LEICESTER CITY 0, MANCHESTER UNITED 3
- Juan Mata only booked for reckless tackle on Jamie Vardy
- Goals by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Mata finish off Leicester City
- United stay sixth but now just 2 points off fourth place
Manchester United were frustrated for a time at Leicester before a seven minute spell either side of the break ended the Foxes’ resistance a plunged their hosts deeper into the relegation mire.
Goals by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Juan Mata put the Reds in control of the game although Mata could have been dismissed for a reckless tackle on Jamie Vardy and was lucky to escape with just a booking.
United remained sixth but are now just a point behind Liverpool in fifth and two behind Arsenal in fourth place.
Boss Jose Mourinho was happy to see the United were now converting the chances that come their way after a frustrating time finding the back of the net this season.
He said: “The goals made the difference. We have played well for a long time but we haven’t scored goals before the opponent and before half time enough.
“Today was great because we were in control and scored two goals before the second half and we could control the game and made it look easy.”
The Reds had long been putting in good performances, with just one defeat in 20 games, but disappointed by seven draws during that time which effectively derailed their title challenge this season.
Mourinho ruled out a tilt at the title this season, declaring that: “Next season we will start from a different point.”
Spare a thought for Claudio Ranieri, the Leicester City manager who won the ultimate prize in English football last summer – the Premier League title.
The affable Italian now finds himself a point above the drop zone in 16th having lost their fourth consecutive Premier League game with rumours of dissent now dogging the squad and coaching staff.
Mourinho made three chances for the side to face Leicester, with Daley Blind, Michael Carrick and Phil Jones (who was injured) stepping aside for Christ Smalling, Eric Bailly and Juan Mata.
Wayne Rooney misses out due to illness
Captain Wayne Rooney was not included in the match day squad due to illness.
United used a 4-4-2 formation, matching Leicester, and while Marcus Rashford was denied by Kasper Schmeichel early on, the Reds were on top in the game and could arguably have scored earlier.
After spending 42 minutes being frustrated by the Foxes, United finally made the breakthrough.
Mkhitaryan evaded a static Robert Huth high in the area after Smalling’s flick, raced away and thrashed the ball past Kasper Schmeichel with Wes Morgan in his wake – his fifth goal of the season.
The evergreen Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 20th goal of the season after he neatly converted Antonio Valencia’s cross from 12 yards out with United’s second goal less than two minutes later.
And finally, Mata made it three in the 49th minute, his eighth of the season, after exchanging passes with Mkhitaryan and then firing a third goal to completely deflate the home side.
Mata was denied a fourth goal for United thanks to the offside flag but there was no way that Leicester were coming back from a sad state of affairs that leaves them still winless in five Premier League games this year and looking nervously over their shoulder.