Leicester City missed a chance to capitalise against Manchester United

The unbeaten run finally came to an unfortunate end for Leicester City with a 1-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunner Solksjaer’s makeshift XI – after multiple injury issues – were able to overcome their poor start to the season by getting the three points against the Foxes, thanks to a Marcus Rashford penalty.

Leicester opted for a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation, allowing both Wilfred Ndidi and Hamza Choudhury to start, which, in an away game against a big six side, seemed logical.

However, given the squad struggles Leicester’s opponents had, it was maybe overly cautious and played into the hands of the home side.

Against a United team that was missing Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw, Brendan Rodgers should have seized the opportunity and played the 4-1-4-1 formation he’s becoming known for.

Instead of picking both Choudhury or Ndidi, it would have provided more intent from midfield for Leicester had they played at least one attack-minded midfielder.

Rodgers, uncharacteristically, got it wrong. The gamble of Demarai Gray was a deserved one, the England U-23 international impressed off the bench in Leicester’s last game and has been pushing for minutes.

Unfortunately, the game didn’t develop into one of Gray’s better performances. He was not helped by the early goal but that shouldn’t dissuade Rodgers, nor his implementation of young wingers.

Harvey Barnes, who didn’t start again, has taken to Premier League football better than Gray. Barnes displays a hunger and desire. Gray’s problem is when his performances aren’t good, he looks nonchalant and often isn’t amending his mistakes with defensive help.

Barnes always looks determined, has performed to a good standard already this season and does offer defensive support, even if it’s slight, to Ben Chilwell and Ricardo Pereira – depending on which side he’s on, of course.

This personal project Rodgers has undertaken with both young wingers will ultimately provide Leicester with even more quality, adding to a plethora of central midfield sensations.

Next time out, Leicester should return to their traditional 4-1-4-1 and go for two wingers out wide instead of forcing James Maddison to operate from the wing. Remove Choudhury, not for his performance levels but to allow progressive play through the midfield.

As Leicester host Tottenham Hotspur next Saturday, the stature of the opponents shouldn’t distract them from playing their natural game. This overtly cautious approach often leads to them making their own mistakes, an experience a lot of the fans would like to forget from the Claude Puel era.

Rodgers is not an obstinate manager. He will have recognised the errors he made and make amendments. The fact that a loss to United feels like a chance missed, is a testimony to the progression of the club under the Irishman.

It was only six years ago that a David Nugent penalty secured a 2-0 victory at home to Wigan Athletic for Leicester. And it was ten years ago that a Matty Fryatt penalty rewarded Leicester with a point against Peterborough United.

Unsurprisingly it was a penalty that decided the match at the Theatre of Dreams. Unfortunately, it fell to the opposition this time and Rashford made no mistakes from the spot.