Manchester United and Leicester City get the FA Cup fourth-round weekend started when they clash at Old Trafford for the third time this season on Friday night (20:00 kick-off).
The Red Devils won both the first two meetings in the EFL Cup and the Premier League when Ruud van Nistelrooy was their interim manager.
Now the former United goal machine returns to Old Trafford to sit in the away dugout with his Foxes side no doubt welcoming a break from their battle against relegation after last week’s 4-0 hammering at Everton.
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Man United vs Leicester tips
- Manchester United & both teams to score (90 mins) – 8/5
- Bruno Fernandes anytime goalscorer – 11/10
- Spotlight Boosted Tip: Manchester United to Win 3-1 Correct Score, Leicester Over 1.5 Cards & Over 7.5 Corners – was 18/1 now 20/1
Amorim can take step towards first trophy with United
Ruben Amorim has plenty of work to do to restore United to their former glories, but retaining the FA Cup they lifted under Erik ten Hag last season would buy him plenty of credit with supporters.
The Red Devils produced arguably their best result under the Portuguese boss when knocking out Arsenal on penalties at the Emirates in the third round, an upset that was even more stunning as it came when they were on a five-match winless run.
United have found some semblance of form in recent weeks, winning four of their last six games in all competitions, although the defeats both came at home, in league games against Brighton and Crystal Palace.
Even so, having beaten Leicester 5-2 and 3-0 already in front of their expectant home fans this season, United should be able to get the job done.
The Foxes has lost eight of their last 10 games, with the only respite coming in their 6-2 thrashing of Championship side QPR in the last round and their recent 2-1 victory at Tottenham.
However, they followed the Spurs win by getting hammered 4-0 at Everton last week, so there is clearly still plenty of work for Van Nistelrooy to do.
United have conceded in their last seven home games, so take them to beat Leicester in a match that sees both teams scoring in 90 minutes.
Fernandes can torment Leicester again
United skipper Bruno Fernandes remains one of the few reliable performers in the Old Trafford squad and he is worth backing to score against City for the third consecutive time.
The 30-year-old midfielder netted the Red Devils’ third and fifth goals in the 5-2 League Cup victory over Leicester in October and bagged the first goal after 17th minutes of the league clash between the sides.
The Portuguese ace has scored nine times in his last 22 appearances, netted his team’s goal in the last round at Arsenal and is United’s penalty-taker too.
Foxes could get frustrated
For a bet builder on the Old Trafford action that pays out at 19/1, take United to win 3-1, Leicester to be shown at least two cards and over 7.5 corners in the match.
United have not kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford since a 4-0 win over Everton in early December and that was also the last time they scored more than three times in a game, so a correct-score wager on a 3-1 home win against a vulnerable Leicester team could pay off.
Boubakary Soumare and Jannik Verstergaard are likely candidates to be cautioned for City in the game and the Foxes picked up five yellow cards in their recent win at Spurs.
With the pressures of the Premier League removed, a more open contest is likely and a positive approach from both teams should lead to at least eight corners being won.
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