Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United celebrates
Alejandro Garnacho made it 2-0 for Manchester United
Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho broke their ducks as Manchester United eased to victory over a doomed Leicester City.
A hapless Leicester side was just what the doctor ordered for United, who helped themselves to a comfortable victory at the King Power Stadium. The in-form Bruno Fernandes assisted both goals, sending Hojlund clear to power in the opener before stabbing the ball Garnacho's way to allow him to beat Mads Hermansen at his near post for his first league goal since November 10 against the same opponents.
Fernandes then rifled into the corner from Diogo Dalot's cut-back late on to rub salt in the wounds. The Foxes saw two openings end with blocks from Ayden Heaven and Matthijs de Ligt and a late Jamie Vardy strike saved by Andre Onana as they slipped another game closer towards the Championship, having failed to score for a seventh straight home league game.
While defeat leaves Leicester nine points adrift of Wolves and safety with nine games left, victory moves United to the dizzy heights of 13th place in the Premier League. Here are the talking points from the game.
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1. Hojlund back in business
Manchester United's Danish striker #09 Rasmus Hojlund (R) celebrates
Rasmus Hojlund broke his goalless streak ( Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Hojlund must have begun to doubt himself. Playing up front in a struggling side, with his own confidence seemingly dented, the young Dane has been a shadow of the player United thought they had paid £72million for in August 2023.
But when Fernandes sent him racing clear of the Leicester defence and Wout Faes helpfully stood off him, giving him a clear route to goal, Hojlund didn't hesitate. He pulled the trigger and found the bottom corner.
Remarkably, for a striker of such potential, Hojlund had gone 21 games in total - and 13 in the Premier League - without scoring prior to that moment. It was his first goal of 2025 and United fans will hope it could lead to the floodgates opening.
2. Relegation beckons
Leicester City Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruud van Nistelrooy is staring relegation in the face
(
Image:
Getty Images)
It's been a whirlwind introduction to management for Ruud van Nistelrooy in the Premier League this season. He's gone from United caretaker to the captain of a rapidly sinking ship at Leicester - and it now seems as though relegation to the Championship is a question of when, not if.
Just like their fellow relegation zone dwellers Southampton and Ipswich, Leicester have been dreadful in 2025. They have a leaky defence and an attack sorely lacking the quality to trouble Premier League defences with regularity. They were well off the pace again on Sunday night and gave their miserable fans little to shout about.
3. Heaven stretchered off
Ayden Heaven was stretchered off (
Image:
Carl Recine/Getty Images)
It wasn't a wholly positive night for United, who saw their injury crisis continue in the Midlands. Heaven has been a bright spark for United in recent weeks, immediately proving why the club brought him in from Arsenal for a reported seven-figure fee.
The 18-year-old defender has shown maturity and composure well beyond his years and was enjoying another good game here, with a timely block from Patson Daka ensuring United had their clean sheet in tact just before half-time.
His injury early in the second half was a cruel blow for the youngster, who had only been thrust into the side due to injuries, with Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Jonny Evans among the defenders in the treatment room at Carrington.
4. Trust in youth
Harry Amass got on in the second half (
Image:
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) Don't Miss
Heaven has been the stand-out young performer of late, but his withdrawal didn't end the interest for United fans eager to have a look at the next generation of players. Left-back Harry Amass made his Premier League debut when Amorim brought him on for Garnacho in the 69th minute, while Chido Obi was given the closing stages in place of Hojlund.
Amorim has often emphasised the youthful nature of United's squad and, therefore, the time it will take for things to click. With Toby Collyer featuring again - and out of position at right-back - there was a glimpse at what might be in the future.
5. Fernandes on fire
Bruno Fernandes continued his fantastic form (
Image:
Carl Recine/Getty Images)
It's been a fruitful run for United skipper Fernandes, who followed up his hat-trick against Real Sociedad with another assured performance in midfield. The Portuguese international ran the show, as per usual, and capped his performance with a classy finish late on.
Dalot picked him out on the edge of the area and his form is such that you just knew the outcome: a curling finish, whipped into the far corner past the helpless Leicester goalkeeper. The talisman just keeps delivering.
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