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Leicester v Manchester United preview: Champions face Jose Mourinho's men

Super Sunday
Image: Watch Leicester City v Manchester United on Super Sunday

Goal-shy Leicester City will look to get their season moving in the right direction against Manchester United, live on Super Sunday on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3.30pm.

The Premier League champions have not scored in their last four Premier League matches, losing the last three.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have been involved in 28 less Premier League goals than at same stage last season as the attacking brilliance that led them to their incredible title glory has been in short supply this term.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26:  a dejected Riyad Mahrez (L) of Leicester City and teammates look on during the Premier League match between Leicester Ci
Image: Leicester's title defence is the worst in Premier League history

This is the worst start to a title defence in Premier League history after 23 games and going further back, this is the worst defence by a reigning champion in the top division in English football.

However, Leicester have won 18 of their 21 points this season at the King Power Stadium, including beating Manchester City.

They are set to meet a Man Utd team that are unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League games, which is the current longest unbeaten run in Europe's top five leagues.

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Team news

Wantaway striker Leonardo Ulloa is still not fit for Leicester as he battles a thigh problem.

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The forward has resumed light training as he looks to build bridges following his transfer request last month.

Fellow striker Islam Slimani is also out with a groin problem but new signing Molla Wague could play after he joined on loan from Udinese on deadline day and Daniel Amartey is back after the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana.

Manchester United defender Phil Jones
Image: Manchester United defender Phil Jones is out

Phil Jones is likely to miss the game for United.

A bruised foot saw the 24-year-old defender come off after 55 minutes against Hull on Wednesday, putting his place in jeopardy for a match that Eric Bailly is available for after the African Nations Cup.

Teenager Dean Henderson is set to travel to Leicestershire as part of the squad having been recalled from his loan at Grimsby following an injury to third-choice goalkeeper Joel Pereira.

Opta stats

Leicester City have won just one of their last 17 games against Man Utd in all competitions (D3 L13) - 5-3 in this exact fixture in September 2014.

Manchester United have only lost two of their 21 Premier League meetings with Leicester City (W13 D6).

This match will be Leicester's 2000th in the top-flight (currently P1999 W642 D526 L831, 32.1 win %)

Vardy has had a hand in four goals in two Premier League appearances against Manchester United at the King Power Stadium (two goals, two assists).

Is Jamie Vardy in danger of being a one-season wonder?
Image: Is Jamie Vardy in danger of being a one-season wonder?

Manchester United are currently on the longest unbeaten away run in the Premier League (six games - W4 D2 L0). This is their best away run in the competition since a run of seven games between November 2014 and February 2015.

Leicester are only the fifth Premier League team to fail to score in their opening four matches of a calendar year, following Newcastle (2008), Swansea (failed to score in their first four Premier League games in August & September 2011), Hull (2014) and Aston Villa (2015) - no team has ever failed to score in their first five.

The Foxes have lost their last three Premier League games - they haven't lost four in a row since February 2015, a run of five under Nigel Pearson.

Leicester City haven't won both of their home league games against the Manchester clubs (United and City) in the same season since 1975-76.

Merson's prediction

With how things are going at the moment I can see Leicester being relegated. They are on a horrible run and watching them at Southampton - wow. Manchester United have to win this game after their poor result against Hull and that's what I like about this game, if it's all square going into the last 20 minutes then United will have to go for it.

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Jeff Stelling and Paul Merson discuss the second clash on Super Sunday as Premier League champions Leicester take on Manchester United

That could play into Leicester's hands but with their confidence shot to pieces and how they are playing, I can't see them getting anything. They are never going to get back to where they were last season, it's impossible.

But they do need to rekindle the spirit they showed towards the end of the season before last when they were in a relegation battle. It clicked for them then and they got the results they needed to survive. It needs to happened again.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (12/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Manchester United are odds-on at 4/6 with Sky Bet as Leicester are considered 17/4 outsiders, while the draw is priced at 11/4.

Mourinho's men were pushed out to 50/1 to win the Premier League following their midweek draw with Hull and are 6/4 just to secure a top-four finish, while their hosts were cut to 4/1 to face relegation after their defeat to Burnley.

Ibrahimovic heads the first goalscorer betting at 3/1 with Jamie Vardy still considered the hosts' main threat at 8/1 to net first.

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