Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City: Ralf Rangnick’s men drop more points in top four race

For all the fuss about Cristiano Ronaldo being past his best, the truth is Manchester United are even worse without him.

Ronaldo missed Saturday’s fortuitous draw through illness. It’s the sixth Premier League he hasn’t started since he returned to Old Trafford and his team-mates are still yet to win any of them.

No Ronaldo meant no focal point in attack with the experiment of using Bruno Fernandes as a false nine failing badly. Ralf Rangnick then turned to the out-of-form Marcus Rashford to come off the bench to play centre-forward but things didn’t improve.

Manchester United were left frustrated by Leicester City as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday night

Ralf Rangnick’s men were flat for much of the game as they dropped more points in their battle for a top four place

Former Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho had given the Foxes the lead with a glancing header in the second half

Brazilian midfielder Fred – who was arguably United’s best player on the pitch – got them level just minutes later 

A point gives United faint hope of qualifying for the Champions League though they are still three points behind fourth-place Arsenal having played a couple of games more.

But Leicester, who had won their previous three games against United, felt they deserved another.

Scott McTominay was fortunate to escape with a yellow card after his high lunge caught James Maddison.

And when Maddison thought he’d put the visitors 2-1 ahead late on, VAR rescued United by spotting a kick by Kelechi Iheanacho on Raphael Varane, who cleverly enforced the check by rolling around as if hit by a sniper.

Leicester’s lead taken after 63 minutes showed all facets of the game, a stunning tackle by Kieran Dewsbury-Hall on Bruno Fernandes, a wickedly curved left-foot cross by James Maddison and clinical downward header from Kelechi Iheanacho.

To United’s credit, they at least showed character to fight back, levelling three minutes later when Kasper Schmeichel parried Fernandes’ shot and Fred fired the rebound into the roof of the net.

The goal created an eruption inside the stadium. United of old would have capitalised to complete a comeback win, but those days are gone.

Leicester continued to play the better football and when United did create a late moment of danger, both Rashford and Jadon Sancho miscued their finishes inside the box.

If Ronaldo is too old at 37 to be the long-term solution, his absence left youngsters Anthony Elanga and Sancho looking for guidance. Fernandes must be paid by the word the amount of whingeing he does on the pitch. Rashford can’t even get a start when Ronaldo is unavailable.

There is a pressing need for United to identify their next permanent manager quickly rather than sifting through various candidates without seeming to have a clear idea of what they want.

In the circumstances, Rangnick’s interim reign is like sticking a small plaster on a big wound. The German is doing the best he can – but it’s not cutting the mustard.

‘Today was not enough. We all know we need points,’ admitted Fernandes.

James Maddison thought he had given the Foxes a shock winner after firing home – before VAR intervened and ruled it out

Referee Andre Marriner opted to head down to the pitchside monitor and decided that Iheanacho made a foul in the build-up

‘We created some chances but the last option was not the best. I don’t believe there’s anyone who didn’t give everything in the game. Nobody lacked intensity. We have to keep looking at our own games.’

A dull first half in which Leicester played the only good football on show was enlivened by an entertaining sideshow involving United captain Harry Maguire, who was signed from Leicester.

Leicester fans sang swearily about their ex – who was also booed by England fans in midweek – while the Stretford End loyally chanted his name in response.

There wasn’t much else to get excited about apart from a couple of misses by Harvey Barnes and Iheanacho.

It took a bad challenge to wake everyone up at the start of the second half. McTominay took a poor touch and caught Maddison with a high boot, leaving the Leicester player in clear pain.

It was Iheanacho who haunted his old rivals as he got up to nod in Maddion’s superb cross with 63 minutes on the clock

The Nigerian international slides on his knees to celebrate – but his big moment at Old Trafford ended up being short-lived 

His team-mates were fuming and felt a booking was insufficient punishment. Rangnick also saw the signs and withdrew his player after 56 minutes, sending on Rashford in his place after 56 minutes.

Before the England man had an opportunity however, Leicester scored.

It was a remarkable passage of play. United threatened to break away from a Leicester corner until Dewsbury-Hall put in a terrific tackle to halt Fernandes.

Instead of admiring his work, the Leicester youngster played a quick ball down the line to Maddison whose left-foot delivery swerved away from United ‘keeper David de Gea.

Iheanacho, who had hardly taken a decent touch all evening, converted expertly with a downward header after beating Varane in the air.

Fred was handed a golden chance to score as he thumped in the equaliser after Bruno Fernandes’ shot was parried out  

The former Shakhtar Donestsk man started off shaky but grew in confidence and was key to a handful of attacks

Maddison had expertly converted from close range from Iheanacho’s pass but was left frustrated as it was chalked off

United desperately needed a quick response and they got one after 66 minutes.

Schmeichel’s clearance failed to reach the halfway line and Fred ran towards the edge of the United box where Fernandes had a shot from 18 yards.

The Leicester ‘keeper dived to parry but Fred had continued his run and finished like an accomplished striker.

A once-cautious encounter suddenly exploded into life. Iheanacho ran in on De Gea but tried an ambitious chipped finish rather than putting his laces through his shot, and the ball ended on top of the goal.

Andre Marriner was advised to check the goal on the pitchside monitor and had no doubts Iheanacho had committed a foul in the build-up 

Earlier Scott McTominay had been lucky to avoid a red card for a studs-up challenge on James Maddison in the second half

Out-of-form Marcus Rashford was introduced late on but could not have an impact to lift United to an unlikely winner 

De Gea then twisted to his right to tip away a Wesley Fofana header from another excellent Maddison delivery.

After 80 minutes, Leicester thought they had retaken the lead with sweeping finish by Maddison until VAR ruled that Iheanacho had kicked Varane’s knee in the build-up.

Rodgers held his head in hands on the sidelines but it was the correct decision, just about the only good news for United.

United had one last chance but Rashford missed his kick and Sancho mis-hit his finish wide. It summed up United’s current malaise. 

Leicester impressed at Old Trafford and could have walked away with a win. Harvey Barnes (right) was dangerous throughout

United are now under serious pressure to secure a top four spot with Tottenham and Arsenal still to play this weekend

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