Leicester City v Manchester United: Great Expectations

This match last year provided one of the most exciting and dramatic games of last season. An eight goal thriller and a comeback from Leicester that not many would have predicted. Can the match live up to the expectations being placed on it this time around? Could it even surpass the entertainment that last season provided? This time it’s first versus second and could help decide where the title will go in May, Old Trafford or the King Power. I joke of course from a Leicester point of view but Manchester United will hope it is another weekend where they can gain points on their rivals and go one step closer.

Leicester fans didn’t have any expectations for this tie last season. Manchester United under Louis Gaal were somewhat of an unknown but rapidly improving side. Though ultimately when you’re playing a huge club like the Red Devils, and having been newly promoted, there’s only so much that you can hope for. They played a near full strength squad and while we secretly hoped for some kind of result, we definitely couldn’t have dreamed it would end the way that it did.

After thirteen minutes when Romelu Falcao easily broke away from Richie De Laet and crossed into the box, Foxes fans perhaps felt that it wasn’t going to be our day as Robin Van Persie took a free header to put the ball in the back of the net. When Angel Di Maria doubled their lead with an outrageous chip, we definitely started to fear the worst.

Writing this now, it comes as no surprise that the man that got us back into it was Jamie Vardy. Making something from nothing, he took the ball down the edge of the line, almost out of play for a goal-kick in the end using his pace to both shake off the United defender and deliver an inch perfect cross to the head of Leonardo Ulloa, who made it 2-1. All three goals having come between minute thirteen and sixteen, it certainly wasn’t dull. Though the game had to wait half an hour for more goals, Ander Herrera’s deliberate or not back-heel saw United go 3-1 up but their lead lasted just five minutes. Things brightened up for Foxes fans almost immediately when Jamie Vardy won a somewhat dubious penalty and David Nugent slotted it away to make it 3-2.

With Leicester smelling a comeback, the stage was set and when Esteban Cambiasso levelled it at 3-3, the celebrations were somewhat wild. Little did we know that two more goals would follow. Jamie Vardy was to be involved in both, getting an emphatic goal of his own that made it 4-3 and winning another penalty that Ulloa took to seal a 5-3 victory. All I can remember is feeling that whatever happened for the season, we’d have fond memories of this game. While it was ultimately overshadowed by our relegation escape, it’s likely a favourite game of the season for many Foxes fans. The King Power stadium was certainly rocking that afternoon.

With the eight goal thriller at the King Power being televised last season, it’s no surprise that this clash has been moved to a 5.30pm kick-off to accommodate the Sky cameras once again. This game had been selected long before Leicester’s crazy run or Jamie Vardy’s consecutive goalscoring record had truly began. You could say they’ve struck lucky really as all this has just added to the hype surrounding it. Of course, a game in the same vein is not guaranteed but it’s difficult to see Manchester United being involved in a second 0-0 draw of the week.

The focus in the build-up will all be around Jamie Vardy and the Ruud Van Nistlerooy record of course. Having already equalled it with ten goals in ten consecutive games, the match gives him the chance to better the record against the team for whom the record holder set it with. If you had to write a football fairytale it likely wouldn’t read as well as the Vardy story does. While he’s probably used to the attention by now, Leicester’s current run of form and league position should take some of the pressure away from him. Everybody has been quick to write about how we’ve managed to top the Premier League in November and what the secret to our success has been. Of course, it hasn’t involved many clashes with your top four teams, so all eyes will be on how the Foxes can handle this latest of tests.

The history books aren’t exactly in Leicester’s favour either. The 5-3 victory last season came off the back of ten losses in our previous ten fixtures with United and you had to go back to a 1996 League Cup victory to find when we’d last beaten them at home. We went out rather with a whimper at Old Trafford in the return fixture last season, losing 3-1. Of course, while Foxes fans remember the last home game fondly, it’s not been forgotten that it kick-started our worst run of the season. After that game, we had to wait three long months to see us pick up three points again and whatever the result tomorrow, we’ll be hoping to avoid any such pitfall this time around.

Something struck me when watching the highlights from the home game again last season. Perhaps it’s because it’s over twelve months ago and a lot has changed within the team since then, but I can’t see us defending so poorly as we did for almost all of their goals. Yes, to turn it around and come back from being two goals down sounds more familiar for us this season, it was still a generally all round good team performance that saw us get that result. Personally, I feel we’re even better at being together this season and I can’t wait to see how that sees us approach this game. While several of the players who started last season are now gone, a core who contributed to that victory are still here and look much improved.

After brushing aside Newcastle United last weekend, it’s difficult to see what changes Claudio Ranieri would want to make to his Leicester side. It was particularly nice to see Leonardo Ulloa back in the side and with him bagging a goal, and this tie from last season in mind, I’d like to see him start again. Whereas last season saw two of our ex-Manchester United contingency play, we’ll likely have just one tomorrow that starts; Danny Drinkwater. Danny Simpson’s great run of form means that Richie De Laet currently only makes the bench at best and Matty James is still on the road to full recovery. Nobody will relish an opportunity to win again against his former side more than Danny Drinkwater though. Having more than stepped up and into the role Esteban Cambiasso vacated, he’s in the form of his career and along with partner N’Golo Kante will be key on Saturday if we are to stand any chance of victory.

Expectations are all well and good, but this should be a game to enjoy for Foxes fans, and one for the players to really get stuck into. The fans may have higher hopes this time out, but we need to respect that this Manchester United team are serious title contenders and have so far been able to see out victories even in the games where they perhaps haven’t deserved them. With Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney both back in the midweek game, it looks to be full strength sides for both teams. This definitely looks a great game for a neutral fan.