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Leicester City player ratings v Man United as El Khannouss shows potential but defence ropey

Matthijs de Ligt of Manchester United controls the ball under pressure from Bilal El Khannouss of Leicester City
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Leicester City’s defensive frailties were exposed as a much-changed side were dumped out of the Carabao Cup in a bonkers tie at Manchester United.

City conceded four of the six goals in an action-packed first half at Old Trafford as United, under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, put on a finishing clinic but also capitalised as Steve Cooper’s side left themselves wide open. Still, City played some great, confident football too, with Bilal El Khannouss and Conor Coady netting their first goals for the club.

There was even hope of an unlikely comeback when City started the second period on top. But Bruno Fernandes added the fifth for the hosts to kill the game and confirm United’s spot in the quarter-finals.

With one eye on Saturday’s trip to Ipswich, Cooper made nine changes to his side, with only James Justin and Caleb Okoli keeping their spots. United meanwhile brought in just four fresh faces.

READ MORE: Manchester United 5-2 Leicester City live reaction from Cooper after City dumped out of the cup

And so United were even stronger favourites than they were before kick-off, but City actually started quite brightly, keeping the ball well as they moved up the pitch and more than holding their own. Of course, they were then hit with a sucker punch.

With United’s first shot, Casemiro let fly from close to 30 yards out, the Brazilian producing a perfect strike to arc the ball around and down as it kissed the crossbar on its way into the top corner. With their next chance, United scored again.

Diogo Dalot ran free and crossed low for Alejandro Garnacho to slam into the net at the far post. Cooper was apoplectic on the touchline as he appealed for offside in a tight call against Dalot, but there was no VAR to save City.

From there, the half got silly. First up was El Khannouss’s maiden City goal, the Moroccan spinning a delightful shot through the bodies and across the turf, the ball hitting one post and then the other before crossing the line. But perhaps excited by his finish, El Khannouss then gave away a free-kick that Fernandes deflected in off Justin’s header.

City, unfortunate to that point, were then sliced apart time and again. From a corner, United had their fourth, Casemiro headed against the post, the ball rolled across the line and hit the opposite post, with City players motionless throughout. Casemiro was the only alert man in the box and slammed in.

There was still time for a sixth goal of the half. Luke Thomas’s excellent free-kick delivery caused havoc in the box, with Coady pouncing on the ricochet to coolly pass in his first City goal.

City were on top at the start of the second period and were playing some terrific football to advance into dangerous areas, building hope of a comeback. But they could not capitalise, and then gifted a fifth to United. Okoli undersold his backpass to Ward and Fernandes nipped in, rounding the Welshman and thumping into the net.

Still City kept coming and Boubakary Soumare went close to his maiden goal for the club. He took Oli Skipp’s pass in his stride and hit a sweet strike that Bayindir did excellently to tip onto the crossbar.

A raft of changes were then made and the game petered out, the final 20 minutes unable to match the intensity of the first 70. City were out of the cup, but they will have hope of getting a result when they return to Old Trafford in just over a week’s time. Here's how we scored the players.

Danny Ward: He looked dumbfounded by Casemiro’s stunning opener, and while he was left exposed for many of the goals that followed, he didn’t inspire confidence and didn’t come close to keeping them out. Still, United had so many chances that he was able to make a couple of handy saves. 5

James Justin: In his individual defensive battles, when facing up Garnacho, he didn’t do too badly, but he was part of a unit that looked ropey and let the young winger escape around the back for the United second. However, he was a great outlet on the ball and ran hard to ensure he was always involved in the attack. 6

Caleb Okoli: He was rocked by the openness of the game – it’s not like this in Italy – and struggled to pick up the right positions to avert danger at the back. He was fine on the ball until his undercooked backpass gifted United their fifth. 4

Conor Coady: Defensively he looked slow, unable to keep up with the speedy United breaks and possibly playing Dalot on the for United second. On the ball, he played a few decent forward passes, and took his chance with the composure of a striker. 5

Luke Thomas: His dead-ball delivery was excellent and caused chaos in the United box to set up Coady’s goal. He served good forward ball throughout and wasn’t too bad defensively either, especially when he quickly snapped at Rashford’s ankles, not allowing him any peace. 6

Oliver Skipp: There were a few occasions in the first half when he got a foot in to stop a dangerous United attack. But on the ball he misplaced a few passes, although did improve as the game went on. He was busy as usual. 6

Boubakary Soumare: On the ball, he was really good. He ran with power, control and confidence and was always thinking forward with his passing, even going close to a first goal. But those advances forward meant he was rarely in the right place to help out with the defence, and he didn’t get back quickly enough. 7

Bobby De Cordova-Reid: Except for a couple of decent first-time passes to link play in attack, this wasn’t a good night for the Jamaican. Too often his poor touch saw City attacks broke down. 4

Bilal El Khannouss: He was anonymous early on, but then scored a lovely goal, hitting the ball ever so well to slide in his first for the club. That raised his confidence levels and he connected play well after that, showing off some quick turns and intricate passes around the box. But he did concede the free-kick for United’s third. 7

Kasey McAteer: He ran well, forwards and backwards, but his touch at the top end let him down. He kept at it, and he nearly wriggled through in the second half, but he just couldn’t find a way through. 5

Jordan Ayew: He used his strength really well and ensured neither De Ligt nor Lindelof had an easy evening, the Ghanaian really putting his body about and never giving up on a ball. He held it up well to bring others into play too. 7

Jannik Vestergaard: Pinged a few passes forward and seemed annoyed when his team-mates couldn’t bring them under control. He always looked forward though. 5

Facundo Buonanotte: He was crowded out when he received the ball and, unlike usual, he threw his arms up in frustration rather than try to win the ball back every time. 4

Will Alves: Looked overawed when he first came on, but quickly improved, especially when he moved out to the left. Attacked his man and set up one chance with some great wing play. 6

Stephy Mavididi: He looked very keen to get on the scoresheet, drawing one save. While it meant he was threatening at the top end, he was also a little greedy. 6

Odsonne Edouard: Of all the subs, he didn’t really get on the ball. Still looks a little rusty, and seems to be behind Ayew in the striker pecking order now. 4

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