Why Leicester City's title bid may not be a done deal at Old Trafford this weekend
Tottenham's failure to beat West Bromwich Albion means the title could be decided at Old Trafford this weekend
Leicester City look all but certain to win the first top division league title in their 132-year history following Tottenham Hotspur’s failure to beat West Bromwich Albion on Monday night.
The 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane left Mauricio Pochettino’s side seven points off the pace with three games to go, meaning the Foxes need just another three points to secure the title.
Claudio Ranieri’s side could be crowned champions before their closest challengers next take to the field.
Leicester travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to face Manchester United, ahead of Tottenham’s meeting with Chelsea on Monday, knowing that a win will be enough to seal the most unlikely championship in Premier League history.
Many will expect them to do just that but, judging by the Premier League’s home table, Leicester’s title is unlikely to be signed, sealed and delivered by the start of the Antiques Roadshow.
Despite Louis van Gaal’s struggles this season, his Manchester United side have enjoyed a season of deceptively good home form – the third-best in the division.
11 sides, including the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal, have suffered defeat at Old Trafford, while Manchester City and West Ham United could only leave with a point.
Only Norwich City and Southampton have left Sir Matt Busby Way with all the spoils and David De Gea, the league’s best goalkeeper by some distance, has been beaten just seven times at home this season.
As much as Manchester United’s star has fallen since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, a visit to Old Trafford is still among the toughest in the top-flight. In fact, a win against Leicester would give Van Gaal’s men the division’s best home record.
In fairness to the Foxes, though, they are top of the away table and United’s poor scoring returns at the self-styled ‘Theatre of Dreams’ suggests that, if Ranieri’s side can get a goal, they stand a decent chance of taking something from the game.
A point, after all, may prove enough if Chelsea can inflict further damage to Tottenham’s hopes the following evening.
The records, then, suggest Leicester are unlikely to wrap the title up on Sunday, but it would take a spectacular collapse for them not to win it from here.
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