Manchester United’s hopes of an English Premier League (EPL) top four finishing were further dented after being held 1-1 by Leicester City, who were denied a winner by video review (VAR).
Manchester United were without Cristiano Ronaldo due to illness and Ralf Rangnick’s decision to go without a recognised striker seemed awkward.
The move did not pay off for large parts of Saturday’s contest at Old Trafford.
The hosts found themselves behind when former Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho headed in from a James Maddison cross.
But Fred levelled just three minutes later.
Maddison thought he had struck a winner 10 minutes from time, though it was ruled out for an Iheanacho foul on Raphael Varane in the build-up, following the intervention of VAR.
Harvey Barnes was wayward on a few occasions in an underwhelming first half that saw Manchester United go closest to scoring.
That was when Kasper Schmeichel stretched out a leg to deny Bruno Fernandes.
Rangnick held off from changing things too drastically until introducing Marcus Rashford for Scott McTominay with 55 minutes played, coinciding with the game sparking into life.
Leicester City opened the scoring when Iheanacho got in front of substitute Alex Telles and guided in Maddison’s delivery.
Manchester United’s response was a quick one, with Fred lashing into the roof of the net after Schmeichel helped Fernandes’ powerful drive into the midfielder’s path.
Leicester City thought they had won it when Maddison beat David de Gea at his front post, only for VAR to adjudge Iheanacho had kicked Varane’s leg from under him.
Manchester United came close to making their good fortune count, but Jadon Sancho snatched at a chance before James Justin denied Rashford a stoppage-time tap-in.(DPA)
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