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Starting XI: Manchester United vs. Leicester City

The Reds could deal a big blow to Leicester’s top four chances with a win on Tuesday

Leicester City v Manchester United: Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final Photo by Laurence Griffiths - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Everything that you need to know ahead of Tuesday’s match:

(1) With just one day of rest between the Aston Villa win and Leicester City’s visit on Tuesday, Manchester United might need to make a few changes to freshen up their lineup. Especially with Liverpool coming up next. Leicester, meanwhile, have been licking their wounds for several days after an embarrassing loss to Newcastle and should be fully rested for this one.

(2) Manchester United rallied for yet another road victory at Villa Park on Sunday. Bertrand Traore fired Aston Villa into an early lead, but a second-half flurry from the Reds proved the difference. Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood, and Edinson Cavani all scored to keep United unbeaten away from Old Trafford in the Premier League this season.

(3) Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Harry Maguire’s ankle injury:

We’ve got to check it. It might be a few weeks, might be a couple of days — who knows. I’m not a doctor and we’ve got to check him and scan him tomorrow. It was his ankle, lower leg. I think the boy landed on top of him, so he twisted his ankle and got a knock.

I don’t know how serious it is. He might be available on Tuesday or he might not.

(4) For his part, Harry Maguire hopes for a quick return:

(5) Leicester City suffered a shock 4-2 defeat to beleaguered Newcastle on Friday. That embarrassing scoreline could have been even worse if not for two late consolation goals by Marc Albrighton and Kelechi Iheanacho. Shortly before kickoff, Jonny Evans limped out of warmups with a recurrence of his nagging foot injury — and Leicester never recovered. Brendan Rodgers moved Timothy Castagne into the back three alongside Wesley Fofana and Caglar Soyuncu, but the move proved a disaster and the defense was at sea all day.

(6) Assuming that Evans misses Tuesday night’s match, Leicester don’t really have any great replacement options. Castagne certainly didn’t work out. Wilfred Ndidi could be pulled back from midfield into central defense, but that’s just robbing Peter to pay Paul.

(7) Other Leicester City injuries: James Justin and Harvey Barnes are both out with knee injuries, while captain Wes Morgan has missed nearly five months with a bad back.

(8) Leicester are still struggling to re-integrate James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira into the side after long injury layoffs. Maddison, out for two months with a hip injury, has started the last four matches — but has not looked like himself. Pereira, too, is still shaking off the rust after a long rehab from reconstructive surgery on his ACL.

(9) Last season, Leicester collapsed down the stretch and blew a prime chance to qualify for the Champions League. The loss to Newcastle will, no doubt, stir up concerns over a similar fall from grace in 2020/21. Thanks to West Ham’s loss, the Foxes remain five points clear in fourth, though Liverpool are still lurking with a game in hand. Plus, they face a very difficult run-in with matches against Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur still to come.

(10) In attack, it’s a tale of two forwards. Jamie Vardy has scored just twice in his last 23 matches, though he’s still working his way back to full fitness after hip surgery in January. Thankfully for Leicester, though, Kelechi Iheanacho has picked up the slack. The 24-year-old has been on a prolific run, with thirteen goals in his last eleven appearances.

(11) Back in March, these two sides met in the FA Cup semifinals and Leicester notched a deserved 3-1 victory. Kelechi Iheanacho opened the scoring and then Youri Tielemans restored the lead after a Mason Greenwood equalizer. Iheanacho then added a late exclamation point to complete his brace. Leicester will play Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday.