Marcus Rashford scored the only goal of the match as Manchester United recorded a 1-0 win over Leicester City in Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
The England international converted from the penalty spot early on to hand the Red Devils a huge three points, with the result moving the team into fourth position in the Premier League table.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Leicester City from Old Trafford. United have only won one of their four league matches this season to sit eighth in the table, while Leicester are third with eight points from their four fixtures this term. Stay tuned for minute-by-minute updates!
TEAMS!
UNITED: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young; McTominay, Matic; Andreas, Mata, James; Rashford
LEICESTER: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Choudhury, Tielemans, Ndidi; Gray, Vardy, Maddison
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made just the one change to the team that started against Southampton last time out with Nemanja Matic coming in for the injured Paul Pogba. Anthony Martial once again misses out through injury, but there is a spot on the bench for Fred. It is a huge, huge game for the hosts for a number of reasons.
Leicester's team, meanwhile, shows two changes from the one that started against Bournemouth before the international break with Hamza Choudhury and Demarai Gray coming in for Marc Albrighton and Harvey Barnes. James Maddison, who has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford, will start in a slightly wider position for the Foxes.
The Red Devils will enter the match off the back of a draw at Southampton before the international break; Leicester, on the other hand, recorded a 3-1 home win over Bournemouth. Can Solskjaer's side give their fans something to cheer this afternoon? Stay tuned to find out!
KICKOFF: Leicester kick things off at Old Trafford this afternoon...
... it must be said that there is a nervy atmosphere inside the stadium this afternoon. Many consider Leicester to be the favourites for this match, and it is difficult to argue when looking at the two lineups. You just sense that United really, really need to win here.
United have a free kick in a dangerous position outside the Leicester box as James is brought to the ground by Evans. Pereira is over the set piece here...
SAVE! ... wonderful save from Schmeichel to prevent Pereira's free kick from finding the back of the net. Excellent goalkeeping from the Denmark international there!
SAVE! Smart save from De Gea to keep out a low strike from Maddison after Vardy had created some space. Good work from both goalkeepers in the opening five minutes here.
Rashford is through the middle for United with James, Mata and Pereira in the three positions behind. As expected, Maddison is playing slightly wider for Leicester, and the Englishman has been very dangerous thus far. Nice, open feel to this game at the moment.
PENALTY! United have a penalty as Soyuncu brings Rashford to the ground!
GOAL! MAN UNITED 1-0 LEICESTER (RASHFORD, PEN)
GOAL! Huge moment for Rashford as the England international finds the back of the net with a cool spot kick - oh how United needed that with eight minutes on the clock.
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I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals this afternoon as both teams continue to commit players in the final third of the field. Leicester clearly feel that they can hurt United on the break with the pace of Vardy and invention of Maddison.
Smart work from James once again as the attacker finds space down the left before looking to deliver a cross into Pereira, but the ball just runs away from the attacker.
Not too much to report in the way of chances in the last few minutes, but both teams are still committing players in the final third of the field. It is a very open game of football.
Leicester have the chance to threaten from a free kick inside United's half of the field, but Maguire climbs highest to make the clearance and the home side can clear their lines.
Not too much to report in the way of chances in the last few minutes with a lot of the football taking place in the middle of the park. Rashford's goal remains the difference.
Leicester are forced to defend another deep free kick as Wan-Bissaka is felled by Chilwell, but Evans does really well to climb highest and clear down the field.
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Not an awful lot going forward from Leicester at the moment with United doing well to keep the ball in forward positions. It has all gone a little bit stale at the moment!
We have not seen too much from Ricardo and Chillwell in the full-back areas for Leicester, which is a surprise. In fairness to Matic, who has not had much football this season, the Serbia international is doing a good job of protecting the defence here.
Rashford continues to impress as the forward breaks free before feeding James out wide, but Schmeichel is on hand to gather the cross. The home fans are in fine voice at the moment, and why not? It is much better from the 20-time English champions.
James does really well to break clear of a challenge before feeding Mata, but the Spaniard's touch is just too heavy and the attack breaks down. McTominay then jumps into a challenge with Chilwell which brings a huge cheer from the home supporters.
SAVE! Super save from De Gea to keep out a powerful strike from Chilwell as Leicester threaten to level the scores - that is now two good saves from the Spaniard here.
You do get the feeling that this is a huge next 10 minutes or so for both teams as Leicester look to level before the interval. It almost goes without saying that the next goal - if indeed is one- will be huge. Not many chances since the first goal went in here.
Leicester continue to threaten with high balls into the United box, but the home side are dealing with the danger for now. De Gea has come up with two big saves for his team.
Little under 10 minutes of the first period remaining, and not too much is happening at the moment with both teams losing the ball in the middle of the park. Still 1-0 to United.
Both teams continue to huff and puff in the final third without producing too much - Rodgers cannot be pleased with what he has seen from his side this afternoon.
Matic continues to win the ball in the middle of the park, and the Serbian's performance has been a real positive for the Red Devils in the first 40 minutes of this match.
Pereira has also been busy for United in the first half with the midfielder making it difficult for Chilwell to break forward or for Tielemans to control the middle of the park.
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Plenty of energy from both sets of players at the moment as Leicester attempt to break forward while United work hard to regain the ball. Not long left in the first half here.
We are into the first of two minutes of additional time at the end of the first period.
HALF TIME: MAN UNITED 1-0 LEICESTER
So there we have it - the referee brings the first half to a close with United leading 1-0 courtesy of an early penalty from Rashford, who won the spot kick after a poor tackle from Soyuncu. Leicester have had two good chances to level the scores, but De Gea kept out a smart attempt from Maddison before denying Chilwell from distance.
STATISTICS! Leicester had more of the ball in the first half - boasting 55% of the possession. What's more, the Foxes had four attempts to United's three. No yellow cards to report in the first half - it has not really been that type of football match. Despite Leicester's stats being the superior, Rodgers's side have still been disappointing for long spells.
BENCH WATCH! Leicester have a lot of attacking talent on their bench this afternoon with the likes of Albrighton, Barnes, Perez and Praet all available. It would certainly not be a surprise to see Rodgers make a change at the interval. United, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Chong, Gomes, Greenwood and Fred - not a lot of experience there!
KICKOFF: United resume the action here...
... what a huge 45 minutes of football for United - it would be some result if they could win this afternoon. No changes from either manager at the interval here.
Maguire has been good against his former club this afternoon, with the England international dominant in the air against Vardy, who has not had many chances to run behind the United defence in this game. Fairly quiet start to the second half here.
SHOT! James just misses the Leicester goal with a powerful strike after once again breaking into a dangerous position. The power that he gets on the effort is frightening!
SAVE! Smart save from Schmeichel to keep out a low strike from Mata after the Spaniard had broken into the Leicester box. Lively stuff from the home side at the moment.
You do get the feeling that there are more goals in this match, especially as Leicester are bound to open up even more the longer that the score stays 1-0 here.
Leicester have a free kick in a dangerous position as McTominay brings Tielemans to the ground with a dangerous challenge. Maddison is standing over the set piece...
CLOSE! ... Maddison sends his free kick just wide of De Gea's goal!
We are just entering the period of the match where both managers will be thinking about changes. Leicester have so much attacking talent on their bench, while Solskjaer has exciting youngsters Greenwood, Gomes and Chong in reserve this afternoon.
SAVE! Schmeichel keeps out a powerful header from Maguire.
LEICESTER SUB! First Leicester change as Perez replaces Choudhury.
Much more attacking from Leicester at the moment with Perez going into a forward position alongside Vardy, allowing Maddison to move into a central area. No movement on the United bench at the moment, but Solskjaer must be considering alterations.
SHOT! Possession football from Leicester at the moment with United sitting deeper. Tielemans hits one from distance, but the midfielder's effort was always far too high.
Maguire continues to defend impressively as the United centre-back makes two important interceptions during a period where Leicester are on the front foot here.
Not an awful lot going forward from United at the moment with the home side having to defend as Leicester continue to deliver dangerous balls into the penalty box.
MAN UNITED SUB! Fred replaces Matic for the home side.
Maddison delivers another very dangerous cross into the United box after pushing Pereira off the ball - Leicester are very much on top with 69 minutes on the clock.
LEICESTER SUB! Barnes replaces Gray in Leicester's second change.
MAN UNITED SUB! Chong replaces Mata for the home side.
You do get the feeling that there is another goal in this match with plenty of time left to play. Leicester's period of pressure has just dried up a touch at the moment.
Better from United in the last couple of minutes as they start to keep the ball and put on some pressure of their own. A huge 15 minutes of football coming up at Old Trafford.
YELLOW CARD! Maddison (Leicester) is booked for a poor tackle on McTominay.
Both managers have one permitted change remaining, and it will be very interesting what Rodgers and Solskjaer have in mind for the final 10 minutes of this contest.
The home fans are in fine voice at the moment as the game heads for its final 10 minutes. Is there going to be some late drama at Old Trafford? Have a feeling there could be.
Leicester are up around 60% for the possession at the moment, which is not too much of a surprise as they have had so much of the ball in the second half of this game.
OFF THE BAR! United come so close to scoring a second as Rashford looks to pick out the back of the net from a free kick, but the ball smashes against the post - so unlucky there!
YELLOW CARD! James (Man United) picks up a yellow card for a foul on Tielemans.
United have a goal kick following a period of Leicester pressure, and the clock is just starting to run out for Leicester here. Little over three minutes of normal time left.
SAVE! Decent stop from Schmeichel to keep out an attempt from Pereira as United have another half-chance in the latter stages. Is there going to be a late goal here?
United are preparing to make their third change of the match - Tuanzebe is getting ready to enter the field as the match heads into four minutes of added time.
MAN UNITED SUB! Tuanzebe replaces James for the home side.
Not too much to report in stoppage time with Leicester almost running out of ideas - looks like it is going to be a big opportunity missed for the visitors here.
Schmeichel goes forward for a corner but the ball is worked short and not delivered! Very strange from Leicester, whose goalkeeper is not very pleased at all.
CLOSE! Ndidi misses the post with a half-volley from a dangerous position.
Bit of a scuffle between Rashford and Soyuncu here after McTominay had taken the ball into the corner in an attempt to waste time. Not great scenes at Old Trafford.
FULL TIME: MAN UNITED 1-0 LEICESTER
So there we have it. The referee blows his whistle and it is a huge win for United, who have moved into fourth position in the table with their second victory of the campaign. Leicester were disappointing today after a positive start to the season.
That is just about it from me this afternoon, but I shall leave you with the match report from what was a very important win for United. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Hope to see you again very soon!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
