Leicester v Manchester United preview: Focus returns to league after cup exits

Leicester and Manchester United will look to put midweek cup disappointments behind them when they return to Premier League duty in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Saturday evening.

Leicester's bubble under Claude Puel was burst in emphatic fashion last week when their run of four straight wins was brought to an abrupt halt with a 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

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A Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Manchester City followed on Tuesday and 24 hours later, United were shocked by Bristol City in the same competition.

United remain the closest challengers to runaway leaders Manchester City at the top of the Premier League - albeit 11 points behind - and will need a win at the 2015/16 champions to maintain any semblance of pressure on their rivals.

Team news

Demarai Gray is available for selection after a three-man FA panel failed to unanimously agree on whether or not he successfully deceived a match official in Leicester's Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City.

Robert Huth (foot) and ex-United midfielder Matty James (Achilles) are Claude Puel's only injury absentees while Wilfred Ndidi could be in contention after serving his one-match ban in midweek.

Manchester United are without Eric Bailly for the next two to three months after he underwent surgery for an ankle problem. Marouane Fellaini (knee) and Michael Carrick are also unavailable.

Jose Mourinho made ten changes to his side for the 2-1 defeat to Bristol City in the Carabao Cup and is likely to do so again this weekend although Paul Pogba should retain his place in midfield.

Opta stats

Leicester City have lost 13 of their last 17 Premier League games against Manchester United (W1 D3).

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Manchester United have lost just one of their last 12 league visits to Leicester (W7 D4), a 5-3 defeat in September 2014.

Leicester City lost their last home league game against Crystal Palace - the last three occasions they've lost back-to-back Premier League games at the King Power Stadium have been under different managers (Craig Shakespeare in September, Claudio Ranieri in February and Nigel Pearson in February 2015).

Over the last 10 Premier League games, only the top four sides coming into this matchday have won more points than Leicester (20) - Manchester City (30), Chelsea (25), Liverpool and Manchester United (21).

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Jose Mourinho has won five of his six Premier League matches against Leicester City - the exception was a 2-1 defeat in his final match in charge of Chelsea in December 2015.

Jesse Lingard has scored in each of his last three Premier League away games, netting four goals in total. He'd only scored three goals in his previous 29 on the road in the competition.

Romelu Lukaku has been involved in five goals in his last six Premier League games against Leicester City (four goals, one assist) - however, the Belgian failed to score a penalty against the Foxes earlier this season at Old Trafford.

Jamie Vardy is still one goal shy of hitting 50 in the Premier League - his first in the competition came in Leicester's 5-3 win over Man Utd in September 2014, while he set the record for most consecutive Premier League games scored in by a player (11) with his strike against the Red Devils in November 2015.

Merson's prediction

Football is weird, isn't it? Bristol City beat a strong Man Utd team in midweek after Crystal Palace had hammered in-form Leicester. United are better than what they are showing. There is still a lot more to come from them.

Teams like Leicester have to work so hard to win a football match, and the match against Man City in midweek will have taken a lot out of them. These top teams can play in second gear and win a football match. This just feels like one of those games.

PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (7/1 with Sky Bet)

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