Leicester

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The old saying goes that the only certainties in this world are death and taxes. I would add to that: rain in Manchester, a host of individual Leicester City defensive errors, goals conceded down the right side and poor in-game management by Steve Cooper.

A very flattering scoreline for the Red Devils that the statistically observant among us would feel a sense of wonder how it wasn't, perhaps, 0-0. Three good shots, three goals. Sigh!

The notable absentee was Jamie Vardy, and his replacement in the shape of Jordan Ayew showed just how sharp and influential Vardy remains at his youthful 37. Moreover, it made me realise that, at this moment, life after Vardy looks very bleak.

There were few options up front when we did get into good areas, which was compounded by poor movement off the ball and uninspiring replacements on the bench.

The summer signings are not providing the solutions that were hoped, with Caleb Okoli and Oliver Skipp losing their regular places early on, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Odsonne Edouard barely featuring.

The sad news of another lengthy injury lay-off for Ricardo Pereira also added a further blow. There are not many players unluckier than 'Ricky P'. He is a truly gifted player who I hope returns as soon as possible.

It means that we will now have to persevere with our two current full-backs in James Justin and Victor Kristiansen for the foreseeable, both of whom are regularly exposed through a mixture of formation and individual issues.

And, just like that, we find ourselves at another international break, yet to find a full 90-minute "good" performance and eliminate individual errors.

The pressure is mounting on Cooper, for sure, and fans are growing impatient with the rinse-and-repeat problems with the performances, as debates move to a stick-or-twist situation.

Find more from Kate Blakemore at Leicester Till I Die, external

The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast has landed.

Owynn Palmer-Atkin is joined by former Foxes winger Matt Piper and The Athletic's Jordan Halford to reflect on the weekend's loss to Manchester United and to prepare for another international break.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

David Moyes is eyeing a return to Premier League management with Crystal Palace, Wolves, Southampton and Leicester all potentially interested. (Talksport), external

Want more transfer stories and gossip? Read Tuesday's full column

Image source, BBC Sport

Opta's supercomputer has tipped promoted Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City as the three most likely teams to get relegated from the Premier League this season.

Southampton are bottom and winless after 10 games since returning to the top flight, with the computer giving them 94.9% chance of being relegated.

Despite climbing out of the bottom three with an impressive first win of the season against Tottenham at this weekend, Ipswich are the next side being tipped to go down with a 70.7% chance.

While Leicester are 15th, three points clear of the drop zone, they are the third most likely side to get relegated according to Opta, with a 46.9% chance.

Wolves, Everton and Crystal Palace are the remaining sides that have an 18% or more chance of falling down to the second tier by May.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Leicester.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Warren: Manuel Ugarte is looking better and better and he made a huge difference to Casemiro, which was also very good. The midfield looked solid but the defence never looked safe with Diogo Dalot poor. Marcus Rashford was sadly anonymous again.

Eric: We played great, with Amad Diallo as man of the match. We closed them down and were on the attack in the first half. The second half was slack but Leicester didn't score. Two great goals and I enjoyed it. I hope Ruben Amorim keeps Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Peter: Not the best game ever but three goals and three valuable points will do. Some good performances: Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Ugarte... but poor from Dalot and Rashford. There is much work for Amorim to do but 100% effort is a minimum for every player.

Leicester fans

Nigel: Once again we were outplayed. Every Leicester ball was either over hit or passed to no one. It's one thing to play well on the training ground but another when you play your opposition. all in all a very disjointed performance. Feel we might be going down now.

JC: Passive and disappointing. I didn’t expect us to win but I expected us to compete against a very average Man Utd side. I’ve been a supporter of Steve Cooper but today I could not see what the team were trying to do.

Stephen: A shocking performance. No fight, no closing down and the defending was shocking. Not doing the basics right.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester's misery after their 3-0 loss to Manchester United on Sunday was compounded by the news right-back Ricardo Pereira has been ruled out for "about four months" with a hamstring problem.

Pereira missed the trip to Old Trafford after being withdrawn late on in the 1-1 draw at Ipswich the week before.

"It's bad news - Ricky will be out for about four months with a serious hamstring injury," Cooper said post-match.

"It's a real blow for everybody, and especially him. We'll all be with him now in his recovery."

The Foxes had chances in the loss to the Red Devils - registering five shots on target to their opponents three - but failed to find a way past Andre Onana in the United goal.

"There’s nothing good about a 3-0 defeat, and we've not done enough to stop their goals," Cooper added.

"We got into more than enough positions to threaten United’s box, but as a team we didn't show enough.

"In large parts the game seemed even, but in certain moments we’ve not done enough at both ends of the pitch. We're not going to hide away from the chances and goals we're conceding, and we'll keep showing intent to improve that.

"We know we have creativity and threat in the team, but didn't maximise that.

"Whether it was a mixture of United being really ruthless stopping us, whether we could've made better decisions or shown more quality - it could be all of those things."

Watch highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man Utd 3-0 Leicester

• Nottingham Forest 1-3 Newcastle

• Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Tottenham are keen on a move for Argentine midfielder Facundo Buonanotte, 19, but will have to compete with Leicester, where he is on loan from Brighton. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

The latest episode of the When You're Smiling has landed.

BBC Radio Leicester's Jack Rafferty and former Foxes winger Matt Piper dissect Leicester's defeat to Manchester United.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Cooper spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Leicester's defeat against Manchester United: "The result will paint the picture but in the end we didn't show enough desire in either penalty area. We let two unopposed shots from outside the area for the goals.

"Two of the goals have come from our corners as well which is frustrating. It wasn't a dangerous position but we made it dangerous. At the other end we got into good areas but didn't show that same desire.

"Our general play was fine but in the end we didn't have the purpose. We had good spells, we were in the game, it didn't feel like they were going to score the next goal.

"We can't just say we missed Jamie Vardy, we can't be reliant on that."

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester have won just two of their 11 league matches this season (D4 L5), only having fewer wins at this stage of a single Premier League campaign on one occasion (one in 2001-02).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Man Utd's performance, external

What did you make of Leicester's display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Leicester (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra)

• Tottenham v Ipswich (listen on BBC Sport website and app)

• Chelsea v Arsenal - 16:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here