Man Utd vs Leicester: Player Ratings & Analysis
The Red Devils secured a crucial 3-0 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford, showcasing their dominance throughout the match. Let's delve into the player ratings and analyze the key factors that contributed to Manchester United's convincing win.
Manchester United
- David de Gea (8/10): A solid performance from the Spaniard, who commanded his box with confidence and made a couple of crucial saves to maintain the clean sheet.
- Diogo Dalot (7/10): A constant threat down the right flank, Dalot provided width and accurate crosses, creating several opportunities for his teammates.
- Raphael Varane (7/10): Dominated the Leicester attack alongside Lindelof, making crucial interceptions and clearing the danger effectively.
- Victor Lindelof (7/10): A composed and reliable performance from the Swedish defender, who formed a solid partnership with Varane.
- Luke Shaw (7/10): Offered good support in attack and was defensively sound, providing a balanced performance.
- Casemiro (8/10): A midfield maestro, Casemiro controlled the tempo of the game, made crucial interceptions, and provided a platform for the attack.
- Christian Eriksen (8/10): Dictated the play from the middle, showcasing his exceptional vision and passing range, consistently finding his teammates in dangerous positions.
- Bruno Fernandes (9/10): A dominant performance from the Portuguese midfielder, who orchestrated the attack, scored a stunning goal, and assisted another, proving to be a constant menace for Leicester.
- Marcus Rashford (8/10): Clinical in front of goal, Rashford scored twice and caused havoc for the Leicester defense with his pace and movement.
- Anthony Martial (7/10): A lively presence in the final third, Martial provided a constant outlet and linked up well with his teammates, contributing to the overall attacking flow.
- Alejandro Garnacho (7/10): Came on as a substitute and made an immediate impact, providing energy and directness to the attack, proving to be a valuable asset for the future.
Leicester City
- Danny Ward (5/10): Couldn't do much about the goals, but didn't inspire confidence in the Leicester defense.
- Ricardo Pereira (5/10): Struggled to contain the attacking threat of Rashford and Shaw, often found himself out of position.
- Wout Faes (5/10): Made a couple of costly mistakes leading to goals, lacking composure in the face of the Man Utd attack.
- Harry Souttar (6/10): A solid performance, but couldn't prevent his team from conceding three goals.
- Timothy Castagne (5/10): Offered little going forward and was defensively exposed by the pace of Garnacho.
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (5/10): Struggled to exert any influence on the midfield battle, failing to control the tempo of the game.
- Youri Tielemans (5/10): A disappointing performance from the Belgian midfielder, who failed to impose himself on the match.
- Harvey Barnes (6/10): Tried to create opportunities for his team, but lacked the support and quality in the final third to make a real difference.
- James Maddison (5/10): A frustrating performance from the usually influential midfielder, who was unable to unlock the Man Utd defense.
- Kelechi Iheanacho (5/10): Isolated upfront, failed to provide a focal point for Leicester's attack and struggled to impact the match.
- Patson Daka (5/10): Came on as a substitute, but couldn't change the momentum of the game.
Key Takeaways:
- Manchester United's attacking prowess: The Red Devils displayed their attacking firepower, with Rashford, Fernandes, and Martial combining seamlessly to create numerous chances and ultimately secure a comfortable victory.
- Casemiro's midfield dominance: The Brazilian midfielder was a vital presence in the middle, controlling the tempo and shielding the backline, providing a crucial foundation for Manchester United's success.
- Leicester's defensive vulnerabilities: The Foxes were exposed at the back, particularly against the pace and movement of the Manchester United attack, making costly individual errors that proved decisive.
- Garnacho's impact: The young Argentine provided a fresh injection of energy and pace, showcasing his potential and highlighting the depth of talent within the Manchester United squad.
Overall, Manchester United were dominant throughout the match, showcasing their quality and depth in all areas of the pitch. Leicester City, on the other hand, were largely disappointing, lacking the quality and composure needed to challenge a superior opponent.
This victory further solidifies Manchester United's position in the top four race, while Leicester continue their struggle for consistency and a place in the top half of the table.