City crowned champions as Leicester near top-four finish
Manchester City were crowned champions for the third time in four seasons after Leicester City beat a much-changed Manchester United side 2-1 at Old Trafford to make a huge step towards finishing inside the top four.
With United having three games in five days, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to make wholesale changes and did so, making 10.
The manager had already blasted the congested fixture list, saying “It’s a decision made by people who’ve never played football at this level. I wish I could have said let’s go full out in all the games but it’s impossible.”
It was a major helping hand for Leicester, who desperately needed a win after their 4-2 defeat to Newcastle United.
The match
The Foxes made a tentative start and looked nervy, but went ahead after a brilliant goal from Luke Thomas, volleying in at the back post from a Youri Tielemans cross.
However, Mason Greenwood replied with a fine goal of his own – his eighth in his last 11 games to level the scores.
Greenwood received the ball from fellow teenager Amad, and breezed past Caglar Soyuncu, before sliding a finish into the corner.
After a lively opening 15 minutes, no further chances were created in the first half as the game got scrappy.
Leicester were pretty disappointing in the first half and the onus was on them to win the game. They began to dominate the game in the second half and re-took the lead when Soyuncu rose highest from a corner to head home in the 67th minute. It was the 10th goal United have conceded from a corner this season.
Leicester saw out the game comfortably to secure a vital win.
What it means
Brendan Rodgers’ side were under pressure after a wobble that drew parallels with last season. It was just their third win against Man United in 30 Premier League games and their first win at Old Trafford since 1998 in the Premier League.
Leicester need four points from their final two games to secure a top-four finish, but face an FA Cup final on Saturday first against Chelsea.
United’s 14-game unbeaten run was ended by the defeat, but it was a decent performance from a makeshift side.
Featured image: Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester City celebrates scoring the second goal for Leicester City with Luke Thomas of Leicester City and Wesley Fofana of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford. Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
