Manchester United take on Leicester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Best Manchester United vs Leicester City betting tips
- Manchester United to win and under 3.5 goals – 6/4 with Sky Bet
- Second half higher scoring – Evens with Paddy Power
- Joshua Zirkzee to score any time – 10/11 with bet365
Man Utd vs Leicester odds
Find the latest Man Utd vs Leicester betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.
Manchester United vs Leicester City predictions
One step forward, two steps back. Just as it looked as if Manchester United were getting their act together, a 2-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace last weekend brought them back down to earth with a thud.
It was no smash and grab from Palace. The visitors to Old Trafford started both halves slowly, but for the most part they held United at arm’s length. Oliver Glasner’s team created the better chances too.
For Ruben Amorim, it was another setback. Many of United’s problems predate the manager, but he did not cover himself in glory last time out.
The deployment of Kobbie Mainoo, a central midfielder by trade, up front was baffling. It was not the first time in his tenure that Amorim made a puzzling selection decision that went on to cost his side.
Champions League qualification is no longer attainable via the Premier League, with United way down in 13th place after almost two-thirds of the campaign.
That only increases the importance of the cup competitions. The Europa League offers a potential path into the Champions League as well as a trophy. The FA Cup is a tournament United won last season under Erik ten Hag.
One of the team’s most pleasing performances under Amorim came in the third round, as 10-man United held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium before triumphing on penalties.
United showed admirable grit and resilience on that occasion, as they did in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool a few days prior. But when they face teams they would ordinarily expect to beat, United often struggle. The Palace loss was just the latest example of that.
With that in mind, nothing should be taken for granted when Leicester City come to town on Friday night. Having said that, United’s opponents are in an even worse place than they are right now.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was briefly United’s interim manager earlier in the campaign, before he replaced Steve Cooper at the King Power Stadium.
Things are not going well for the former striker, whose Leicester team have lost eight of their last nine Premier League matches, leaving them in an unenviable position in the battle against relegation.
Manchester United vs Leicester City betting tips
Ruud van Nistelrooy returns to Old Trafford – can he oversee an FA Cup upset this weekend?
Manchester United to win and under 3.5 goals
Manchester United are really struggling in attack. Only four teams, including Leicester, have scored fewer goals than the Red Devils in the Premier League.
United rank a lowly 12th for shots per game and 13th for expected goals, so their bottom-half berth is not a false position.
Leicester have problems at both ends of the field, but even they could have some joy in limiting United’s toothless frontline for parts of this game.
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Still, it is hard to see the Foxes avoiding defeat here, even if Van Nistelrooy selects his strongest possible side.
Leicester were dire in a 4-0 loss to Everton last time out and United can take advantage of their shortcomings.
Back Manchester United to win and under 3.5 goals at 6/4 with Sky Bet
Second half higher scoring
Manchester United conceded the first goal against Crystal Palace last weekend, as Jean-Philippe Mateta turned the ball home from close range.
It was a familiar feeling for the Old Trafford faithful. They have seen their side concede first in nine out of 13 home league games in 2024/25. Only Leicester have a worse record in that regard.
It usually takes United a while to get going. On the plus side, they tend to keep things relatively tight in the opening 45 minutes.
The numbers bear that out. United’s 24 top-flight matches have contained 22 goals in the first half compared to 40 in the second half.
We anticipate a repeat of that trend in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Tip more goals in the second half at evens with Paddy Power
Joshua Zirkzee to score any time
The experiment of using Mainoo as a false nine is surely over. Amorim will opt for a more conventional option at centre-forward on Friday.
There is reason to believe that Joshua Zirkzee will get the nod ahead of Rasmus Hojlund, who seems to be suffering from a crisis of confidence right now.
Zirkzee scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out against Arsenal in round three, while he has found game time relatively easier to come by in cup competitions.
The Netherlands international has mostly underwhelmed since his move to Old Trafford, but he could get some joy up against this leaky Leicester backline.
Manchester United’s No.11 is a good choice to find the back of the net on Friday.
Go for Joshua Zirkzee as an anytime scorer at 10/11 with bet365
How to watch Manchester United vs Leicester City
- Location: Old Trafford, Manchester, England.
- Date and time: Friday 7th February, 8pm.
- How to watch: ITV1.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
- Premier League winner predictions
- Premier League top scorer odds
- Premier League relegation odds
- Champions League winner odds
- Championship promotion odds
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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