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Manchester United v Leicester LIVE: Result after Harry Maguire scores offside winner in FA Cup

Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd turned around a poor performance in the first half with two second-half goals to knock Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City out of the FA Cup

Lawrence Ostlere
Saturday 08 February 2025 08:58 GMT
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Furious Ruud van Nistelrooy condemns 'unthinkable' Harry Maguire offside goal

Manchester United clawed back from a goal down to beat Leicester City in a 2-1 fourth-round FA Cup victory on Friday at Old Trafford, thanks to a last-gasp header from veteran defender Harry Maguire plus a strike from Joshua Zirkzee.

The game appeared to be heading into extra time before Maguire headed in the winner in the 93rd minute from Bruno Fernandes' free kick, seconds before the final whistle. Replays showed he was offside, but VAR is not deployed in the first four rounds of the FA Cup.

The result handed United only their third win in their last eight games at Old Trafford across all competitions.

United were poor in the first half and Leicester capitalised in the 42nd minute when Wilfred Ndidi's shot was blocked by keeper Andre Onana but Bobby De Cordova-Reid was there to head in the rebound from close range.

Zirkzee levelled in the 68th minute when Rasmus Hojlund's effort was blocked by defender Caleb Okoli and the ball fell perfectly for Zirkzee to tap home just three minutes after he entered the game.

Patrick Dorgu starts!

Ruben Amorim does indeed hand a debut to Patrick Dorgu from the start tonight. Full teams coming right up...

Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 19:01

Man Utd v Leicester

The Manchester United players getting ready for tonight’s FA Cup tie:

Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 18:49

Man Utd v Leicester – team news

The two line-ups will drop shortly.

Manchester United are without Lisandro Martinez who has ruptured his ACL and will be a long-term absentee. Luke Shaw has also had a setback and won’t be rushed back into action. Jonny Evans is set to miss out on a reunion with his former club, and Mason Mount is also recovering from injury.

New signings Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven are both available and eligible to be selected.

For Leicester, Wilfred Ndidi returns from injury and Ruud van Nistelrooy has hinted at alterations to his squad for his return to Old Trafford. Teenagers Jeremy Monga and Jake Evans are expected to form part of the matchday squad.

Abdul Fatawu and Ricardo Pereira are still on the sidelines.

“There are two or three with light injuries, who are doubtful tomorrow. We'll see when we announce the squad,” said Van Nistelrooy.

Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 18:42

Van Nistelrooy accepts reality of Leicester's transfer window

Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said he must deal with the reality of the club's lack of transfer window activity as he prepares to head back to Manchester United for tonight’s FA Cup fourth round at Old Trafford.

Leicester are third from bottom, two points off the safety zone, and made one signing in the window, spending £3m on centre back Woyo Coulibaly from Parma.

Premier League rules say clubs cannot register more than two on-loan players at any one time and Leicester already have midfielder Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton & Hove Albion and forward Odsonne Edouard from Crystal Palace.

"When you strengthen the team, your chances will improve, there's no doubt about that," Van Nistelrooy said of the club's failure to deliver many reinforcements in January when talking to reporters on Thursday.

"But the means were not there to do so. It wasn't possible. Also the loans were blocked because we have two players. The disappointment is that two loans are not having the minutes so they're not strengthening the team. We looked at foreign loans."

Ruud Van Nistelrooy has accepted Leicester’s position in the transfer market (Martin Rickett/PA)
Ruud Van Nistelrooy has accepted Leicester’s position in the transfer market (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)
Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 18:29

Three things new signing Patrick Dorgu will bring to Man Utd

Here’s a closer look at Dorgu, the 20-year-old Danish defender signed from Italian club Lecce in a £30m transfer, who has the profile to shine in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system:

Three things Man Utd’s new signing Patrick Dorgu will bring to Old Trafford

The 20-year-old Danish defender signed from Italian club Lecce in a £30m transfer and has the profile to shine in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system
Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 18:12

Amorim: 'Dorgu needs time but quality is there'

“He has to integrate really fast because we lose some players on loan in this moment,” Amorim told the Man Utd website this week.

“We want to build a different team. We start with these different kinds of players like Dorgu. He’s a young player, of course he’s going to need time because this is a different level, a different league, but the physicality is there, the quality is there and he can play both sides.

“That is important, to cope whether we want to play on the left or the right, that is really important for us. He’s a talented, hungry guy, and that is the profile we’re looking for.”

Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 17:56

Dorgu and Heaven in line for Man Utd debuts

Manchester United made two signings late in the transfer window, and both players could feature tonight.

Denmark international Patrick Dorgu signed from Lecce, and the 20-year-old could come straight into the side in one of the wing-back roles.

The 18-year-old Ayden Heaven meanwhile joined from Arsenal, and the left-footed centre-back could also start the game, particuarly given the ACL injury to Lisandro Martinez which was confirmed this week.

Both players “are ready to play and they are two more solutions to help us in this moment,” Ruben Amorim said this week.

Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven pose at Old Trafford on Sunday
Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven pose at Old Trafford on Sunday (Manchester United via Getty Images)
Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 17:39

How to watch Man Utd v Leicester

The FA Cup fixture will kick off at 8pm GMT tonight at Old Trafford.

This fixture will be shown free-to-air on ITV 1 in the UK, with subscribers also able to watch online via ITVX. Coverage begins at 7.30pm.

Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 17:25

Man Utd v Leicester – team news

The two line-ups will drop shortly.

Manchester United are without Lisandro Martinez who has ruptured his ACL and will be a long-term absentee. Luke Shaw has also had a setback and won’t be rushed back into action. Jonny Evans is set to miss out on a reunion with his former club, and Mason Mount is also recovering from injury.

New signings Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven are both available and eligible to be selected.

For Leicester, Wilfred Ndidi returns from injury and Ruud van Nistelrooy has hinted at alterations to his squad for his return to Old Trafford. Teenagers Jeremy Monga and Jake Evans are expected to form part of the matchday squad.

Abdul Fatawu and Ricardo Pereira are still on the sidelines.

“There are two or three with light injuries, who are doubtful tomorrow. We'll see when we announce the squad,” said Van Nistelrooy.

Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 17:22

Van Nistelrooy returns to Old Trafford to face successor Amorim

This will be Leicester's third visit to Old Trafford this season, with Van Nistelrooy in caretaker charge of United's Premier League and Carabao Cup wins against the club that now employs him.

Both he and Ten Hag have better records in the United dugout this season than Amorim, who dismissed the suggestion that was an uncomfortable statistic.

"It's not awkward and I think it's normal," the Portuguese said. "He knew the team, he worked with the team. I made some decisions that are really hard, to sometimes create problems, friction in the team.

"Everything in the schedule that you don't have time to train, to know the person. It's really hard because I'm a really proud guy, but I take this normally.

"They were better than me in training this team, so I'm trying to help them to see the game the way I see, to improve the performance, and also the results."

Man United have twice beaten Leicester this season
Man United have twice beaten Leicester this season (Action Images via Reuters)
Lawrence Ostlere7 February 2025 17:09

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