Let’s take a look at the Premier League Player Ratings from the showdown between Leicester City and Manchester United at the King Power Stadium.
Jamie Vardy’s late equalizer ended Manchester United’s three-match winning run on Boxing Day and ensured Leicester would remain ahead in the Premier League table.
The Red Devils had an excellent start at the King Power, with Marcus Rashford breaking the deadlock in the 23rd-minute for his 50th Premier League goal after Bruno Fernandes teed him up perfectly from a throw-in.
But a poor clearance from former Leicester defender Harry Maguire enabled James Maddison to assist Harvey Barnes for a smashing shot right into the left post from outside the box to settle an otherwise balanced first-half.
ABSOLUTE BULLET FROM HARVEY BARNES 😍
What a goal! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/S53RqBE428
— FPL 𝗚𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲𝗿 🦊 (@FPLgeezer) December 26, 2020
Both sides had opportunities to snatch the lead but ultimately squandered their opportunities. Fernandes, for one, nearly restored United’s advantage but couldn’t quite finish off a header from Luke Shaw’s free-kick.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, though, came alive past the hour-mark after Barnes challenged De Dea from a distance again.
The visitors began hounding the Leicester defense, with Rashford forcing Kasper Schmeichel into a brilliant save. Anthony Martial later had a goal ruled out for offside.
But the Frenchman’s replacement Edinson Cavani assisted Fernandes for a second goal 11 minutes from time. Not only did it put United temporarily into second in the league, but it also left them on the brink of equaling a club-record 11 successive away league wins.
⚽️ 11 goals against Arsenal
⚽️ 11 goals against Man City
⚽️ 7 goals against Liverpool
⚽️ 6 goals against Tottenham
⚽️ 6 goals against Man Utd
⚽️ 4 goals against ChelseaJamie Vardy absolutely loves it against the 'big six.' 🔥 pic.twitter.com/V4Cn2LiPiG
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 26, 2020
Vardy, however, equalized with five minutes remaining to deny United the spoils of victory.
The English striker, who had an otherwise quiet afternoon, met a square Perez ball and hammered it past De Gea for his 12th league goal of the campaign.
Vardy’s strike leaves Leicester in second and a point ahead of third-place United in the current league standings.
Player ratings
Leicester City: Schmeichel (6); Justin (7), Fofana (6), Evans (6), Castagne (6); Ndidi (7), Tielemans (8); Albrighton (6), Maddison (6), Barnes (7); Vardy (7).
Bench: Perez (7).
Manchester United: De Gea (6); Lindelof (6), Bailly (6), Maguire (6), Shaw (7); McTominay (7), Fred (7); James (5), Fernandes (8), Rashford (7); Martial (6).
Bench: Pogba (6), Cavani (7), Tuanzebe (6).
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