Manchester United ran riot in the first half and gave a commanding performance with goals from Chris Smalling, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and world record signing Paul Pogba.
Leicester City will be really disappointed with themselves as they allowed United to dictate and never got into the game in the first half. In the second half, they started well, with Gray scoring a superb goal giving David de Gea no chance of stopping it; the only consolation for Leicester City.
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Jose Mourinho will be happy with his side’s dominant performance, and he will hope that his side does this consistently and not step off the gas in the second half.
Manchester United
David de Gea ( 6.5/10)
It was an easy game for De Gea and had very little to do. He had one sloppy kick out but apart from that, he was tidy. He couldn’t have done anything about the goal that was scored against him, but a made a very good save against Demarai Gray late on.
Antonio Valencia (7/10)
Valencia defensive skills are improving and he had a decent game. His defensive positioning was questionable at times, but going forward he was very good. He had a lot of good exchanges and tried to get to the byline and cross the ball often.
Eric Bailly (7.5/10)
Bailly sometimes lunges into tackles but today when he did, he won the ball. He is improving steadily and gives United a much needed strong presence at the back. Tidy in possession, the Ivorian looks to be gelling along well with defensive partner Chris Smalling.
Chris Smalling (8/10)
Captain for the day, Smalling led by example. After a relatively breezy first 22 minutes, he met with Daley Blind’s brilliant corner to give United the lead.
Good in possession, he did not take unnecessary risks which he sometimes tends to do. He commanded the back line well and Jose Mourinho will be happy to see his centre-backs maturing together.
Daley Blind (8/10)
After 2 bad games in defense, Blind returned in place of Luke Shaw at left back, and had a superb game. The Dutchman provided two assists from corners and didn’t give Mahrez a look in at all.
He ran past Mahrez and played some delicious balls forward.
Ander Herrera (8.5/10)
If this performance doesn’t prove his importance to the United midfield at the moment to Mourinho, then nothing will. He was everywhere; shielded the back four when Pogba and Mata drifted away and he attacked with precision.
He was pressing the opponents, as usual, and that made the entire team follow suit. This performance would have helped his chances of securing the midfield spot beside Pogba.
Paul Pogba (9/10)
A man of the match performance from the ‘Prodigal Son’. Pogba didn’t resort to trying taking on 4-5 players but did the simple things right. His teammates playing fluidly in and around him made things easier. He put in 2 pin-point balls over the top balls for Zlatan which the big Swede couldn’t convert.
The Frenchman scored his first goal for Manchester United which will give him supreme confidence.
Jesse Lingard (6/10)
After this derby debacle, he returned to the starting line-up much to the surprise of many. But his willingness to get forward and his speed in doing so caused problems for the Leicester City midfield.
Like many, he needs a few more games to prove his consistency. His deft flick led to Mata’s goal. Lingard needs to be stronger in defense, as was in evidence today when he was easily shrugged off by Gray for his goal.
He was substituted in the 78th minute.
Juan Mata (8/10)
Mata gave an excellent performance in his favoured position behind the striker.
He ran his heart out and clocked over 11 kms throughout his 87 minutes on the pitch. He took his goal brilliantly and was the catalyst of many United attacks.
Mata drifted all over the pitch but was willing to defend, too, which should impress his manager. Rashford’s goal was also made by Blind and Mata’s quick thinking around the box.
Was substituted in the 83rd minute.
Marcus Rashford (7.5/10)
As always with Marcus Rashford, he went in, ran, caused issues and ended up with a goal. Simple as that. He made some impressive dashes with the ball but still needs to learn to make the most of some promising situations and improve ball control which will come with time. He is still living the dream! Came off in the 87th minute.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (8/10)
Despite not scoring a goal, Zlatan played the role of a number 9 and 10 both perfectly.
In his short Manchester United career so far, he has been mostly doing his best work while showing his back to goal.
But today, he ran in behind the rather slow centre-backs of Leicester and brought others into the game. He did have a couple of chances and on another day he would have put them in the back of the net.
Substitutes
Michael Carrick (6.5/10)
Came on in the 78th minute and did what was required – steady the ship. Leicester were building some pressure and he helped keep the ball and gave the calming presence that he can provide to any midfield.
Wayne Rooney (6/10)
He came on in the 83rd minute and, while he didn’t do anything too bad, he didn’t do anything too good as well. Did his part as the damage was already done. Does he start the next game?
Ashley Young – NA
Came on in the 87th minute and didn’t do enough to warrant a rating.
Leicester City
Ron-Robert Zieler (5/10)
Zieler couldn’t have done much for the 4 goals but he should’ve maybe commanded his box better on corners. He won’t be happy with his defense, who gave in too easily to United’s attacking players.
Danny Simpson (4.5/10)
He was left alone against 2-3 Manchester United players throughout the match due to Mahrez’s inability to track back. But he did himself no favours by diving into challenges which eventually got him a yellow card in the second half.
Wes Morgan ( 5/10)
The Leicester City captain had a game well below his established standards. He lost out twice to Ibrahimovic and didn’t command the back line as he is expected to do. Surely must do better if Leicester are to finish anywhere close to last season’s position.
Robert Huth (4/10)
Huth was at fault for the first goal and looked clumsy when trying to disrupt the opposition.
He was out jumped by Smalling for the goal and was toyed around by United’s fluid and interchanging attacking forwards. He was booked for a clumsy foul on Pogba in the 50th minute.
Christian Fuchs (5/10)
The German left back was troubled by Valencia’s constant runs forward and players making runs in behind him.
Fuchs was too weak in defending corners and was shrugged off with ease by Paul Pogba for United's fourth goal. He tried moving ahead with the ball and was tidy in possession, at times, but United's pressing never allowed him time on the ball.
Riyad Mahrez (5/10)
Mahrez’s lack of defensive skills is well known and he should know by now that teams have analysed his play and would target their attacks on his side of the pitch. He was responsible for not tracking back with Blind and never seemed to get in the game.
He was poor by his lofty standards and came off at half-time as Leicester have a Champions League game during the week.
Daniel Amartey (5.5/10)
He was very poor in the midfield party due to United's dominance and impressive pressing. He was hardly given time to do anything and was chasing shadows. The second half saw him get more involved but the damage was already done.
Danny Drinkwater (6.5/10)
Probably one the better performers for Leicester. He tried to control the game but since others around him were being bullied, he couldn’t do much. He played two good balls behind the United defense early in the second half.
Marc Albrighton (5/10)
The former Aston Villa defender peeled away from Valencia but didn’t put in any good balls throughout the 62 minutes he was on the pitch.
He was caught napping for the 3rd goal as Blind and Mata combined and took a quick corner feeding Rashford to bury it home from close range. Ranieri would be rather disappointed with him as his final ball wasn’t good.
Islam Slimani (5/10)
If Albrighton had provided a better ball in the first few minutes, Slimani would have had a clear view on goal but that was the only notable chance that the Algerian had and nothing came towards him after that.
He tried to involve himself more than his striking partner but it was a frustrating outing for the striker.
Jamie Vardy (5/10)
Vardy wasn’t visible in the first 45 minutes that he played and was subbed off at the start of the second half.
Was hardly on the ball or made any runs to trouble the United defense, which has looked vulnerable to pace.
Substitutes
Andy King (6/10)
King came on at half-time in place of Riyad Mahrez. He was much better than the player he replaced. Got into some good positions an should have scored after a good cut-back from Schlupp but ended up shooting directly at David de Gea.
Demarai Gray (7/10)
Scorer of the only Leicester goal, Gray also hit a very similar shot again but this time, the United goalkeeper was there to stop it. The young winger caused United a lot of problems with his speed, directness, and movement in the 12-15 minutes after the restart but was subdued later on as United took over the possession again.
Except to see more good work from the 20-year-old throughout the season.
Jeffrey Schlupp (6/10)
Schlupp came on the in the 62nd minute and does what he does. Ran about and tried to take on players, but by then, United had already taken over the ball. He made good runs onto the flanks which led to a chance for Andy King.
