Manchester United vs. Leicester Predictions: A tense affair on the cards at Old Trafford

Domestic football is back this weekend and for the Saturday 17:30 kick off, Manchester United host Leicester City at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports.

With only nine games left for Manchester United to rescue top four and Champions League football, it is crucial they take three points here against a mid-table Leicester side. The Red Devils currently sit 6th place in the Premier League, four points behind Arsenal who also have a game in hand. Not taking three points here will almost put the nail in the coffin for top four, with fixtures against Liverpool, Chelsea and a huge six pointer against Arsenal still to come. The Portuguese trio of Ronaldo, Bruno and Dalot will all be likely to start after their International exploits, gaining World Cup qualification by winning their playoffs facing North Macedonia in the final. Rashford could make the starting XI here, six goals against Leicester in his career has seen him net more against the Foxes than any other club. 

Sitting in 10th place in the Premier League, way below par from Brendan Rodgers and his team. They would have had European aspirations at the start of the season, now a huge turn around is needed if they are to succeed, being twelve points behind 7th place West Ham, with three games in hand. Leicester are expected to see the return of Johnny Evans and Wesley Fofana which would be a huge boost to their back line if they prove fit. Both Vardy and Ndidi are ruled out with knee injuries, the later potentially for the rest of the season which is a massive blow for Leicester’s midfield. Barnes is also set to start after having recent issues, with Daka potentially getting the nod ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho up top.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Rashford, Fernandes, Sancho; Ronaldo

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Fofana, Evans, Soyuncu; Justin, Dewsbury-Hall, Tielemans, Castagne; Maddison, Daka, Barnes

Andre Marriner takes the whistle here at Old Trafford and isn’t known for brandishing the cards to the levels of his fellow referees. Last season in the Premier League he ranked 16th for most yellows per game, with a very low average of 2.36 across twenty-five matches. This season has seen an increase to 3.47 yellows per game across fifteen Premier League matches. Of those fifteen matches, he has only given fifteen first half cards in total, only ever giving more than one on three occasions. Manchester United and Leicester have both only received one first half card each in their last seven matches, with most of their work done in the second period.

In Marriner's fifteen Premier League matches this season he has given over one match card on twelve occasions. Across the two teams last seven matches that has only seen them combine a total of two first half cards, this increases significantly in the second half where they combine to a total of twenty-three. At a shade of odds on I feel if the cards are to come, they are significantly more likely to be in the second half with both teams desperate for three points.

With both teams first half cards being so low, there is a good chance it could end cardless, and at 9/4 I am happy to play a small stake. Marriner tends to brandish majority also in the second half with around two thirds of them coming in the later period. Fifteen Premier League matches has seen Marriner give fifteen first half cards (1.00 first half card per game), with the most recent ten matches only seeing six. At 9/4 (30.8% chance) this looks like it holds some value. An important game for both so keeping the stake at 0.5 units.

@DeanWoodward93 BettingOdds 2022 Profit/Loss +10.62 units.