Leicester City 2-2 Manchester United: Foxes earn a late point
Leicester City twice came from behind to deny Manchester United a record-equalling 11th consecutive away win in the Premier League on Saturday.
Axel Tuanzebe diverted a close-range effort from Jamie Vardy – who had had an otherwise quiet afternoon – into his own net in the 85th minute to keep the Foxes second in the table.
Bruno Fernandes had given United the lead with just over 10 minutes left when he latched on to substitute Edinson Cavani’s through ball and finished past Kasper Schmeichel.
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring when he got on the end of Fernandes’ pass to slide in his 50th top-flight goal, before Harvey Barnes hit a fine first-half equaliser.
The result at the King Power Stadium ended United’s 10-match winning league run on the road – one short of the record set by Chelsea in 2008.
Both sides retained their pre-match position in the table, with Leicester three points behind leaders Liverpool and one ahead of third-placed United.
Boxing Day honours even
The day after Christmas is renowned for turkey sandwiches and Premier League football, and the opening match of the festive schedule served up a treat.
Both managers acknowledged their opponents’ counter-attacking threat pre-match, and it did not take long for the first chance to come.
Rashford should have given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United side the lead in the second minute when Fernandes clipped the ball towards the back post, but the unmarked England forward headed wastefully over the bar.
Just a minute later, the Foxes surged down the other end and the impressive James Justin fired in a fierce cross for Vardy, but Victor Lindelof was able to clear the danger.
That theme continued for the rest of the contest as the teams second and third in the table ultimately cancelled each other out.
Brendan Rodgers’ hosts had slightly more possession but United, who have the best away record in the division, managed to produce one more shot.
Half-century up for Rashford
Rashford has led by example off the pitch this year, having successfully campaigned for the government to extend free school meals during the coronavirus pandemic and winning a special BBC Sports Personality award.
The 23-year-old has also been exceptional on the pitch and became the third-youngest United player to reach 50 Premier League goals – behind Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, he will surely be disappointed to have left Leicester without the match ball.
He recovered well from his bad early miss to collect Fernandes’ pass and slide the opener past Schmeichel.
But the Foxes keeper came out on top in their next duel, saving superbly when Rashford was clean through.
Only Fernandes has scored more goals for the club than Rashford’s six this season, but the United academy graduate has to be more clinical to deliver the biggest prizes to Old Trafford and enjoy the successes of Rooney and Ronaldo.
More to follow.
Player of the match
BarnesHarvey Barnes
Leicester City
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Squad number15Player nameBarnes
Average rating7.09
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Squad number9Player nameVardy
Average rating6.93
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Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel
Average rating6.74
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Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Average rating6.64
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Squad number25Player nameNdidi
Average rating6.59
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Squad number10Player nameMaddison
Average rating6.56
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Squad number2Player nameJustin
Average rating6.54
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Squad number3Player nameFofana
Average rating6.42
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Squad number6Player nameEvans
Average rating6.40
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Squad number27Player nameCastagne
Average rating6.31
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Squad number17Player nameAyoze Pérez
Average rating6.30
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Squad number11Player nameAlbrighton
Average rating6.28
Manchester United
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Squad number18Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
6.19
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Squad number7Player nameCavaniAverage rating
6.03
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Squad number5Player nameMaguireAverage rating
5.88
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Squad number10Player nameRashfordAverage rating
5.53
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Squad number39Player nameMcTominayAverage rating
4.97
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Squad number23Player nameShawAverage rating
4.94
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Squad number17Player nameFredAverage rating
4.88
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Squad number38Player nameTuanzebeAverage rating
4.76
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Squad number6Player namePogbaAverage rating
4.68
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Squad number3Player nameBaillyAverage rating
4.67
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Squad number1Player namede GeaAverage rating
4.54
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Squad number9Player nameMartialAverage rating
4.43
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Squad number2Player nameLindelöfAverage rating
4.40
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Squad number21Player nameJamesAverage rating
4.30
Line-ups
Leicester
- 1Schmeichel
- 2Justin
- 3Fofana
- 6Evans
- 27Castagne
- 25NdidiBooked at 89mins
- 8Tielemans
- 11AlbrightonSubstituted forPérezat 81′minutes
- 10MaddisonBooked at 54mins
- 15Barnes
- 9Vardy
Substitutes
- 12Ward
- 14Iheanacho
- 17Pérez
- 18Amartey
- 20Choudhury
- 24Mendy
- 26Praet
- 28Fuchs
- 33Thomas
Man Utd
- 1de Gea
- 2LindelöfSubstituted forTuanzebeat 66′minutes
- 3Bailly
- 5Maguire
- 23Shaw
- 39McTominay
- 17Fred
- 21JamesSubstituted forPogbaat 54′minutes
- 18Bruno FernandesBooked at 45mins
- 10Rashford
- 9MartialSubstituted forCavaniat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Pogba
- 7Cavani
- 11Greenwood
- 14Lingard
- 26Henderson
- 27Telles
- 31Matic
- 34van de Beek
- 38Tuanzebe
- Referee:
- Mike Dean
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Leicester City 2, Manchester United 2.
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Second Half ends, Leicester City 2, Manchester United 2.
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Offside, Manchester United. Axel Tuanzebe tries a through ball, but Marcus Rashford is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Ayoze Pérez (Leicester City) right footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
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Attempt blocked. Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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James Maddison (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
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Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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James Justin (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).
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Foul by Ayoze Pérez (Leicester City).
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Fred (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Own Goal by Axel Tuanzebe, Manchester United. Leicester City 2, Manchester United 2.
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Jonny Evans (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).
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Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Scott McTominay.
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Substitution, Leicester City. Ayoze Pérez replaces Marc Albrighton.
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Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
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Goal! Leicester City 1, Manchester United 2. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Edinson Cavani with a through ball.