Leicester vs Manchester United preview, team news, kick-off, prediction

Team news and stats ahead of Leicester vs Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday; kick-off 12.30pm.

Team news

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy will be fit to face Manchester United in the Premier League on Boxing Day after coming off with a minor groin problem in Leicester's win at Tottenham.

Caglar Soyuncu is touch and go with a groin injury, although if he misses out on Saturday he is likely to be available for Monday's trip to Crystal Palace.

Ricardo Pereira remains out with his own groin issue after picking it up during his comeback from a serious knee injury.

• Premier League table | Premier League top scorers
• Premier League fixtures | Premier League results
• Live football on Sky Sports
• December PL picks: All the games on Sky

Man Utd will check on the fitness of Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka ahead of the trip to the King Power Stadium.

Midfielder McTominay also suffered a groin injury in United's win over Leeds last weekend - in which he scored twice - while right-back Wan-Bissaka missed the midweek game at Everton with a knock.

Defenders Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo remain long-term absentees.

How to follow

Follow Leicester vs Manchester United in our dedicated live match blog. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.

• Download the Sky Sports Scores App: Apple | Android
• The UK's No 1 scores app: Find out more

Jones Knows Prediction

If Manchester United win this one, they will equal an all-time top-flight record of 11 consecutive away wins, set by Chelsea in 2008 and matched by Manchester City in 2017.

Included in that run was the final day 2-0 victory over Leicester that secured United their top-four place, meaning United are 12 games unbeaten against the Foxes. That match was a cagey, tactical affair with both teams waiting for the other to open up in order to hit on the break. I can see this one going the same way with once again United edging it in the second period.

In 2020, there have been 36 penalties awarded in fixtures involving these two teams, working out at just over one every two games. Leicester have won 12, United 11 and despite the predicted cagey nature of the encounter, it's easy to see the trickery of both attacking units once again tempting defenders into rash challenges inside the box - like in the last meeting between these two where Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the spot.

You can get 2/1 with Sky Bet for a penalty to be scored.

JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 0-1 (6/1 with Sky Bet)

Opta stats

• Leicester City have lost more Premier League games (19) and conceded more Premier League goals (60) against Manchester United than they have versus any other side in the competition.
• Manchester United have lost just one of their last 22 Premier League meetings with Leicester (W17 D4) and are unbeaten in their last 11 since a 3-5 away loss in September 2014 (W8 D3).
• Manchester United have scored in each of their last 22 Premier League meetings with Leicester - against no side have they had a longer scoring streak in the competition (also 22 vs Aston Villa between 1997-2008).
• Since returning to the Premier League in 2014, Leicester have lost five of their six games played on Boxing Day in the competition, winning the other 2-1 against Manchester City in 2018.
• Manchester United have the most wins (21) and highest win rate (81 per cent) of any Premier League side in Boxing Day games. They've lost just two games on 26th December in the competition, against Middlesbrough in 2002 (1-3) and Stoke in 2015 (0-2).
• Manchester United have won each of their last 10 Premier League away games. In top-flight history, only two sides have ever won 11 in a row on the road - Chelsea between April-December 2008 and Manchester City between May-December 2017.
• Four of Leicester's five Premier League defeats this season have come in home games. Indeed, the Foxes have already lost as many home league games this season as they had in the whole of 2019-20 (4).

Pitch to Post Review: What if Man Utd actually clicked? Plus: Arteta's stats debunked

Manchester United are in contention having barely performed this season - how good could they be if they actually clicked?

In the last Pitch to Post Review of 2020, Jasper Taylor is joined by Gerard Brand and Ben Ransom to discuss Manchester United's chaotic 6-2 win over Leeds, and whether in fact Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are title contenders (04:12). As for Leeds, we analyse Marcelo Bielsa's unapologetic style, and whether it can last (13:00).

The shambles at Arsenal continues as they are beaten at Everton, and after Mikel Arteta channels his inner Rafa Benitez with a list of statistics, the panel provide some other damning metrics (16:47).

In the Regional Review, Adam Bate discusses West Brom, Aston Villa and Wolves (32:59), and in part four we look at Tottenham's defeat by Leicester as Jose Mourinho was played at his own game to cap off a bad week (42:36).

Download the Sky Sports Pitch to Post Podcast on Apple | Spotify

Win £250,000 for free with Super 6!

Do not miss your chance to land the £250,000 in Saturday's Super 6 round. Play for free, entries by 3:00pm.