The Red Devils continued their good form by beating Leicester City 1-0, stretching their winning streak in the Premier League to three games. Jadon Sancho scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half, condemning the Foxes to their fourth straight loss.
Putting a torrid start to the season aside, Erik ten Hag’s men emerged victorious at the King Power Stadium and climbed up to fifth in the league table. The Red Devils were 20th after two matchdays, but three successive wins have helped them surge up the standings. Their previous position is occupied by the Foxes, who are without a win in five and on a four-loss streak.
Ten Hag’s team were the better of the two during the early stages, with Christian Eriksen – playing as a central midfielder in a double-pivot alongside Scott McTominay – going close with a strike to the near post. At the other end, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall tested David de Gea with distance with a fizzing shot, which the Spaniard held with ease.
United took the lead 23 minutes after kick-off when Bruno Fernandes picked up the ball in the final third before threading it through for Marcus Rashford. The Englishman, who had attracted two defenders to himself, had the vision to pick out the unmarked Jadon Sancho surging down from the left with a simple square pass, sending the winger through on goal. Sancho rounded goalkeeper Danny Ward with nimble footwork and pushed the ball into an empty net for the opening and the only goal of the game.
Leicester City’s best chances fell to James Maddison, who twice tested his luck from a set-piece but was denied, first by de Gea and then by the wall of defenders in front of him. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo had opportunities to seal the points in the latter stages of the game.
The Portugal international scuffed a simple squared pass to Eriksen in the 82nd minute, a minute later, his bicycle kick attempt flashed across the face of the goal to safety. Nonetheless, Ronaldo’s intervention would not be needed as Manchester United held on to their narrow lead to seal the three points.
The Red Devils’ faithful would welcome more good news later on, as the club confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a loan-to-buy deal from Newcastle, completing their summer transfer business.
