There’s been a nice fluidity to some of United’s play on the ball so far, that move just then came to nothing but it started from sharp defensive work from Dalot, featured a switch of play to Malacia and some confident footwork from the left-back and included a McTominay flick after some clever rotation between himself and Eriksen. There’s not been a lot of goalmouth action so far but United look sharp.
Both sides have been relatively closely matched across the opening stages, but Ten Hag will be happy with what he’s watching regardless. Leicester have not threatened and United are enjoying more of the ball.
Fernandes is gesticulating a lot, as usual. United have been bulldozed by Leicester’s midfield in recent years but with Ndidi at centre half and Tielemans here in body but maybe not in mind United have been able to assert themselves quite comfortably.
Leicester do seem to be luring McTominay in tightly so they can work the ball past him and open up space on the counter-attack. There’s no one holding the fort behind him but United have not been exposed so far.
That goal fits a pattern for United recently, when they get the ball down and put together a passing move they are capable of cutting teams open. The first goal against Liverpool was a good, patient team move, the only goal on Saturday came from a rare moment of quality and that goal stemmed from some fine football from Dalot and then calm, sensible decisions from Fernandes, Rashford and Sancho.
Wan-Bissaka isn’t here tonight due to a “small complaint”, according to Ten Hag. That might be because he cannot get a kick ahead of Dalot. Wan-Bissaka would never hit that pass Dalot did and it exposed Leicester. It was still good work by Fernandes and Rashford, whose assist was timed perfectly.
United needed to get the first goal because it felt like there was a chance the Leicester fans would turn and some are starting to. Beyond the scoreline, United are in a propitious position here against a downbeat side.