Leicester City vs Manchester United, Key battles ahead of Boxing Day showdown

 

Brendan Rodgers men would welcome the Red Devils at home as we look forward to an interesting encounter at the weekend.

Both sides would aim to give each other a great test while they would love to celebrate in the wake of the festive season with a win.

This would see players of different sides go face to face not minding the battle both managers (Brendan Rodgers and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer) could bring to the match equation.

 takes a look at key battles ahead of the Leicester City and Manchester United clash.

Wilfred Ndidi vs. Bruno Fernandes

Ndidi’s immense ability to read the game would be tested with Bruno’s amazing ability in the final third.

He would want to be a catalyst for his side just like they defeated the Leicester side at the last match of the 2019/2020 season.

And against the Nigerian International midfielder, the Portuguese star would need to be at his best as Ndidi would prove a point with his tackling prowess in this fixture after recovering from injury.

James Maddison vs. Scott Mc Tominay

Manchester United’s Scott Mc Tominay would be on the show after his impressive brace in the 6-2 win of Leeds United at the weekend.

However, with Maddison thriving in the centre of the park in this 0-2 success away at Tottenham Hotspur, the Scottish United midfielder would have his hands full in this fixture.

Maddison trickery and eye for the final pass would be up against Mc Tominay’s smartness in midfield as both sides square up against each other at the King Power Stadium.

Jamie Vardy vs. Harry Maguire

This would be a battle of experience as both sides aim to get the better of each other in one of the Boxing Day fixtures.

Maguire has played along with Jamie Vardy in the same team having joined United from the former Champions (EPL) Leicester City some seasons ago.

But the match would see the defender wage war against Vardy as both players would be rooting for their sides’ interest in the match.

Vardy’s pace and goal-scoring quest would be driven to the limit by the nimble-footed defender (Harry) as we expect an explosive contest at the Leicester City ground, known as the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City vs Man Utd, Why I’m not happy at Old Trafford – Bruno Fernandes

 

Manchester United midfielder, Bruno Fernandes, has said he is not happy at the club because he has not won a trophy yet.

United go into today’s Premier League fixture against Leicester City five points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

The Red Devils are already out of the Champions League but have a Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City, as well as the FA Cup and Europa League.

Fernandes, who has enjoyed an impressive first year at Old Trafford, told BT Sport: “I’ve enjoyed it a lot. I enjoy [being at] one of the biggest clubs in the world. It was a dream come true to come to the Premier League, to come to a club I have always dreamed of playing for.

“Of course, it was better for me when I could play and enjoy my games with fans. When I arrived, at the time it was the FA Cup and the Europa League, and we had the chance to get into the top four in the league.

“Unfortunately, we went out in two semi-finals but we achieved third place in the league. The only thing I’ve missed this year is the trophies. I don’t have trophies for the club and I’m not happy about that. I hope 2021 can be better in that way.”

EPL, How Manchester United could line-up against Leicester City

 Manchester United would entertain a trip to the King Power Stadium with the hope to record three wins on the bounce as they have a credible record on the road this term.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have won six of their last seven outings in the Premier League during their positive run, and the Red Devils side is placed third on the standings.

They are one point adrift of their counterpart Leicester City though they’ve got an outstanding game to play.

The Red Devils defeated Leeds United 6-2 last weekend while they came into this EPL early kick-off match on the wake of their 0-2 victory against Everton in the midweek.

 takes a look at how these Red Devils could line-up against Brendan Rodgers Leicester City side.

Absent; Phil Jones (knee), Marcos Rojo (Calf)

Possible; Scott Mc Tominay(groin), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (knock)

The Red Devils would be without Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones who are both out injured. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Scott Mc Tominay could feature but they are both probably ahead of the Leicester City match.

Scott Mc Tominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were absent in the midweek tie against Everton due to the injury issue they coped against Leeds United on Sunday.

But they should be in line for a place in the Leicester match. Solskjaer is expected to ring changes from the side that started out in the EFL Cup clash on Wednesday.

And this could see Fred, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, David de Gea, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in contention to start.

Mason Greenwood would be picked ahead of Daniel James on the right, while Bruno Fernandes is expected to feature owing to his relevance to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his side for this match.

Edinson Cavani scored a superb goal in the victory over Everton but he could make do with a place on the Manchester United’s substitute bench.

He could wait for his time along with the trio of Paul Pogba, Donny van de Beek and Nemanja Matic.

Defender Axel Tuanzebe could replace Aaron-Wan Bissaka in case the right-back fails to meet up with the fitness demands required for this match.

But from the look of things, the former Crystal Palace right-back could be available to face the likes of James Maddison and Star striker Jamie Vardy.

Manchester United’s predicted line-up against Brendan Rodgers Leicester City in a 4-2-3-1 Formation System.

David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka; Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw; Scott Mc Tominay, Fred; Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Anthony Martial.

Pochettino set to reunite Messi, Neymar at PSG

 

Mauricio Pochettino will be the manager to finally re-unite Lionel Messi and Neymar on the football pitch, according to Le Parisien.

Pochettino will make his return to management after over one year out following his sacking from Tottenham, replacing Thomas Tuchel at the Parc Des Princes.

And he will make the bold move to lure Messi from Barcelona and pair him in attack to rekindle a frightening strike partnership with his close friend Neymar.

Messi is able to leave Barca as a free agent at the end of this season and is widely expected to call time on his career at the Nou Camp.

The 33-year-old tried to engineer a move away from Barcelona in the summer.

He sent a burofax to the club, hoping to exercise a clause in his contract to leave for free.

But the Spanish giants stood firm and Messi remained at the club.

Cristiano Ronaldo rated best Premier League transfer ahead of Henry, Aguero [Top 20]

 

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the best ever Premier League transfer ahead of Thierry Henry and Eric Cantona.

Ronaldo came out on top in a countdown that the Transfer Show panel chose on a special Christmas Day programme.

The Portugal captain was one of four Manchester United players in the top 10 along with Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and Wayne Rooney.

United signed Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon for £12m in August 2003. During six seasons at Old Trafford, he won eight major trophies including three Premier League titles and the Champions League.

During a stellar career, he has scored more than 750 goals, won 30 major trophies, five Ballon d’Ors and two Best FIFA men’s player of the year awards.

Thierry Henry came second. Arsenal signed him in the summer of 1999 for £11m from Juventus. During eight seasons at Highbury, he became an Invincible, won two titles and broke the club’s goalscoring record.

Some star names were controversially left out of the list including Manchester United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Top 20:

Cristiano Ronaldo
Thierry Henry
Eric Cantona
Frank Lampard
Roy Keane
Didier Drogba
Sol Campbell
Wayne Rooney
Vincent Company
Alan Shearer
Mohamed Salah
N’Golo Kante
Dennis Bergkamp
Virgil van Dijk
Gianfranco Zola
David Silva
Patrick Vieira
Eden Hazard
Sergio Aguero
Petr Cech

Hisba confiscates 857 bottles of alcohol

 

Jigawa State Hisba says it has arrested thirty prostitutes and confiscated 857 bottles of alcohol in Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.

State commandant, Malam Ibrahim Dahiru disclosed this to  in Dutse.

He said the development followed a raid carried out by Hisbah officers at Gada in Kazaure Local Government.

Dahiru said thirty persons have been arrested during the raid in the area.

He explained that out of the thirty arrested, twenty-seven are prostitutes while the remaining three men are the sellers of the alcohol.

Dahiru noted that the arrested persons were charged to court for prosecution.

He advised residents to stop engaging in immoral acts and other vices that are inimical to society.

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Owa of Igbajo, Olufemi Fashade passes on

 

The Owa of Igbajo, Oba Olufemi Fashade has passed on.

He died after an illness at the age of 81.

The late monarch was crowned king in 1990.

Igbajo is a town in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State.

Fashade was born on April 17, 1939, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He attended Baptist School, Ebute-metta Lagos; Abeokuta High School; Kiriji Memorial College; Tottenham College, London, and Hammersmith College, London.

Fashade enlisted in the Nigeria Army in June 1969 and retired voluntarily as a Major in December 1977.