A double from Marcus Rashford and another from Jadon Sancho ensured another three points in today’s game. They survived a number of scares in the early stages to eventually win handily. They were also given the comfort of resting players ahead of a busy week.
It is back to earth with a bump for the away side after a decent run. They did have good chances to take the lead but were unable to take advantage of it. They remain looking over their shoulder in the bottom half.
Erik Ten Haag made five changes from the side who drew with Barcelona on Thursday. Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer who were suspended return to the side. Victor Lindelof, Diego Dalot, and Alejandro Garnacho also started. Raphael Varane, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jadon Sancho all dropped out. Casemiro was serving the final game of his domestic suspension. Brendon Rogers named an unchanged team from the starting eleven who beat Tottenham last weekend. Youri Tielemans and Ricardo Pereira both fit enough to start on the bench.
Marcus Rashford was full of confidence, and it showed within the first few minutes. A ricochet found him on the edge of the box and he peeled off a shot despite an impossible angle. He still managed to win a corner. It was the visitors who created the better of the opportunities though. Harvey Barnes ran through the defence after playing a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho and found himself clear on goal. David de Gea spread himself to deny the attacker. Harry Souttar then headed over from the resulting corner.
Victor Lindelof then had make a block to stop a chance from Iheanacho before Fred had to clear over his own bar from a Tete cross. De Gea was called into action once more as he had to dive to tip away a goal bound header from Iheanacho.
Against the run of play, the hosts went ahead. Marcel Sabitzer intercepted a loose pass by Wout Faes and laid it off to Bruno Fernandes. His clipped pass over the top was right in the path of Rashford who had the time to compose himself before slotting home. It was his 7th home league scoring in a row for the first player since Wayne Rooney to do so. It should have been two shortly after but Diego Dalot managed to poke a chance wide from two yards out.
It could have been doubled just after the break as the reds increased the tempo. Lisandro Martinez found himself un-marked from a Luke Shaw free kick. His header smacked against the bar though. Wout Weghorst had an opportunity blocked and Rashford had a chance stopped by the legs of Danny Ward.
The second goal was coming and it was Rashford yet again. Fred played a ball through the centre that he ran onto around the back of the left back. He collected the ball and put it through Ward’s legs. It was initially ruled out for offside but awarded after a VAR check.
The game was put to bed moments later. Rashford was again at the centre of it all. He drove at the heart of the Leicester defence before laying it off to Jadon Sancho. He spread it wide to Fernandes who returned the favour to the substitute who lashed it home for his second goal in two home games. It was also a home and away goal for him against the foxes. He might have had a double with a chance that was blocked before he put the rebound over.
That afforded the chance to give players a rest and bring on a number of substitutions. One of which, Kobbie Mainoo, was making his premiership debut at the age of 17. He impressed with his energy upon coming on. The intensity of the game had dropped off considerably though. Weghorst did have a few opportunities to score his first league goal but was unable to hit the target.
Job done and they continue to keep pace with the top two. It is the start of a massive week ahead. Barcelona come visiting in the second-leg of the Europa League play-off on Thursday night before the Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle next Sunday. One fans are eagerly anticipating. Leicester must dust themselves off before a home game with league leaders Arsenal next Saturday.
