For the first time since Erik ten Hag was let go, Manchester United is set to face Leicester City at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup fourth round on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils are looking to regain some momentum after their loss to West Ham United on Sunday. Meanwhile, Leicester is hoping for a break from their fight against relegation in the Premier League.
After more than two years at the helm, Ten Hag's time at Manchester United has come to an end. His tenure included some cup successes but was marked by struggles in the league and Europe.
Last season was particularly tough, with United finishing eighth far from the title race and they’ve had a shaky start to this season, winning just three of their first nine matches.
The club made the decision to part ways with Ten Hag after yet another disappointing defeat on Sunday, where goals from West Ham's Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen led to a narrow loss for United.
Over the last eight matches across the Premier League and Europa League, Ten Hag's squad managed only one win, despite significant investment in new players over the summer. This lack of clear direction prompted the club to seek a change in management.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy, a former United striker, will take over as interim manager until a permanent replacement is found. He previously managed PSV Eindhoven for a year, leading them to a second-place finish in the Eredivisie.
On the other side, Leicester City is coming off a tough loss to Nottingham Forest after two consecutive wins against Bournemouth and Southampton. Chris Wood starred for Forest, scoring twice in the second half to seal the victory after Jamie Vardy equalized earlier in the game.
Despite the setback, Leicester manager Steve Cooper can take comfort in his team’s recent form, with six points from their last three Premier League matches, placing them 15th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone.
Leicester has already navigated two rounds of the EFL Cup this season, defeating League Two’s Tranmere Rovers and Walsall, the latter through a penalty shootout. While fans remember the Premier League title in 2016 and the FA Cup win in 2021, they are also aware that it’s been 25 years since Leicester last lifted the EFL Cup, a feat achieved at the old Wembley Stadium.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Man United's Antony, who was stretchered off during a match against Fenerbahce earlier this month, is still recovering from a sprained ankle and remains sidelined.
The Red Devils are facing challenges in defense, with both Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro unavailable due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. Luke Shaw has yet to play this season due to a persistent calf issue, but there’s optimism he could return soon.
Noussair Mazraoui is also a concern for Wednesday night’s match after an awkward collision with West Ham's Bowen left him with a knee problem.
Leicester will be without striker Patson Daka, who is dealing with an ankle injury, putting more pressure on Jamie Vardy to lead the scoring for the team. Jannik Vestergaard, a key player in Leicester's promotion last season, has only played twice in the Premier League this season due to his own ankle issue.
Hamza Choudhury, who dislocated his shoulder earlier this month, isn’t expected to return until early December, leaving Leicester with a tough lineup ahead.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Bayindir; Dalot, De Ligt, Lindelof, Martinez; Ugarte, Eriksen; Diallo, Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Ward; Justin, Coady, Okoli, Thomas; Soumare, Skipp; McAteer, El Khannouss, De Cordova-Reid; Edouard.
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester United 3-1 Leicester City
Interim manager Van Nistelrooy is eager to impress and potentially secure the job permanently as Manchester United prepares to face Leicester on Wednesday.
Although the Foxes are a strong opponent, they are planning to make several changes to their starting lineup, leading many to anticipate a tough night for them at Old Trafford.
