Edit- Click here for Vardy goal vs Man Utd November 28, 2015- record breaking 11th consecutive league goal
This weekend’s clash between Leicester City and Manchester United promises to be a tasty one. Not only is it a clash between first and second in the league table (yes, Leicester are first!), but it is also an opportunity for Foxes forward Jamie Vardy to write his name into the record books.
With his strike against Newcastle last weekend, Vardy equalised Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in ten consecutive league games. He can go past RvN on Saturday, and what better team to do it than against United- also the club the legendary Dutch forward was plying his trade for when he created the record.
Vardy’s story is an incredible one. Rejected by Sheffield Wednesday as a teenager, he once played for Stocksbridge Steels in the eighth tier of English football, drawing just £30 a week as he struggled to make ends meet. Four years ago, he was playing for non-league Fleetwood town, earning just £850 a week. At the time of writing this article, he is the top scorer in the Premiership this season, and has scored more goals than the likes of Neymar and Gonzalo Higuain, who are the top scorers in their respective leagues (Spain and Italy)
Leicester have suffered just one loss in the league all season- a 2-5 reverse at the hands of Arsenal back in September. They are yet to drop a game on the road this season, and they have scored more goals than any other league team so far- their tally of 28 is better than what the likes of United, City, Arsenal and Spurs have achieved. Vardy has been integral to their success- he’s scored nearly half of their goals, and now looks like a shoo-in for Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad in France next summer.
Leicester have however been frail defensively, and this is where United will see an opportunity. The Foxes have let in 20 goals this season- United by comparison have shipped in just nine. This is effectively a game where the best attacking team in the league plays the best defensive team. At the back of their minds, United will also remember that their last trip to the King Power Stadium ended in a 5-3 loss- a fixture Leicester will look to for inspiration as they seek to stay top of the league.
Video- Leicester City 5-3 Manchester United- 2014/15 season (courtesy Facebook)
How have Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester been playing? Recent results
Newcastle 0-3 Leicester
Leicester 2-1 Watford
West Brom 2-3 Leicester
Hull 1-1 Leicester (Cup)
Leicester 1-0 Crystal Palace
Ranieri’s poor results with the Greece national team were a blot on an otherwise stellar career, and the Italian has rebuilt his reputation with Leicester’s amazing run this season.
How have LvG’s Man Utd been faring? Recent results
Man Utd 0-0 Wolfsburg
Watford 1-2 Man Utd
Man Utd 2-0 West Brom
Man Utd 1-0 CSKA
Crystal Palace 0-0 Man Utd
Despite Leicester being ahead of United in the table, top punters, as a look at the community portal Fanbet tells you, still think that the Red Devils will come away with three points from the King Power Stadium.
However football is a funny game. As recently as March 2014, just over 18 months ago, Leicester were playing Yeovil in the Championship. The Foxes are now top of the Premier League, while the Glovers are now bottom of the table in League Two (the fourth tier of English football) after successive relegations, and there are 91 places between them. The Foxes will believe that they can get the better of LvG’s side, and you can be sure that their fans will be in full voice to ensure that United’s trip to the East Midlands is not an easy one.
Leicester City vs Manchester United
Venue: King Power Stadium, Leicester
Date: 28 November, 2015 (Saturday)
KO time: 17.30 UK