Leicester: Manchester United closed in once more on a top-four Premier League finish as Marcus Rashford’s fine form continued with the only goal in a 1-0 win at Leicester to move up to fifth.
Rashford cushioned Paul Pogba’s through ball into his path before blasting home his sixth goal in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 10 games in charge just nine minutes in.
A 2-2 draw at home to Burnley in midweek is the only match Solskjaer has failed to win and another victory lifts United a point above Arsenal and to within two points of fourth-placed Chelsea in the fight for Champions League football next season.
However, as is often the case on the road, United relied on goalkeeper David de Gea for all three points as a Leicester side that have often troubled the top six this season improved after half-time.
Twice the Spaniard stood tall to deny Jamie Vardy, but De Gea’s best save came from Rachid Ghezzal’s free-kick that arrowed towards the top corner.
Meanwhile, Liverpool centre back Joe Gomez may need surgery on his broken leg and the club are not sure when he will return, manager Juergen Klopp has said.
The 21-year-old, who began the season as Klopp’s first choice to partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool defence, fractured his left leg against Burnley on Dec. 5 and was initially expected to be out for six weeks.
Liverpool, who face West Ham United in the Premier League on Monday, will also be without centre back Dejan Lovren, who has a hamstring injury.
Asked at his weekly news conference if Gomez would need surgery, Klopp said: “It is possible, probably.
“It is not exactly going how we want that’s how it is. He needs more time. We cannot say more.” In the absence of Lovren and Gomez, Joel Matip will partner Van Dijk against West Ham, with midfielder James Milner expected to slot in at right back.
Milner served a one-match suspension against Leicester City in midweek, with captain Jordan Henderson playing at right back in the 1-1 draw at Anfield.
With regular right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold out injured, Klopp was questioned about his decision to allow Nathaniel Clyne to join Bournemouth on loan at the start of the January transfer window but the German said he had no regrets.
“You make the decision in the moment you have to and then people judge it later,” he said. “’Hendo’ did well there. We all know how good Clyney is, but would he have had more offensive influence in the game? “I don’t know. Defensively, I did not see a mistake from Hendo.”
