Man United will be looking to build on their recent momentum when they travel to the King Power Stadium on Thursday night.
Casemiro will be pushing for his full Manchester United debut against Leicester City.(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images.)
Manchester United will be going in search of a third successive victory when they travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City on Thursday evening.
United, who were beaten 4-2 on their last visit to this particular corner of the Midlands, will be aiming to build on Saturday's hard-fought 1-0 win over Southampton. Bruno Fernandes netted the only goal of the game, meaning Erik ten Hag's side followed up their 2-1 triumph over Liverpool with another maximum points haul.
While the victory over Liverpool was secured as a result of a free-flowing, outstanding performance, the win over the Saints required United to show a different side to themselves, having to dig in deep and take the game by the scruff of the neck. They survived a barrage of late attacks, with the likes of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez playing their part in earning a rare away clean sheet.
Having named the same side that defeated Liverpool against the Saints, it is possible that Ten Hag could do the same against the Foxes. David de Gea will continue between the sticks, as he aims to record back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since December last year.
Ahead of him, Ten Hag is unlikely to tinker with his back-four, with it having come together and shown so much promise in the last two matches. That means that, from right to left, Diogo Dalot, Varane, Martinez and Tyrell Malacia should all start once again.
It is in midfield where Ten Hag is presented with his biggest headache, as he could find himself tempted to give Casemiro his first start in United colours. He stepped off the bench in the closing stages at St Mary's and will now be knocking on the door for a start, which is highly likely after the £60million United have invested in his signature.
He is likely to be joined in the midfield-three by Christian Eriksen and Fernandes, with the latter the most advanced of the trio. It means that Scott McTominay will drop to the bench.
Ten Hag is, however, likely to stick with the same front-three that has started the last two matches, with Anthony Elanga, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho spearheading the attack. It remains to be seen if Cristiano Ronaldo will be in the matchday squad, given the fact that Thursday is transfer deadline day and uncertainty continues to surround his future.
But if he is to stay at Old Trafford and be included in the 20-strong matchday squad he is unlikely to start. Ten Hag favours a fluid front-three and Elanga, Rashford and Sancho offer him that trait.
How Manchester United could line-up at the King Power Stadium.
Predicted line-up vs Leicester: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes; Sancho, Ronaldo, Rashford.
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