Marcus Rashford scores twice as Man United ease past Leicester City
Manchester United 3-0 Leicester City
Erik ten Hag's side further consolidated their place in the Premier League's top four and moved within three points of second-placed Manchester City, with a resounding 3-0 victory over a lacklustre Leicester City side.
After a slow start at Old Trafford which required David de Gea to make a number of stellar saves from Kelechi Iheanacho and Harvey Barnes, the hosts found the lead through man-of-the-match Marcus Rashford in the 25th minute.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates after scoring the team's second goal with teammate Wout Weghorst during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on February 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Thanks to some poor positional play from Leicester centre-half Wout Faes, Rashford pounced onto the end of a superb outside-of-the-foot pass from captain Bruno Fernandes.
The England international duly slotted past the Foxes keeper Danny Ward, injecting life into a previously lethargic United performance.
An ineffective Alejandro Garnacho was substituted at half-time by Ten Hag, who turned to former Borussia Dortmund Jadon Sancho to aid Rashford in spearheading the Red Devils attack.
From the off in the second half, United looked like threatening the Leicester City defence, and moments after Lisandro Martinez directed a Luke Shaw free-kick onto the crossbar, Rashford bagged his second of the day.
After a brief VAR check, which found Faes had made another error in playing Rashford onside, the goal was given and the 25-year-old had notched his 16th goal since returning from the World Cup.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Victor Lindelof of Manchester United challenges Harvey Barnes of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on February 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
United continued to harass a weary-looking Leicester side, who now find themselves sitting in 14th place just four points above the relegation zone.
To cap off a domineering second-half performance, Jadon Sancho, who made quite the impression in his 45-minute cameo, played a one-two in the opposition box with Fernandes before steering the ball into the back of the net with a composed left-footed finish.
The result is the perfect starting point in what will be a pivotal week in United's season, with the return leg of their Europa League knockout tie against Barcelona on Thursday followed by the League Cup Final versus Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Wout Weghorst of Manchester United reacts after their shot is saved by Danny Ward of Leicester City ( not pictured ) during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on February 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Manchester United v Leicester City - Player Ratings.
Manchester United:
De Gea 8
Dalot 6
Lindelof 7
Martinez 8
Shaw 7
Sabitzer 5
Fred 6
Fernandes 8
Garnacho 5
Weghorst 5
Rashford 9
Substitutes:
Sancho 8
McTominay 6
Elanga 5
Wan Bissaka 6
Mainoo 5
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: James Maddison of Leicester City reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on February 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Leicester City:
Ward 6
Castagne 5
Souttar 7
Faes 4
Kristiansen 5
Dewsbury-Hall 6
Mendy 6
Tete 7
Maddison 6
Barnes 5
Iheanacho 6
Substitutes:
Soumare 5
Praet 5
Tielemans 6
Vardy 5
Related links.
- Alex Ferguson ignored former Liverpool star for 20 years
- Alex Ferguson on how Owen Hargreaves was 'one of the most disappointing' signings he made for Man United
- Roy Keane flatly rejects longstanding perception of ex-Man United midfielder Paul Ince
