Leicester 0-1 Man Utd: Player ratings as Red Devils earn third successive win
By Sean Walsh
Manchester United recorded their third win on the bounce with a 1-0 victory at Leicester City.
The Red Devils kept the Foxes at arm's length for much of the evening to take their season tally to nine points amid a chaotic transfer deadline day backdrop.
Christian Eriksen, given a warm reception on his first trip to the King Power Stadium since his cardiac arrest, flashed a shot just wide of Danny Ward's goal with ten minutes on the clock.
United took the lead midway through the first half on the counter after Bruno Fernandes moved quickly to find Marcus Rashford, who in turn teed up Jadon Sancho to round Ward and open the scoring.
Harvey Barnes fired a couple of shots from distance harmlessly wide as the visitors maintained control for the rest of the first half, comfortably heading into half-time a goal to the good.
After the break, James Maddison forced David de Gea into a flying save with a superb free-kick from 25 yards as Leicester ramped up the pressure.
Substitute Cristiano Ronaldo attempted an audacious overhead kick in the final ten minutes, but it bounced wide, before he flashed a cross through the Leicester box though with no other United player in sight.
A better cross from Fernandes was nearly turned into his own net by Kelechi Iheanacho with stoppage time looming, while Maddison and James Justin blazed half chances over in the dying embers as United held on.
Leicester City vs Manchester United player ratings
1. Leicester City (4-2-3-1)
GK: Danny Ward - 4/10 - The Wales international is doing a good job of replacing Kasper Schmeichel's ability to look busy when he's in fact just looking daft.
RB: James Justin - 5/10 - Had a torrid first half dealing with Sancho. Improved after the interval.
CB: Wilfred Ndidi - 5/10 - The sooner he can stop playing in defence again, the better.
CB: Jonny Evans - 6/10 - The bar wasn't high but Evans was Leicester's most reliable defender.
LB: Luke Thomas - 4/10 - Blunt at either end of the pitch.
CM: Boubakary Soumare - 4/10 - Struggled to get a foothold in the game.
CM: Youri Tielemans - 5/10 - Often unsuccessful but at least he tried to make things happen.
RM: James Maddison - 5/10 - Like Tielemans was a source of creativity, but not much of one.
AM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 5/10 - Caused some problems on the counter attack, but not many.
LM: Harvey Barnes - 5/10 - Didn't threaten United anywhere near as much as he should have.
CF: Jamie Vardy - 4/10 - Lost his physical duels with Martinez and Varane. His age is finally showing.
Manager: Brendan Rodgers - 3/10 - Leicester were flat for the most part and Rodgers failed to change that.
SUB: Kelechi Iheanacho (76' for Tielemans) - 4/10
SUB: Patson Daka (87' for Vardy) - N/A
2. Manchester United (4-2-3-1)
GK: David de Gea - 6/10 - Commanded his box well and his kicking wasn't totally dreadful.
RB: Diogo Dalot - 6/10 - Not given much trouble but he didn't look as threatening as he has in recent weeks.
CB: Raphael Varane - 7/10 - A largely pedestrian night for the formidable Frenchman.
CB: Lisandro Martinez - 7/10 - United's player of the month looked totally at home for a third successive match.
LB: Tyrell Malacia - 6/10 - His physical qualities made his defensive duties easier too carry out for sure, but like Dalot didn't provide much the other way.
CM: Scott McTominay - 8/10 - One of his best games for United ever. Easily won the midfield battle alone.
CM: Christian Eriksen - 6/10 - Again one of the few United players capable of passing the ball, but goodness me did he look slow.
RM: Anthony Elanga - 6/10 - His pace caused Leicester some trouble, which was enough during his time on the pitch.
AM: Bruno Fernandes - 7/10 - Again found guilty of trying to find the Hollywood pass, but was much more useful in possession on the whole.
LM: Jadon Sancho - 8/10 - Scored a well-taken opener and looked like he was having fun whenever he was in possession.
CF: Marcus Rashford - 6/10 - Linked up well with Sancho and Fernandes but didn't look like a natural striker.
Manager: Erik ten Hag -7/10 - It wasn't a perfect performance but Ten Hag's United didn't look as though they were ever in much danger.
SUB: Casemiro (59' for Elanga) - 6/10
SUB: Cristiano Ronaldo (68' for Sancho) - 5/10
SUB: Fred (87' for Rashford) - N/A