City’s Memorable Meetings With Manchester United
Eight-goal thrillers, famous comebacks and record-breaking results have all come against the 20-time English champions, who the Foxes face at Old Trafford on Sunday (2pm GMT kick-off).
Here’s a look back at four of those enthralling encounters with Leicester’s next opponents…
Manchester United 0 Leicester City 1
31 January, 1998
Goal: Tony Cottee
Tony Cottee signed for Leicester City at the start of the 1997/98 season but had since been on loan to Birmingham City in the First Division and had the likes of Emile Heskey, Ian Marshall, Steve Claridge and Graham Fenton ahead of him in the pecking order.
Handed a start at Old Trafford by Martin O'Neill after impressing in a reverse game that midweek, following his return from Birmingham, Cottee could hardly have selected a bigger stage to open his Leicester account.
In the 30th minute, Garry Parker's forward pass was collected by Cottee, who allowed the ball to bounce before smashing it beyond Peter Schmeichel in the Red Devils' net, producing the only goal of the game to defeat Sir Alex Ferguson’s reigning Premier League champions.
The win came during a run of seven league games without defeat and helped the Foxes to finish 10th, remaining unbeaten against Manchester United that season after a goalless draw at Filbert Street earlier in the campaign.
Leicester City 5 Manchester United 3
21 September, 2014
Goals: Leonardo Ulloa (2), David Nugent, Esteban Cambiasso, Jamie Vardy
Unquestionably one of the most famous games in Leicester City’s long history, when Louis van Gaal’s men headed to Filbert Way on a sunny Sunday afternoon in September 2014, few were predicting an eight-goal thriller.
First-half goals from Leonardo Ulloa, Robin van Persie and Angel Dí Maria saw the Red Devils head into the break with a 2-1 lead, before Ander Herrera extended his side’s advantage 12 minutes into the second half.
However, Nigel Pearson’s side showed incredible character to claw it back to 3-3 thanks to a David Nugent penalty and a well-taken effort from new fans’ favourite Esteban Cambiasso.
With 11 minutes to play Jamie Vardy slotted beyond David De Gea to make it 4-3 - his first of 134 Premier League goals in Foxes colours - and Ulloa added a penalty four minutes later to complete a stunning turnaround in front of the Blue Army. Despite all odds, the Foxes would preserve their top-flight status and go on to win the Premier League title in 2016.
Manchester United 1 Leicester City 1
1 May, 2016
Goal: Wes Morgan
City had pulled off the great escape to avoid relegation 12 months prior, but headed to Old Trafford knowing that a win would hand the Foxes the 2015/16 Premier League crown, despite pre-season odds of 5,000-1.
Anthony Martial hadn’t read the script when he broke the deadlock after eight minutes via Antonio Valencia’s cross, which the Frenchman met at the back post, sending a controlled, first-time finish beyond Kasper Schmeichel.
Fittingly, skipper Wes Morgan netted the visitors’ equalising goal just nine minutes later. Danny Drinkwater’s floated free-kick was powered home by the Leicester captain, who wheeled away to celebrate in front of the travelling Foxes faithful.
Although denied the three points they needed by the Red Devils, it’s a game which ended with the Theatre of Dreams rising to their feet to applaud the unlikely title contenders from Leicester.
The draw would ultimately be enough for the Foxes as second-placed Tottenham Hotspur were held 2-2 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge just over 24 hours later and the unthinkable had been achieved by Claudio Ranieri’s side.
Manchester United 1 Leicester City 2
11 May, 2021
Goals: Çağlar Söyüncü, Luke Thomas
Leicester waited 23 years for their latest Old Trafford victory, which came under the management of Brendan Rodgers as the 2020/21 season moved towards its climax.
Things got off to the perfect start when Youri Tielemans hung up a lovely cross to the back post and Academy graduate Luke Thomas volleyed an unstoppable strike into the top corner for his first league goal for the Football Club.
It was later nominated for the Premier League’s Goal of the Month award, but would not keep City ahead for long, as the Red Devils drew level not long after.
The visitors retook the lead in the second half, though. Marc Albrighton whipped in a delightful corner and there was Turkey centre-back Çağlar Söyüncü to power home a header - his first Premier League goal of the season to confirm a 20th league win of the campaign.