Manchester United have survived a fright at the end of the EPL opener, coming away with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford.
United came out of the gates all guns blazing and won a penalty in just the third minute thanks to a handball. With Paul Pogba making no mistake at the spot, they took the early lead.
Leicester then put together a strong half an hour, dominating the game, but were unable to score before the halftime break.
After the break, it was the Red Devils back on top of the game and when Luke Shaw scored in the 83rd minute, the game looked beyond all reasonable doubt.
A cross from Ricardo Pereira in the second minute of injury time which ended in a Jamie Vardy goal gave the visitors a brief flicker of hope, but with a final chance off a corner squandered, United survived to win the season opener.
Final score
Manchester United 2
Leicester City 1
The new English Premier League season will open at Old Trafford, with Manchester United set to take on Leicester City. Join The Roar for liver scores and coverage from 5am (AEST).
There has been plenty of doom and gloom surrounding the Red Devils heading into the new Premier League season.
For such a big club, anything less than the championship doesn’t seem to be good enough.
After becoming so accustomed to success under Sir Alex Ferguson, the last few years have been somewhat lean, and a quiet transfer window as well as some up and down pre-season results hasn’t helped the attitude of fans.
While United did finish in second spot last year, they were a distant 19 points behind cross-town rivals Manchester City, and the season was decided with some weeks still to run.
The Red Devils did make the FA Cup final, but that was about it as far as season achievements went for the proud club.
The major problem heading into the opener for United is their World Cup players. The last of them, including Paul Pogba, only began pre-season training earlier this week after the summer break, putting plenty of stress on combinations.
Alongside Ponga, Romelu Lukaku is likely to miss the opener with Alexis Sánchez and Juan Mata likely to join Marcus Rashford in attack.
They will form a dangerous trio up front and put plenty of pressure on Leicester, who struggled defensively during the last Premier League season.
Finishing in 11th spot – mid-table – wasn’t a terrible result for the side, but they will wonder what could have been after letting in 60 goals across the season.
If they can sharpen their defence, they will stand a chance of making the Europa League qualification mark, but then, their attack will be under heavy stress this week.
While they have lost Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City, both Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire are in the same boat as Pogba and Lukaku – only returning to pre-season training in the days leading up to the first game.
It means they could be unavailable, and with David De Gea in goals for the hosts, Leicester would have found it hard to crack them anyway.
Prediction
While United have their fair share of issues heading into the 2018-19 season, they still should be able to account for Leicester fairly comfortably at home.
Manchester United 2 – Leicester City 0.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Premier League season opener from 5am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
kimkyonghawn
Guest
good
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Average game. Job done though. 3-points in the bank - that’s all that counts. Thanks for the call, Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018-19 EPL season as Manchester United beat Leicester City. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back at 2:10pm (AEST) this afternoon for AFL as the Gold Coast Suns host the Richmond Tigers. Be sure to keep it locked into The Roar for all the best from a huge Saturday of sport. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Here is a reminder of all the remaining Matchday 1 EPL fixtures. Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur at St.James’ Park (Saturday, 9:30pm) Bournemouth vs Cardiff at Vitality Stadium (Sunday, 12am) Fulham vs Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage (Sunday, 12am) Huddersfield vs Chelsea at John Smith’s Stadium (Sunday, 12am) Watford vs Brighton at Vicarage Road (Sunday, 12am) Wolverhampton vs Everton at Molineux Stadium (Sunday, 2:30am) Liverpool vs West Ham at Anfield (Sunday, 10:30pm) Southampton vs Burnley at St.Mary’s Stadium (Sunday, 10:30pm) Arsenal vs Manchester City at Emirates Stadium (Monday, 1am) We will have live scores of Newcastle vs Tottenham, Huddersfield vs Chelsea and Liverpool vs West Ham and well as a live blog of Arsenal vs Manchester City.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Manchester United have survived a fright at the end of the EPL opener, coming away with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford. United came out of the gates all guns blazing and won a penalty in just the third minute thanks to a handball. With Paul Pogba making no mistake at the spot, they took the early lead. Leicester then put together a strong half an hour, dominating the game, but were unable to score before the halftime break. After the break, it was the Red Devils back on top of the game and when Luke Shaw scored in the 83rd minute, the game looked beyond all reasonable doubt. A cross from Ricardo Pereira in the second minute of injury time which ended in a Jamie Vardy goal gave the visitors a brief flicker of hope, but with a final chance off a corner squandered, United survive to win the season opener. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The corner has actually found Schmeichel there by the looks of it. He fires the header, but it's off to the right-hand side, just going behind. There will be no time for a restart with the referee calling for a halt to proceedings. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 4' - Into what should be the final minute. United clear to halfway, but then lose control. This will be the final opportunity for Leicester to tie the game up. It'll be a corner for the visitors as the ball goes behind. Schmeichel is coming up for it. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 3' - All of a sudden United are in full defence mode and Leicester full attack mode. Should be about 60 seconds to go, but the ball is lost behind for a goalkick here. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 2' - GOAL LEICESTER CITY, JAMIE VARDY United back to halfway and they will try to keep the clean sheet from here. A throw in goes a bit skewed here and the men in blue will have yet another chance to try and take a goal from this game. And they will! Vardy is having a party here. Lovely cross to the far post from Ricardo Pereira and it just seemed to trick De Gea after getting in behind the defence. In fact, it's come off the post and Vardy was there to put the header into the back of the net. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 1' - Pereira to Vardy in the box and he tries to put it in the back of the net, but can only elevate his shot well over the crossbar on the volley off what was a pretty decent cross which manages to get around Bailly in the back line of defence. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90' - Four minutes of added time Manchester United again being forced to clean things up at the back which they do comfortably not once, not twice, but three times with De Gea eventually firing it forward. Still some time here for Leicester with four minutes. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90' - Into the final minute of time we go. Again, Leicester push forward and this time it's Luke Shaw, the second goal-scorer, back there to make the clearance. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
89' - Mata's clearance finds Sanchez who then fires it up field for Sanchez. He crosses into the penalty area, but there is just enough defence to ensure the direction of it is slightly off, the ball then going past Lukaku and behind for a goalkick. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
88' - Leicester will still keep searching for a goal here, and they certainly deserve one for their effort, but it's going to be hard to crack this defence in the final few minutes. Here is another cross into the box, but it's again cleared by Mata. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
86' - Leicester don't really deserve to go down 2-0 here. They haven't had enough in attack, but their effort has been first class all game long. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
85' - Well, that goal could well bring a third here. Manchester United look to have broken the shackles, although Lukaku was offside getting ready to receive that pass from Sanchez through the defensive line. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
84' -Sub: Manchester United - Marouane Fellaini (on), Paul Pogba (off) Manchester United make their final substitution in the midst of that goal as well. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
Bwambale stivo
Guest
Win ? for Manchester united
Scott Pryde
Expert
83' - GOAL MANCHESTER UNITED, LUKE SHAW Mata to Shaw and it's a goal! What an effort from Shaw! Lovely ball to the far post from just outside the box, but Shaw has almost lost it, then got it back around the defender, before putting it back across his body, into the right-hand side of the net past the outstretched hand of Schmeichel. It's virtually come from nothing, but it'll put the game beyond doubt surely. Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0