will be content enough with a repeat of that first-half display in the coming 45 minutes.
KICKOFF: Leicester get us back underway at the King Power Stadium as they look to regain their place at the top of the Premier League table.
CHANCE! Very nearly a chance in the opening minute of the second half as the ball is flicked on to Albrighton, who has Vardy completely unmarked in the middle. It is at an awkward height for Albrighton, though, and as he tries to lift it in to his striker he puts too much on it and it goes above Vardy's head. That would have surely been a second for Vardy and Leicester had Albrighton got the pass right.
CHANCE! Martial wins a free kick from Fuchs in a very good crossing position, and again the set piece causes problems from the hosts. Young swings the cross in and it is Schweinsteiger on the end of it again, but his header is saved by Schmeichel.
Those set pieces really are troubling Leicester today, and they simply must improve. They have given away a free header at almost every one so far, and they will be punished if that continues.
This time they do manage to cope with a corner, although again it is not exactly commanding defending. The ball is allowed to drop in the area and Leicester eventually get it out for a throw-in deep inside their own half.
Really good pressure from Leicester as Mahrez sends Smalling heading towards his own goal and immediately two blue shirts cut off what looks to be the only route out for him, back to the keeper. However, Smalling is composed on the ball and bides his time before finding Carrick as United play their way out.
Almost a chance for Leicester and again it is Fuchs who is the unlikely creator. He slides a pass in to Okazaki, who is onside and would be clean through on goal if he is able to control. However, he can't take the ball in his stride and a promising opening goes begging.
Decent chance here for United as Huth comes charging out of defence and brings down Mata to concede a free kick. It is just out of shooting range, but those crosses from set pieces have been what have hurt Leicester so far...
Again it is United, and Schweinsteiger, who win the first header, but this time he is only able to knock it down into a decent area and Leicester deal with it.
LEICESTER SUB: The first change of the afternoon comes from the home side as Leonardo Ulloa replaces Okazaki.
Concern for United here as Rooney is limping around and doesn't look comfortable at all at the moment. He is trying to run the problem off, though, which suggests that it might not be too bad. United can hardly afford to lose any strikers.
United are dominating possession here. It is just pass after pass, but Leicester are more than happy to let the visitors see most of the ball. As soon as they win it back, they are immediately on the front foot.
CHANCE! That is exactly what happens here. After a long spell of United possession Leicester win it back and Mahrez leads the charge forward in a three-on-three situation. Mahrez increases the odds in Leicester's favour with some nice skill before slipping a pass to Ulloa, who cuts inside Smalling but sees his rather tame finish saved by the legs of De Gea.
MAN UTD SUB: Maybe Rooney hasn't fully recovered from that earlier knock as he departs to be replaced by Memphis Depay. The reaction of Rooney suggests that he felt fine to continue, though.
Almost a chance for Leicester from a throw-in - we haven't seen that since the days of Delap. It is Fuchs who launches it into the area, but Blind does well to step across Vardy and prevent him from getting on the end of it.
LEICESTER SUB: Another change for the home side sees Jeffrey Schlupp handed the final 20 minutes, replacing Albrighton.
Another underwhelming display from the Manchester United and England skipper...
SHOT! Another sight of goal for Leicester as Fuchs's pass deflects into the path of Ulloa. The sub cuts back on himself before looking to curl one into the far top corner from outside the box, but he leans back and puts his effort well off target.
United are finally looking to get things moving at a quicker pace now. They won two free kicks in quick succession for offsides and immediately looked to take them quickly, which hopefully suggests that they may inject a bit more tempo into the closing stages of this match.
The game is becoming a little more open now, with United beginning to look more threatening when they do come forward. Leicester will not be entirely unhappy with that, though, as there would naturally be more space on the break for them if that continues.
Almost a golden chance for United as Memphis does really well on the left to check back and hang a cross out to the back post where Mata is unmarked. The Spaniard is forced to backtrack when control it, however, which allows Leicester to get across and block his shot.
LEICESTER SUB: A third and final change for the home side sees Ritchie De Laet replace Simpson - both former United players, of course.
United have managed to completely control the last five minutes or so, with Leicester unable to spark one of their lightning breaks in that time. That hasn't stopped them working, though, and De Gea needs to be alert to clear when under pressure from Vardy.
CHANCE! Big chance for United to get a late winner. It is a bit messy, with McNair just about keeping hold of possession to lift one out to Darmian, who nods it into the area. Memphis is there to take it down, but his first touch could be better and he puts his second well over the top when he should have done better.
Which side is going to push for the winner here, then? A draw is not the worst result for either side in the circumstances, but Leicester aren't exactly the type of team to settle for a point while United will feel that they are still in with a very good chance of winning this one too. I would expect there to be at least one more chance here.
Drinkwater looks to nick a late winner for Leicester as he picks the ball up around 25 yards from goal after a Fuchs throw had been cleared, but he is closed down quickly, has to rush his shot and puts it well off target.
Almost a chance for Leicester to break late on, with Vardy playing a one-two with Ulloa and racing through with plenty of green grass ahead of him. Vardy is forced out wide, however, and his ball back into the middle is too far in front of Ulloa.
SHOT! At the other end Darmian almost makes himself the unlikely hero. The ball drops to him outside the box and he takes a touch before lashing a left-footed effort goalwards, but it is too high to trouble Schmeichel.
We're now into the last of two minutes added time.
FULL TIME: Leicester City 1-1 Manchester United
The spoils are shared at the King Power Stadium, then, as neither Leicester or Manchester United can add to the score in the second half. The Foxes remain above United with the point, but are knocked off top spot courtesy of Manchester City's victory earlier in the day. The headlines will all belong to Jamie Vardy, who broke the Premier League record by scoring in an 11th consecutive game, but his opener was cancelled out by Bastian Schweinsteiger's header right on the stroke of half time.
That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole on an historic day for the Premier League as Vardy's record-breaking goal helps Leicester to a point against Manchester United. I will leave you with our
match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!