Prediction: Leicester City team for Manchester United match

A week ago Leicester City manager Claude Puel made a disappointing statement for the Blue Army. Apparently Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire will not feature in Friday’s Premier League opener with Manchester United. But here is our prediction for both sides.

Claude Puel spoke to media Thursday, in a pre-Manchester United game press conference. It came on the eve of the new 2018/19 Premier League season.

Here are the parts which influence the starting team, with help from Independent.

"“I can confirm he is going to Manchester but only for a couple of hours!…I am happy to keep Harry [Maguire]. He is our best player.“He [Jonny Evans] came back at the beginning of the week. We will see if he can be in the squad or not.“It’s a good addition [Filip Benkovic] for our squad. A good, young player for the future. He has good attributes to play in the Premier League.”(Via: lcfc.com)"

When asked about the likelihood of Jamie Vardy and Maguire featuring against Manchester United, the Leicester City chief said: “We have another training session this afternoon, and then we will see.” I conclude, as I said earlier in the week, the England stars need to play and will do!

Line-up prediction for Leicester City versus Manchester United

I won’t bang on about it, but Leicester do now have the type of players who can compete in a 3-centre-back system. Similarly to England. However, with Maguire not match fit presumably and Jonny Evans recovering from a slight injury, it is not likely.

A 4-2-3-1 formation is favoured by Puel. But with Vardy possibly returning to the set-up we may see more of a 4-4-1-1. So, that is the basis for the prediction below:

Kasper Schmeichel; Ricardo Pereira, Maguire, Wes Morgan, Ben Chilwell; Vicente Iborra, Wilfred Ndidi; James Maddison, Marc Albrighton; Kelechi Iheanacho; Vardy.

Iheanacho has four goals in three pre-season matches – therefore he should start. Prospectively just behind the England striker: this adds an extra layer of defending from the front, while doubling as a potent strike-force.

Maddison is fit again, but will not play his favoured and surely best position as a No.10. Unfortunately against United you need shape and maximum protection. Regardless of how comparatively weak the Red Devils are at present. I envisage the former Norwich man and Albrighton occupying the flanks in midfield. Despite this, Maddison will still drift inward, controlling the Midlands club’s attacking play. While conducting set-piece duties.

Unless Vardy and Maguire’s fitness is very poor, respectfully, I see no real reason they should not participate from the beginning. All competitive elite sport has risk; as long as conditioning is adequate – they should play.

New signing Rachid Ghezzal will probably start as a substitute, along with Filip Benkovic. Whom Puel describes as experienced, yet one for the future. Demarai Gray will be knocking on the door for Albrighton’s place when fit, too.

Expect Jose Mourinho to have his English World Cup stars available, although Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini will not feature for the Red Devils. There are many injuries in the Old Trafford squad, so new names like starlet Andreas Pereira may start.

In regard to a style overhaul, Leicester’s French boss stated: “I am happy about the quality in the squad. We want to play forward with quality.” This statement in particular pleases me, as I am desperate for the club to move on from aimless slogging of long balls hopefully forward.

Leicester City should play a slick, quick passing game while retaining the incredibly fast break they are famous for. The correct players are in place for the successful Puel transition – or revolution. Please, give him time though.

Although, Puel won himself many more admirers following the video above via BBC Sport.

My prediction for the score-line was not an easy outcome to speculate. However, I predict a 1-1 thriller; if there is such a thing. Bring on 2018/19.