Match report and free highlights as Fred strikes to deny Leicester victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford following Kelechi Iheanacho's opener; James Maddison has late goal overturned after foul on Raphael Varane in build-up
Sunday 3 April 2022 09:38, UK
Manchester United's hopes of returning to the Champions League next season were dealt a fresh blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Leicester at Old Trafford on Saturday Night Football.
It might well have been worse for Ralf Rangnick's side but James Maddison was denied a late winner for the visitors after referee Andre Marriner overruled his strike upon VAR review following a foul by Kelechi Iheanacho on Raphael Varane (80).
Iheanacho had given the Foxes the lead when he rose to direct Maddison's cross beyond David de Gea (63) but Fred restored parity with an instinctive finish just three minutes later.
Jadon Sancho snatched at a late chance after substitute Marcus Rashford reacted slow to the initial opportunity - summing up the England pair's recent woes - but it would have been scarcely deserved.
United will continue their fight for a top-four position, but that looks unlikely on this evidence with the side now three points off Arsenal in that coveted spot having played two games more. Leicester rose above Aston Villa into ninth and still have the Europa Conference League as a possible source of silverware this season.
"As long as it (top four) is possible mathematically, it is possible," Rangnick said afterwards. "It is our job and duty to do our best to finish of the best on the best possible note.
"The picture for me is clear, internally we spoke about it but there is nothing else I can say at this stage."
Leicester had won three of their previous four Premier League games - and there was an early warning for the hosts as within two minutes, Maddison's free-kick was glanced over by Harvey Barnes.
After a week of increased speculation surrounding Erik ten Hag's connection to the vacant role at Old Trafford, United lacked an edge to their game as Paul Pogba's tame header from Luke Shaw's cross drew the first save from Kasper Schmeichel midway through the opening period.
United had lost two of their previous three games in all competitions, but they ought to have broken the deadlock when Fred intercepted Wesley Fofana's clearance to slip through Bruno Fernandes. Schmeichel read the Portuguese's intentions to keep out his tame shot courtesy of a trademark star-jump save with his left boot.
The last and only time the Foxes secured a top-flight league double over Man Utd was during the 1973/74 season, when United ended up being relegated, but a decent chance to set them on the way to a repeat went begging as Iheanacho responded by scruffily blazing over.
United had four central midfielders and two wide players in attack and yet Rashford still couldn't start. "It's quite incredible," Gary Neville said on commentary.
"You'd have thought he'd have got into the team but it's surprising to see him sat in between Jesse Lingard and Phil Jones on the bench. He should be in this team. United are absolutely toothless. It's pathetically slow."
Leicester nearly punished their opponents' sluggishness when Maddison wasn't closed down on the right with his cross met by Barnes once more - in front of the dallying Diogo Dalot - but he flicked his volley wide of the post.
That was it from a subdued first half and even the murmurings of discontent from home supporters that greeted Marriner whistle were somewhat muted. Jamie Redknapp said: "It's been like a testimonial, everyone wants the ball to feet, no one wants to run without it."
United needed a lift but they might have been reduced to 10 men within five minutes of the restart when McTominay scythed down the lively Maddison. Neville's verdict: "If it had been a red card, I don't think it would've been overturned the other way. It's not a great challenge and his feet are off the ground. He's a lucky boy."
Rashford continued to stare from the stands before becoming the lone man warming up - his omission described by Neville as a "killer and a real low for him" given the absence of Edinson Cavani and the ill Cristiano Ronaldo from a "poor team lacking purpose, intent and penetration".
He was summoned on 55 minutes and instantly roused the crowd from their stupor, providing his side with an extra dimension and winning a corner having latched onto Pogba's pass. But it was Barnes who continued to cause Dalot problems as his driving run inside drew an important block from Harry Maguire on the hour mark.
Then came the counter-punch from a former Manchester City striker. It came from a quick transition after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall regained possession and swiftly shovelled the ball on to Maddison down the left flank.
Pogba anticipated he would jink inside onto his right foot, but instead he shuffled it onto his left and speared a pinpoint cross over Varane and onto the head of Iheanacho. De Gea got a hand to his header but could only pat it into the side-netting of his goal.
It was only the second headed goal United had conceded all season after Kortney Hause's winner for Aston Villa here back in September. Leicester's lead lasted for less than four minutes as Fred marked his 100th Premier League appearance with his fourth goal of the campaign.
The Brazilian was alive to the rebound to rifle his close-range finish above Schmeichel's despairing dive after he had initially kept out Fernandes' strike from the edge of the box.
United sensed a shift in mood and gear, but instead it was Leicester who ought to have restored their lead through Iheanacho as he ran onto Sancho's slack back pass only to chip the ball over when faced with just De Gea to beat.
Rodgers' side smelt a vulnerability seeping back into the hosts and would have led again were it not for the brilliance of De Gea as he clawed away Wesley Fofana's header from another teasing Maddison delivery.
Fred's intervention failed to turn the tide with United described by Neville as "terrible" thereafter as Maddison was denied a winner with 10 minutes remaining. Varane collapsed to the ground having had his right foot swept by Iheanacho, who played on to set up Maddison for a precise finish inside the near post.
VAR Michael Oliver called referee Marriner across to his monitor to spare United the unwanted twist, but this was another unconvincing day at the office. Their DNA remains unclear under Rangnick.
Sir Alex Ferguson sat watching on and checking his watch but there would be no "Fergie time" - just a check to see how long before he could depart. United appear to be a side with few ideas and no ideology.
Fernandes called for Manchester United to raise their standards after the disappointing draw. United were uninspiring without Cristiano Ronaldo, sidelined due to illness, with his fellow Portuguese Fernandes withering in his critique of their display as he called for sharp improvements.
"Everyone is disappointed," he told MUTV. "This result was not the result that we want but there is nothing we can do now.
"We have to look ahead to the next game and understand that the standard of this club has to be higher and better, and we know that we are capable of that."
Fernandes, who on Friday signed a new contract that ties him to United until 2026 with the option of a further year, has come under scrutiny following a dip in his own form this season.
With Ronaldo and the injured Edinson Cavani absent and Marcus Rashford benched, Fernandes was deployed as a false nine while the returning Paul Pogba played higher up the pitch in a supplementary role.
United struggled to create many openings in a first half where their best chance fell to Fernandes, who fluffed his shot, but he had a hand in their equaliser three minutes after going behind.
Fernandes' low strike drew a good save from Kasper Schmeichel but the ball headed into the path of Fred, who slotted in the rebound after 66 minutes which ultimately secured a share of the spoils.
But Fernandes wants to draw a line under a result that left United three points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal, who have played two games fewer, and is now eyeing next week's trip to Everton.
"You have to think (about) winning every game we have going forward," he added. "But now, (we need to be) thinking about the next one and not rushing too much because we have to think game by game."
Man Utd interim manager Ralf Rangnick: "The second half was the better one, we were struggling to find the rhythm in the first half possibly because of the international break. We gave away a goal on a transitional moment but the reaction after was good and scored a goal. In the end we are not happy with the result but the second half was OK.
"The only one we had was Marcus Rashford. We knew this morning Cristiano could not play and decided to start Paul Pogba. After 60 minutes we made the change and had a central striker on the pitch.
"It is no secret that he was not full of confidence in the last couple of weeks. In training he is looking well but it was a question between Paul and Marcus, we went with Paul.
"The reaction of our supporters and they are the best in England. Harry Maguire had a flawless game defensively and offensively. He prefers to play on the left side but I decided he should play on the right after seeing him for England and as a right-footed player is makes it easy to play."
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers: "I thought we were very good in large spells of the game. We started well and could have been precise without passing but in the main the positioning and movement was good. The second half we scored a couple of great goals, their keeper makes a great save and we are bitterly disappointed not to get the goal.
"Jonny Evans' calf tightened up after the international game but I was very happy with the team and back to where we have been the last few years. Playing good football and looking a threat.
"It was a good performance away here, disappointed to not win and that is always a good sign. The football was very good but we passed it well a lot of the time and got into some good areas. But for a decision, we would have won the game."
Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:
"There's no joy to how Manchester United play. It was indicative of them all season, last year and the year before that. United must go to games and wonder, 'what are we going to get today'. They looked lethargic and I wouldn't put it down to a lack of effort as I think it would be lazy for me to say that.
"They're lacking in ideas, confidence and good players are making elementary mistakes. They're just not enjoying their football right now. They are drifting - the players and I think the manager is as well. He's probably thinking it's tough for him.
"He thought he would do better, surely, than what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did - but he isn't. With the players he's got, it's a real struggle. He's tried different systems, he played with two up with two narrow ones when he first came and now he's not playing with a striker.
"People wondered whether Cristiano Ronaldo was the problem, but he isn't as they certainly could've done with him today. There are so many problems and things that have to be sorted out at United. It may not be the manager but the players who have to go. They need a clean sweep as it's a tough watch right now.
"For the fans and for the players, there's a lack of belief in what they're trying to achieve."
James Maddison told Sky Sports:
"The disallowed goal is one of them - you see them given and you see them not given. I'm obviously going to be biased and say it's not a foul. As soon as he goes over to the monitor you know.
"I saw Varane go down. The way he went down I thought it was a twist injury. As soon as the referee went to the monitor I knew something was going to happen that was going to spoil my party.
"The performance was good. We stamped our authority and we come away a little disappointed that we didn't get three points. We could have got more from the game. They scored so quickly after us, which got Old Trafford bouncing again and got them pushing as the home team.
"I thought we were dominant in the first half. Sometimes you can almost feel in control even without the ball. They obviously played with Bruno and Pogba without a recognised striker. They've got tricky players in wide areas, but I felt we were in control. We were actually the better team."
Maddison has been directly involved in 21 goals in all competitions this season (13 goals, 8 assists), four more than any other Leicester player; only in 2017-18 with Norwich has he been involved in more goals in a single campaign (26 - 15 goals, 11 assists).
Manchester United travel to Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, April 9; kick-off 12.30pm.
Leicester host PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final on Thursday, April 7; kick-off 8pm.
