Manchester United 1-2 Leicester - Man City clinch Premier League title thanks to Caglar Soyuncu's header, after Mason Greenwood had cancelled out Luke Thomas' opener... with result also helping the Foxes take step closer to Champions League

  • Luke Thomas smashed in stunning volley to give Leicester City 10th minute lead after they made a fast start
  • Mason Greenwood, though, equalised five minutes later for the Red Devils at Old Trafford with low strike
  • Caglar Soyuncu headed in a deserved Foxes winner following a 66th minute Marc Albrighton corner 
  • The Leicester victory secured Manchester City a third Premier League title in the last four seasons 
  • Latest Premier League news, including fixtures and results  
  • Premier League table - as it stands

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Nice chap, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Pep Guardiola surely thinks so. Brendan Rodgers, too. David Moyes and Jurgen Klopp perhaps not so much.

The team Solskjaer picked for this, his second match in five days, had ramifications throughout the top six places; for just about everybody, bar Manchester United. It gave the title to Manchester City; made Leicester very hard to catch inside the top four; it all but ended West Ham's hopes of Champions League qualification, and placed Liverpool's return to the competition in further jeopardy. 

Caglar Soyuncu celebrates with Luke Thomas after heading Leicester City back in front against Manchester United

Caglar Soyuncu celebrates with Luke Thomas after heading Leicester City back in front against Manchester United

Soyuncu's header in the 66th minute proved to be the winning goal as Leicester City overcame the hosts 2-1 at Old Trafford

Soyuncu's header in the 66th minute proved to be the winning goal as Leicester City overcame the hosts 2-1 at Old Trafford

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks on from the dugout as defeat handed the Premier League title to rivals Man City

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks on from the dugout as defeat handed the Premier League title to rivals Man City

As for United, well their job is done. A top-four finish is guaranteed and this was about protecting tired legs from an unworkable fixture schedule with a European final still to come. Harry Maguire may be out, but no-one else is. Solskjaer will settle for that and none of it is his fault anyway. He tried his best and so did his players, but Leicester are a good team. 


No rival, not even Manchester City, could field so many second string individuals and be favoured to win. United were odds against, once bookmakers got wind of the team; Leicester even money. That's why Denise Coates has a big house.

Solskjaer gave a senior debut to Swedish teenager Anthony Elanga, and a Premier League debut to Amad Diallo in what was an all-teenage front-line with Mason Greenwood. Unsurprisingly, Leicester's old hands looked more dangerous. 

United have huge promise and Solskjaer may believe he can work one more season with Edinson Cavani until Greenwood is wholly ready, and save whatever eye-watering fee Daniel Levy is demanding for Harry Kane. One day this could be a United forward trio that challenges for the title. This, however, proved a night for old heads.

Ironically, though, it was when Solskjaer introduced two more experienced players in the hope of winning the game that Leicester scored their winner, and delivered the trophy to United's most bitter rivals. He delayed a Leicester corner to introduce Cavani and Marcus Rashford and, from it, Leicester regained the lead.

Marc Albrighton whipped in the ball from the right and central defender Caglar Soyuncu lost his man, Rashford, to rise above Nemanja Matic and power the ball into the net. It's a hoary football adage, about replacing men at an opposition corner, and it was certainly hard on Rashford if he had been instantly detailed to track such a dangerous presence. He looked like a bloke who had just come on; which he had.

United had to avoid a loss to keep the title battle mathematically alive; pictured, Alex Telles walks off dejected after the game

United had to avoid a loss to keep the title battle mathematically alive; pictured, Alex Telles walks off dejected after the game

Solskjaer congratulates Leicester's players following the Foxes' well-deserved Premier League win at Old Trafford

Solskjaer congratulates Leicester's players following the Foxes' well-deserved Premier League win at Old Trafford

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers shares his delight with Thomas after a big three points for his side in their top-four push

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers shares his delight with Thomas after a big three points for his side in their top-four push

MAN UTD 1-2 LEICESTER CITY  - MATCH FACTS

MAN UTD (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6.5; Williams 5, Bailly 5, Tuanzebe 6, Telles 5.5; Van de Beek 5, Matic 6.5; Diallo 7 (Fernandes 78, 6), Mata 6, Elanga 5 (Rashford 66, 5.5); Greenwood 7.5 (Cavani 66, 6.5).

Subs not used: Henderson, Lindelof, Pogba, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka McTominay

Scorer: Greenwood 15

Booked: none

Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 6

LEICESTER CITY (3-4-3): Schmeichel 6.5; Castagne 6.5, Soyuncu 7, Fofana 6.5; Thomas 7, Ndidi 8, Tielemans 7.5, Albrighton 6; Perez 5 (Maddison 65, 6), Iheanacho 6, Vardy 6.5 (Choudhury 80).

Subs not used: Ward, Amartey, Pereira, Mendy, Praet, Fuchs, Maswanhis

Scorers: Thomas 10, Soyuncu 66

Booked: none

Manager: Brendan Rodgers 7.5

Referee: Craig Pawson 7

Ratings by Chris Wheeler 

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

 

 

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Did United care, then? They certainly played as if they did. On came Bruno Fernandes, who immediately sliced a shot just wide from the edge of the area. Juan Mata then tried to pick out Cavani in a good position, forcing a great last ditch interception from Wesley Fofana. 

This was not a lackadaisical performance, nobody would say United were on the beach. More, they were in Gdansk, their reserves trying to impress the manager before the Europa League final with Villarreal. If Maguire does not recover from a ligament injury, someone will have to partner Victor Lindelof. And, with three matches remaining, who knows what other opportunities might arise? No United player took Leicester lightly – even if circumstances dictated it might look that way.

Meaning integrity was maintained. An exhausted United side might have fared little better than this and nobody could have anticipated the postponement of what is now Thursday's fixture with Liverpool. Equally, anyone who imagines United are happy to surrender a title to the team in pale blue does not know this city. Each inch of ground conceded hurts, which was why nobody shared Jose Mourinho's positive take on finishing a distant second to Guardiola in 2018. 

Thomas had opened the scoring with a stunning volley in the 10th minute, his first Premier League goal for the Foxes

Thomas had opened the scoring with a stunning volley in the 10th minute, his first Premier League goal for the Foxes

Thomas is congratulated by his team-mates on the goal following a flying start from Leicester in the opening exchanges

Thomas is congratulated by his team-mates on the goal following a flying start from Leicester in the opening exchanges

This is the sixth time the Premier League trophy has been won at Old Trafford, and only on three occasions has it gone to the home side. They won't like that around these parts – even if the anti-Glazer demonstrators kept their powder dry for another day. Thursday, probably.

Anyway, it turns out it doesn't matter what team Solskjaer picks, his Manchester United blueprint remains the same. You know, the one where they give the opposition a goal start and then scramble for a way back into the game.

In United's defence, mind, on this occasion it was one hell of a goal. The first in the league by 19-year-old Luke Thomas and it is hard to imagine he will get too many better, no matter how many games he ends up playing. It was Youri Tielemans who broke through United's ranks and he struck a cross from the right, deep, with Jamie Vardy lurking in the middle. It takes no little to confidence to order Vardy out of way, but he seemed to get a call and let the ball pass over his head to Thomas. The teenager met it, left foot, on the volley straight back across goal and in at the far corner over the head of Brandon Williams on the line. What a beautiful first take.

But just five minutes later Mason Greenwood equalised with a low crisp strike across goal for Manchester United

But just five minutes later Mason Greenwood equalised with a low crisp strike across goal for Manchester United

Greenwood celebrates his goal, but the Red Devils otherwise struggled on a night where Solskjaer was forced into 10 changes

Greenwood celebrates his goal, but the Red Devils otherwise struggled on a night where Solskjaer was forced into 10 changes

It was quite the night for youth, though, and within five minutes Greenwood had responded for Manchester United. The last time two teenagers scored in a Premier League fixture was here on Boxing Day, 2019, and Greenwood was half of that doubt act, too, with Matty Longstaff of Newcastle. 

This, however, was an absolute teenage rampage with the ball played inside by Amad, 18, finding space where it was thought none existed. Greenwood collected the ball, powered through Leicester's defence, and finished with a shot low into the far corner out of the reach of Kasper Schmeichel. 

There are only four players to have outscored Greenwood in their teenage years in the modern Premier League era: Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Wayne Rooney and Nicolas Anelka. That's not bad company.

The start made for a lively game, too, even if it was Leicester who had the best chances., In the 27th minute, a long-range chip from Tielemans almost caught out David De Gea – now officially deputising for Dean Henderson – who tipped it over the bar. 

A relentless schedule with four games in eight days forced Solskjaer to hand a senior debut to 19-year-old Anthony Elanga (L)

A relentless schedule with four games in eight days forced Solskjaer to hand a senior debut to 19-year-old Anthony Elanga (L)

Injured defender Harry Maguire was forced to watch his side's defeat from the stands with crutches and his foot in a brace

Injured defender Harry Maguire was forced to watch his side's defeat from the stands with crutches and his foot in a brace

Shortly before half-time, Kelechi Iheanacho played Vardy on goal but Axel Tuanzebe did brilliantly to cut in ahead. He dawdled miserably in the 51st minute, however, and almost allowed Iheanacho to score. De Gea saved one-on-one from Iheanacho after 59 minutes and Tielemans just failed to convert a Vardy header at the far post with 17 minutes remaining. Undoubtedly, Leicester had the best of the game. It was their first Old Trafford win since 1998 and thoroughly deserved.

So what of the champions? They have had a truly exceptional second half of the season, eclipsing their rivals when it was thought this could be the most open title race in years. On Christmas Day, Manchester City were eighth. No champions in Premier League history have been as low at that stage in the season, indeed no champions since Liverpool in 1981-82, who sat down for turkey and crackers, while 12th.

Can United catch them next season? Their away record suggests so, as do head-to-head results, and while Solskjaer might no longer be in the market for a striker, it is hard to imagine there will not be improvements at Old Trafford. Jadon Sancho? Declan Rice? The league table shows a ten point gap between the Manchester clubs and Solskjaer has to address that with more than mere tinkering. The 2020-21 title was won at Old Trafford. Who it was won by, however, will surely stick in the craw.

 

 RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENED...

  • Dan Ripley

    Host commentator

19:51
FULL-TIME: Manchester United 1-2 Leicester City

Manchester City have won the Premier League title

19:50
Manchester United 1-2 Leicester City

90+1min: There will be three added minutes at Old Trafford. Have United missed this man in the defence tonight?

Harry Maguire of Manchester United is seen with crutches and a leg boot brace in the stands
19:48
Manchester United 1-2 Leicester City

89min: Just over a minute to go and even with United seeing more of the ball, Leicester are defending very well. Not even any gamesmanship from the visitors, evidenced by the fact we have yet to see a yellow card in this match.

19:46
Manchester United 1-2 Leicester City

86min: United are enjoying their best spell of the game now, but time is ticking away with the title heading towards the Etihad Stadium, and the Foxes taking a huge step towards the Champions League. Here is the live table...

19:43
Manchester United 1-2 Leicester City

84min: Rare chance or United as the ball pops up invitingly for Fernandes inside the box, but he doesn't catch his strike across it cleanly and it leads to him slicing wide across goal.

19:40
Leicester City substitution

80min: Time for Leicester to shut up shop, with the industrial Vardy departing to make way for midfielder Hamza Choudhury.

19:37
Manchester United substitution

78min: The final big gun is on for Manchester United. The entire attacking line-up has been replaced as Amad Diallo makes way for some chap called Bruno Fernandes.

19:34
Caglar Soyuncu celebrates heading the Foxes back in front
19:32
Manchester United 1-2 Leicester City

73min: That nearly sealed it for Leicester City (and Manchester City!) Iheanacho floats a lovely ball to the back post where Jamie Vardy nods back across the penalty box. Youri Tielemans reads it well to spring towards goal but he is unable to turn home on the slide.

19:31
Manchester United 1-2 Leicester City

72min: United's response. Not much really, it's as if they have already switched attention to Thursday's game against Liverpool.

19:28
Manchester United 1-2 Leicester City

69min: And of course, the bigger picture here. As it stands, that Soyuncu goal would crown Manchester City are champions...

19:25
GOAL! Manchester United 1-2 LEICESTER CITY

66min: And straight from a Marc Albrighton corner, Caglar Soyuncu peels off Rashford, leaps higher than Nemanja Matic and nods Leicester back in front at the back post. That will make up for his disaster performance against Newcastle the other night if the Foxes hang on to this.

19:24
Manchester United and Leicester City substitutions

65min: Here comes those changes. United make a double switch, with Anthony Elanga and Greenwood making way for Marcus Rashford and Cavani, while Leicester send on Maddison for Ayoze Perez.

19:20
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

63min: Leicester on top now and both sides are considering changes. It looks like Cavani could be coming on while James Maddison has been warming up for the Foxes.

19:19
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

60min: Leicester just starting to take this up a gear. Youri Tielemans plays a good through ball into the box for Kelechi Iheanacho, who from a tight angle is denied by a fine stop from David de Gea. An Iheanacho winner would of course hand his former side Manchester City the Premier League title.

19:16
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

57min: A couple of United subs have been warming up at the start of the half. I'm hoping they come on at some point just to liven this one up - especially with in form Edinson Cavani being one of them.

Manchester United's Axel Tuanzebe (up) vies with Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho
19:13
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

54min: Half-chance for United. Alex Telles whips in an excellent near post free-kick for Mason Greenwood, but he is unable to direct a header on target, instead he can only glance across the box where Luke Thomas intercepts to nod over.

19:11
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

51min: United are trying to do a bit more going forward than in the first half when they only had one shot on target. So far though the Leicester defence has the young attack under lock and key.

19:08
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

48min: This game doesn't feel like a fixture that could decide the Premier League title this evening. Manchester United are not playing like a side that is still chasing it either. A quiet opening.

19:04
SECOND HALF: No changes as Leicester restart the second half
Manchester United's Nemanja Matic (right) duels for the ball with Leicester's Youri Tielemans
18:59
Here are a selection of first half stats from the first half

I just wonder with those aerial duel stats whether Leicester might go a bit more direct in the second half? Of course it all depends on where those aerial duels were won, but at the very least playing for set-pieces could be an option.

18:47
HALF-TIME: Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

45+2min: ...and Tielemans hits the wall.

Juan Mata (centre) of Manchester United in action with Ayoze Perez of Leicester City
18:47
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

45min: One added minute as Leicester win a free-kick 25 yards out...

18:44
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

42min: Leicester are still seeing a lot of the ball but are not doing too much with it. In fact the most interesting thing about this game is that it is raining again. Even in Manchester we can consider that news.

18:42
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

39min: Ten minutes of nothingness at Old Trafford. Leicester look a different team to the side that were well on top after 10 minutes. But since Greenwood's equaliser they really have done very little as an attacking unit. It's like they have suffered a drop in confidence.

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers looks on from the touchline at Old Trafford
18:38
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

36min: Leicester want a free-kick 25 yards out after Youri Tielemans goes under pressure from Anthony Elanga, but play is waved on and United counter with a long ball.

Greenwood has hopes of latching on to it to go through with a one-on-one but Caglar Soyuncu cuts across well to intercept and clear.

18:36
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

33min: United just taking a breather as they drop into a more defensive shape, giving up possession to Leicester.

The Foxes them too are pacing themselves, now building patiently from the back.

18:32
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

30min: Just a slight lull in the last few minutes, with defences now starting to dominate for both teams. It's like an end-to-end match with two brick walls put inbetween with neither side having much care for a slow midfield build up.

Manchester United's Amad Diallo (left) and Leicester City's Ayoze Perez battle for the ball
18:29
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

27min: David de Gea tips over a dipping cross for a corner but United clear the resulting set-piece. Jamie Vardy is looking sharp for the Foxes this evening, even if he has not seen much of the ball so far.

18:27
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

24min: Not too much goal mouth action in the last few minutes. Both sides though are keen to attack though, bodes well for the rest of this game.

18:26
Quite the landmark goal for Luke Thomas
18:22
Manchester United 1-1 Leicester City

18min: That was just about United's first attack this evening, with rain having started to fall heavily after Thomas' opener. Maybe United just needed a shower to wake them up?

18:17
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 Leicester City

15min: United usually leave comebacks until the second half this season - it's just the five minutes tonight. Amad Diallo squares for Mason Greenwood on the edge of the box who after creating space to shoot drills a tidy effort across goal into the bottom corner. Top finish!

18:17
What a way to score your first Premier League goal!
18:10
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 LEICESTER CITY

10min: Oh what a brilliant goal this is! This is Luke Thomas' first Premier League goal and he may never score a better one. Leicester build well down the right flank, where Youri Tielemans makes a clever run before floating a cross to the back post. Thomas has a tight angle to goal but with a beautiful strike he smashes a first-time volley across goal into the corner.

18:09
Manchester United 0-0 Leicester City

9min: Leicester on top in the first 10 minutes. A low cross from the right finds Jamie Vardy at the near post but his attempt to find a team-mate with a clever flick fails to locate a blue shirt. Brendan Rodgers will be impressed with this start.

18:08
Manchester United 0-0 Leicester City

6min: It's even slower now. The game coming to a halt as Alex Telles receives treatment following a clash of heads with Wilfried Ndidi while defending a corner. He looks ok to continue though.

18:04
Manchester United 0-0 Leicester City

3min: A slow but probably expected start to the game. Leicester seeing a lot of the ball, but are just approaching with caution as they attempt to work out their much changed opponents.

Manchester United's Anthony Elanga (left) in action with Leicester City's Timothy Castagne
18:01
KICK-OFF: Away we go at Old Trafford

Here is a reminder of the teams, United with a few key stars on the bench should they need them.

Man Utd: De Gea, Williams, Bailly, Tuanzebe, Alex Telles, Van de Beek, Matic, Diallo, Mata, Elanga, Greenwood.
Subs: Lindelof, Pogba, Cavani, Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Shaw, Henderson, Wan Bissaka, McTominay.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Castagne, Fofana, Soyuncu, Albrighton, Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas, Perez, Iheanacho, Vardy.
Subs: Maddison, Ward, Amartey, Choudhury, Ricardo Pereira, Mendy, Praet, Fuchs, Maswanhise.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

17:57
Here is a reminder of the Premier League table as the players come out

Remember if Leicester City win tonight then it will officially crown Manchester City as champions at Manchester United's expense.

17:48
Players are warming up so can Leicester take advantage of Utd's team

You probably will never get as good as odds as this for Manchester United playing at home (Leicester are favourites!) but do you back United's young stars. We already know that Diallo, making his first start, has something about him so do you back the Red Devils who are 23/10 with bonuscodebets.co.uk.

Manchester United's Amad Diallowarms up before the game at Old Trafford
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes are on the bench for United
Youri Tielemans of Leicester City warms up ahead of the Premier League match
17:42
Some good news for Manchester United supporters...

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has  brought an upadate to Harry Maguire's injury, stating that after limping off on Sunday at Villa that 'he has not broken anything and that it is ligament damage'. He hopes he could still feature for the Europa League final.

Solskjaer admitted that without the injury he would have started this evening's game.

17:34
And it doesn't look like protesters will be stopping his debut either

Unlike the violent demonstrations we saw recently before United's game with Liverpool where fans broke into Old Trafford and clashed with police outside the ground that led to the fixture being called off, it is rather calmer at the Theatre of Dreams this evening.

No sings of the anti-Glazer protesters returning, although there is a huge police presence while the club have erected 10ft high fences to keep out any would-be troublemakers.

Rather fittingly, it really is just one man and his dog type of stuff supporters wise.

17:28
So who is Anthony Elanga?

Elanga was on the bench for the recent Europa League clashes with Granada, but this is a first United apperance for the left-sided Swedish born forward. who has 11 goals from 29 games in the Under 23s.

Solskjaer clearly rates him and admits only injury has prevented him from using the pacey forward sooner: 'He has impressed when he has been in training with us,' he said.

'He was very unlucky two or three months back when he got a bad injury and he's worked really hard to come back, because he was just due to move into the first-team squad back then.

'He's got an X factor, some attributes, it's not like a gift, but he's got the acceleration, pace, speed, that's a given for wingers and he's got qualities I like.

'He's a goalscoring winger, he's confident, he likes to beat men, right foot, left foot, he's got a great attitude. His appetite and hunger to improve... when he's been training with us, he's not been fazed by it, he's confident.'

17:16
Nemanja Matic will skipper United as Leicester inspect the pitch
Nemanja Matic will skipper a much changed Manchester United team against Leicester
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made 10 changes to his United team due to fixture congestion
James Maddison and Marc Albrighton of Leicester City inspect the Old Trafford pitch
17:12
Just the 10 changes for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side!

And there is a debut amongst them with 19-year-old forward Anthony Elanga appearing for his first senior game. Otherwise it is just Mason Greenwood who retains his place from Sunday's 3-1 win at Aston Villa, with Amad Diallo partnering both in attack.

Brendan Rodgers meanwhile makes two change to the team surprisingly beaten 4-2 at home to Newcastle United on Friday with Luke Thomas and Ayoze Perez coming in for Ricardo Pereira and James Maddison..

17:05
Leicester City starting XI

Schmeichel, Castagne, Fofana, Soyuncu, Albrighton, Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas, Perez, Iheanacho, Vardy.

17:03
Manchester United starting XI

De Gea, Tuanzebe, Bailly, Williams, Telles, Matic, Mata, Van de Beek, Greenwood, Diallo, Elanga.

16:52
It's not just team selection where United find themselves in a pickle

Defeat tonight and they would hand local rivals Manchester City the Premier League title as there would be a 10-point gap between them with just nine available.

But should they win, they would also be giving bitter rivals Liverpool a much needed boost as they look to chase down Leicester for the final Champions League place. Draw is a bit like no-man's land between the two really...

16:46
Here is Manchester United's nightmare run...

Four games in eight days (Four, Jeremy! That's insane) for United so they are going to have to roatate you would have thought with little for them to play for in the Premier League now realistically. Here is how their run looks, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer likely to keep his key men rested for Liverpool on Thursday.

16:35
Who's still standing at Manchester United?

That's the big question this evening as they prepare to take on Leicester City having only just defeated Aston Villa as recently on Sunday. 

So who has the legs to go again? Who is being saved for the clash with bittr rivals Liverpool on Sunday? We will find out soon enough. Good evening all and welcome to our live coverage of Manchester United vs Leicester City in the Premier League.

Manchester United will take on Leicester City this evening in the Premier League

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