Man Utd 1-2 Leicester: 3 points keep UCL dream alive for Foxes

Leicester City managed to claim a vital three points away at Old Trafford, as Ole Gunnar Solskjær rested key players in his Manchester United starting XI.

Brendan Rodgers himself rested a couple of key players for Leicester City, with both James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira being sidelined to allow Luke Thomas and Ayoze Pérez to start the game, enabling the same structure (3-4-1-2) that was dismantled versus Newcastle United.

A few lessons were learned from the fixture versus Steve Bruce’s side, most notably the shift to a 4-4-2 formation out of possession. This has been implemented in many games this season, because it allows the Foxes to press high – whilst fielding a back three. Simply, without a winger/full-back on the same side (not available in the 3-4-1-2 as you only have a wing-back), Leicester are unable to press high as the oppositions full-backs have a lot of space upon receiving possession. By adjusting the shape, Rodgers could have wingers on both flanks able to nullify the involvements of Alex Telles and Brandon Williams (by initiating a press) – despite both players best efforts to impact proceedings.

In the Newcastle United game, the Foxes remained strictly in the 3-4-1-2 formation in both phases of play and this ultimately cost them the fixture, so it was pleasing to see Rodgers utilise this adjustment but also to see it work. To enable the 4-4-2 shape, Pérez would drift from his role as the number 10 (when in possession) into a makeshift left-midfield position, Marc Albrighton would advance from his role at right wing-back into his trademark wide midfield position and lastly, Timothy Castagne would shift out of the back three and into his preferred right-back role.