The Premier League returns on Friday with Manchester United against Leicester City.
The season gets underway at Old Trafford with Jose Mourinho’s side hosting Claude Puel, and the Portuguese tactician will be hoping to start with a win.
Mourinho comes into the game without having managed to sign the defender he wanted on transfer deadline day, so the only new face on show will be Brazilian ace Fred.
Leicester did some great business, and none more so than being able to keep Harry Maguire away from the clutches of United.
See below for a preview on the game, including predictions from former England, Crystal Palace and Tottenham midfielder Andy Gray and our own Football Insider Graeme Bailey and bet365’s Steve Freeth.
Manchester United 20:00 Leicester City
Old Trafford
TEAM NEWS: Sergio Romero, Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo, Diogo Dalot, Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic are all ruled out through injury for United, but Paul Pogba, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard and Marouane Fellaini – who all returned later from the World Cup will be assessed but could feature.
Leicester like United could be missing a number of players, but only Matty James and Nampalys Mendy are definite absentees.
James Maddison should shake off a knock to make his debut alongside other new signings Ricardo Pereira and Rachid Ghezzal, whilst England World Cup men Harry Maguire and Jamie Vardy should feature.
KEY FACT: Jose Mourinho is unbeaten in nine opening-weekend matches
MATCH ODDS: Man United 1/2 Draw 16/5 Leicester 7/1
bet365 Pick: Under 2.5 goals @4/5
ANDY SAYS: A tough game to call for the opener, that is for sure and I think Leicester will get something here, a shocking window for United and their week doesn’t get much better…1-1
GRAEME SAYS: A cracking game here to start with, but I am not as down on United as some – I think Romelu Lukaku picks up from a great World Cup and leads United to the win…2-0
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Harry Maguire – after the World Cup he has just had, it had to be him!
