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As it happenedended

Manchester United vs Leicester City as it happened: Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw hand Jose Mourinho opening win

Follow live coverage of the first game of the 2018/19 Premier League season

Lawrence Ostlere
Friday 10 August 2018 20:11 BST
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Manchester United vs Leicester Premier League preview

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World Cup winner Paul Pogba's third minute penalty and a late goal from Luke Shaw gave Manchester United a 2-1 win over Leicester City at Old Trafford in the opening game of the Premier League season on Friday.

Pogba, fresh from his triumph in Russia with France but also the subject of recent transfer speculation, was named captain by manager Jose Mourinho and took responsibility for the penalty after a handball by Daniel Amartey, slowly shuffling up before beating Kasper Schmeichel.

Leicester responded well though with new signing James Maddison forcing a fine save out of United keeper David De Gea as the visitors gave Mourinho's side plenty to think about.

But seven minutes from the end full-back Shaw scored his first goal in professional football, firing home after a exchange with Juan Mata.

Jamie Vardy pulled a goal back for Leicester in stoppage time to give them some reward for a good performance against last season's runners-up.


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When is Manchester United vs Leicester?

The match is tonight: Friday 10 August, with kick-off at 8pm at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho’s precarious position at Manchester United replicates his past problems at Chelsea and Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho’s precarious position at Manchester United replicates his past problems at Chelsea and Real Madrid (Getty)

How can I watch it?

Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League will show the game live, with coverage beginning at 7pm.

Now TV will also be showing the match.

Team news

Both sides will make late decisions on whether to include their absent World Cup stars.

For Manchester United that means late assessments of Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford. Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo, Diogo Dalot, Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic are all injured.

Leicester will meanwhile decide whether to gamble on the fitness of Maguire and Vardy.

Jamie Vardy has signed a new deal
Jamie Vardy has signed a new deal (Getty Images)

Odds

  • United to win: 8/15
  • Draw: 16/5
  • Leicester to win: 6/1

Prediction

An entertaining 2-2 draw to get the season underway with a bang.

5 min: It's a buoyant atmosphere at Old Trafford. Free-kick to Leicester on the left, which is cleared and United stream forward, but the break comes to nothing. 

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:07

10 min: Demarai Gray looks bright in the opening minutes. He skips down the left and is flattened by Darmian. Free-kick, which is well cleared by Bailly. 

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:12

13 min: Gray skips past Darmian, who is not enjoying this opening period. The ball falls for Ndidi on the edge of the box but his shot is easy enough for De Gea to stop. 

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:15

15 min: Iheanacho sends a shot flashing inches past De Gea's far post, although the flag did belatedly go up and it wouldn't have counted. Leicester looking threatening, particularly down the left where Mata and Darmian are struggling to cope. 

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:16

18 min: Haven't seen much of Fred yet, or Manchester United in truth, bar that opening spot kick.

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:19

22 min: Now the home side are enjoying much more of the ball, though the penetration is lacking. Shaw tries a ball down the line for Sanchez but it's overhit. 

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:23

27 min: Maddison fires a shot from 12 yards and it's a brilliant save by De Gea, diving to his right to quickly parry the ball away. 

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:29

30 min: United almost counter but for a brilliant challenge by Gray, who then launches a break himself which earns Leicester a free-kick from 25 yards out. Does Maddison fancy this? 

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:31

31 min: A strange free-kick routine, in which Chilwell touches the ball to Maddison unnecessarily, ends with the ball clattering into the red wall. 

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:32

34 min: Mourinho has switched Rashford, who was playing up front, with Juan Mata, who was playing on the right, specifically to deal with the threat of Leicester's left where Chilwell and Gray have been enjoying themselves. No enjoyment under Jose's watch, please. 

Lawrence Ostlere10 August 2018 20:35

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