Harry Maguire scored a 94th-minute equaliser to snatch 10-man Leicester City a 2-2 draw with Manchester United at the King Power Stadium this evening.
The Foxes took the lead through Jamie Vardy on 27 minutes when Riyad Mahrez set up the striker for his 50th Premier League goal on the counter-attack.
Juan Mata equalised for United with only his second goal of the season on 40 minutes, and then got another on the hour mark from an inch-perfect free kick.
Substitute Daniel Amartey was sent off for Leicester for two yellow cards within 17 minutes of his introduction, but the hosts kept going and salvaged a point when Maguire side-footed home from Marc Albrighton's cross.
Relive how the action unfolded in the final Premier League match before Christmas, with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Happy holidays everybody, and welcome to the final Premier League fixture before Christmas as Manchester United travel to Leicester City looking to make second place their own as leaders Manchester City continue to set a relentless pace. Let's get to the team news from the King Power...
LEICESTER: Schmeichel; Simpson, Maguire, Morgan, Fuchs; Iborra, Ndidi; Mahrez, Albrighton, Gray; Vardy
Subs: Hamer, Chilwell, Amartey, Dragovic, King, Slimani, Okazaki
Subs: Hamer, Chilwell, Amartey, Dragovic, King, Slimani, Okazaki
MAN UNITED: De Gea; Lindelof, Jones, Smalling, Young; Matic, Pogba; Mata, Lingard, Martial; Lukaku
Subs: Romero, Shaw, Rojo, Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Ibrahimovic
Subs: Romero, Shaw, Rojo, Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Ibrahimovic
After ringing the changes for Wednesday's EFL Cup quarter-final, and regretting it after losing in the last minute to Bristol City, Jose Mourinho makes eight changes with only Victor Lindelof, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial retaining their places from the giant-killing at Ashton Gate.
It is a different role tonight for Lindelof, though, who fills in for the injured Antonio Valencia at right-back, in one of three alterations from United's last Premier League outing at West Bromwich Albion. Paul Pogba is in for Ander Herrera after his ban and Anthony Martial preferred to Marcus Rashford.
Jesse Lingard, enjoying his most productive run in the Red Devils side to date, maintains his place in the No.10 role behind Romelu Lukaku - the two goalscorers in United's 2-1 win at The Hawthorns.
After starting against Bristol City, Scott McTominay, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian are dumped from the squad completely. McTominay is just a kid but you have to fear for the other two with the January transfer window approaching and two makeshift full-backs starting for United tonight.
Despite scoring his first goal since returning from a potential career-ending injury, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back on the United bench. He may not be ready for the intensity of a league start, and even a self-appointed Lion cannot handle two games in a week so soon after eight months out.
Claude Puel also made changes for the EFL Cup in midweek - a decision that was criticised due to Leicester's more than comfortable position in the Premier League table - but has restored his big guns this evening as Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and the in-form Demarai Gray all return.
Even with their much-changed lineup, the Foxes took the untouchable Manchester City all the way to penalties on Wednesday. There are three starters for Leicester today who played all 120 minutes - Harry Maguire, Christian Fuchs and Vicente Iborra - and will be carrying extra weight on their legs.
Wilfred Ndidi is back in the Leicester midfield after serving his suspension in midweek, with the long-serving title winner Andy King dropping out. The young Frenchman makes more tackles per game than any other player in the Premier League with an average of 4.2 this season.
This Foxes lineup actually only shows one change to the one which crumbled to a 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace last time out, with Fuchs replacing Ben Chilwell at left-back. Shinji Okazaki has to make do with a place on the bench as Puel wisely opts for an extra body in midfield.
There were calls for Aleksandar Dragovic to be handed his Premier League debut tonight after an impressive display against Man City, but Puel has stuck with captain Wes Morgan for now. The Austrian will surely be given another opportunity to stake his claim over this busy festive period.
Kelechi Iheanacho, who once scored for Man City against United, is not even on the Leicester bench today - a mark of how poorly his Foxes career has started after his £25m summer arrival. Islam Slimani, who has been widely tipped to leave in January, is on the home bench, though.
A key battle this evening will be Jamie Vardy versus Chris Smalling. The Leicester striker described his England colleague as his toughest ever opponent in his 2016 autobiography and has only scored once in the five matches that he has played against the strong defender.
The 30-year-old has scored three times against United in total, but two of them were when Smalling was not in the lineup - in last season's Community Shield and Leicester's 5-3 home win in September 2014.
That goal in 2014 was Vardy's first in the Premier League, and the forward needs just one more to become the first Leicester player to reach the milestone of 50. One goal in his last eight games suggests that the Foxes man is not in top form, but he will never stop trying and can strike at any time.
The World Cup hopeful may fancy it tonight, because he has an outstanding record against the big boys. Since the beginning of the 2014-15 season, Vardy has scored a staggering 43% of his league goals against the top six - 20 in 39 games - compared to 18% for Harry Kane and 8% for Romelu Lukaku.
Leicester as a team don't have as impressive a record against the Premier League's elite this season. The Foxes have lost all five league fixtures this season against the teams that began this round of matches in the top five of the table, including a 2-0 defeat to United at Old Trafford in August.
The East Midlands outfit are a much improved side from the days of Craig Shakespeare though. Their tally of 20 points in 10 matches since his sacking is the best record outside of the current top four.
Last weekend's defeat to Crystal Palace ended Leicester's four-match winning streak, and was their fourth defeat of the season at the King Power Stadium. That is already as many home defeats as they suffered throughout the entirety of the 2016-17 campaign.
Onto Manchester United, whose current run of three successive Premier League away wins is one more than they had managed in their previous 10 attempts. The last time they managed four on the bounce, between February and April, began with a 3-0 triumph at Leicester.
Jose Mourinho has an excellent record against Leicester, but they have also inflicted some pain on him in the past. The Special One owns five wins over the Foxes from six games - the exception being a 2-1 defeat which was his last match in charge of his second spell at Chelsea.
However, the Portuguese is taking nothing for granted this evening and rates Puel's side highly enough to believe that they can challenge for a Europa League spot this campaign.
BBC Sport quotes him as saying: "They are doing well, in a comfortable position, no dramas, no fears. Can they fight to reach a Europa League spot? Yes they can, they are the same good team they were [when they won the title in 2015-16]."
How nice of Mourinho to be complimentary of an opponent for a change? The Red Devils boss was very ungracious in the aftermath of their defeat to Bristol City, but I suppose that commitment to winning is what makes him so successful. Less then 15 minutes until kickoff here now...
RESULT: It is full time at Turf Moor, where Harry Kane's hat-trick has dispatched Burnley and inspired Tottenham to a 3-0 victory which lifts them to fifth in the Premier League. Burnley drop to seventh, but it will still be a very Merry Christmas for Sean Dyche and his players.
United still have a seven-point cushion on Spurs so have little need to look over their shoulder. Looking above won't bring them much joy though, with rivals City 14 clear after beating Bournemouth 4-0 this afternoon.
The only statistic that the Red Devils can match City in is goals conceded, as they hold the joint-best defensive record in the division. They have kept clean sheets in 10 of their 18 league games.
HEAD TO HEAD: Leicester's only victory over United in the last 17 Premier League meetings was in that famous eight-goal thriller at home in September 2014. They have drawn three and lost 13 of the rest.
Claude Puel is winless in all five matches as a manager against Jose Mourinho in all competitions. The Frenchman is setting firsts this season though - reeling off four successive wins for the first time in a top flight.
PREDICTION: Leicester are set up to counter-attack and will pose a threat to United, but having Pogba back is a massive boost to United. I sense there will be goals and will go for an entertaining 2-2 draw.
KICKOFF: United get the action underway, and referee Jon Moss waves away Leicester appeals for an early free kick on the edge of the box after Lindelof tripped Albrighton. A fast start from both sides.
United have four bodies in the box in the aftermath of a corner, and one of them is Smalling who rises highest to meet a cross from Mata only to head several yards over the crossbar.
Interestingly tonight in the absence of Valencia and Michael Carrick, the captain's armband is on Pogba. That goes to show the influence that Mourinho feels the Frenchman can have on the team.
SHOT! Lingard and Lukaku play a nice one-two and the former, who has seven goals in his last 10 starts, pulls the trigger from 25 yards with Kasper Schmeichel forced to tip over his crossbar after the shot takes a nick off Fuchs.
This game already has a really nice tempo about it. United look dangerous when they spring on the Leicester defence and are getting five or six players forward with every attack.
SAVE! Great skill from Pogba, who feigns a shot with his left foot before eventually hitting it sweetly on the half-volley. Schmeichel does well to hold the powerful effort as Lukaku prepared to bounce.
Martial beats a couple of defenders on the left edge of the box and cuts the ball back for Mata, who cannot quite sort his feet out quickly enough and the first-time shot is high.
Lukaku's touch lets him down after Lingard had picked him out with a superb through-pass. Fuchs had played the Belgian onside and a better touch would have set up a one-on-one opportunity.
United have had two early sighters, but no chances yet for Leicester. They have had a couple of decent openings on the break but neither Vardy nor Gray have made the most of them.
The Red Devils are enjoying a good spell of pressure, pinning Leicester back, although that can be when the Foxes are at their most dangerous. Martial looks lively and Mahrez is having to stay disciplined to ensure Danny Simpson is not isolated against the silky Frenchman.
Gray collects the ball from a United corner and surges down the left. Phil Jones does well to keep up with the speedy winger but Leicester do earn a corner of their own, which Pogba heads away.
Martial shows his lightening pace to chase down a ball over the top from Young. He squares up Simpson and stands a deep cross up to Lukaku, who slices an ambitious overhead wide.
Leicester's front four are very fluid under Puel. Gray has spent most of his time on the left having a go at Lindelof, but has now come over to the right to play closer to Mahrez.
Simpson is having a tough time up against Martial, and the Leicester defender is helpess to prevent the youngster skipping into the box. Morgan is on hand to bail out his teammate with a crucial block.
SHOT! Leicester work De Gea for the first time as Mahrez creates space for a shot with his left foot which the best goalkeeper in the world holds comfortably at his near post.
GOAL! LEICESTER 1-0 MAN UNITED (JAMIE VARDY)
There is nothing that De Gea can do about that though, as United get suckerpunched by a classic Leicester counter. A punt forward leaves Mahrez one-on-one with Smalling, and the Algerian holds the ball before teeing up Vardy, who finishes confidently into the bottom corner for his 50th Prem goal!
That is a throwback goal to Leicester's title triumph, but Mourinho will be furious that his side were caught out so easily. They left themselves vulnerable to it, and Lindelof and Jones were very half-hearted in their attempts to keep up with Vardy as he left them in his wake.
The King Power is rocking now and meets a wayward Pogba shot with sarcastic jeers. United had worked the ball nicely around the edge of the box, but the 25-yard hit was way off target.
STAT: Leicester have not lost in the last 29 league games in which they have taken the lead, winning 25 of those. That is a run which dates back over two years.
BOOKING: First yellow card of the game goes to Lindelof, who caught Iborra on the shin going for a 50-50 on the edge of the Leicester box. In fairness to the Swede, he pulled out of the challenge to prevent it from being more dangerous.
Pogba spots Schmeichel off his line and tries to lob him from the United half. The Dane is briefly panicked but watches the ball float safely wide of his goal in the end as Pogba smiles wryly.
Harry Maguire has been a fine signing for Leicester, bringing some class and composure to the defence. The centre-back just chest controlled a 60-yard clearance from Pogba and then won a free kick with some quick feet. Chris Smalling better be watching if he wants back in the England squad.
GOAL! LEICESTER 1-1 MAN UNITED (JUAN MATA)
United level through a really clever finish from Mata, who rolls the ball right into the bottom corner from 12 yards after a perfect layoff from Lingard. Puel won't be happy with Mahrez, who was bustled off the ball in his own half and then failed to get back, leaving his defence outnumbered.
Gray collects a good pass inside from Fuchs but Pogba's long strides help him keep up with the speedy winger, and the United midfielder slides in to block a cross behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Great chance for Maguire as he beats the offside trap from Albrighton's free kick. The defender tries to take a touch when he may have been better off hitting it first time, and De Gea pounces.
Leicester need to get to half time here because they have nearly been caught out twice by United breaks since conceding the equaliser. Puel would be annoyed to concede a goal in such a manner but United are very capable of giving Leicester a taste of their own medicine.
HALF TIME: LEICESTER 1-1 MAN UNITED
Really good first half at the King Power, with Leicester taking the lead with a classic Mahrez-Vardy one-two and United levelling through Mata five minutes before the break. Brilliantly poised for the second half.
That goal from Mata was only his second of the season and his first in 11 games. It was a really cute finish from the Spaniard, a great way for him to mark his 300th appearance in English football.
One area United will be looking to target Leicester in the second half is down their left flank. Martial has seen a lot of the ball in that first half - only Matic and Mata had more touches - and has the beating of Simpson, who isn't getting much support from Mahrez.
STATS: United have only just edged possession with 52% - you may have expected them to have more than that against a side set up to counter. They have had twice as many corners as the Foxes with six, but only one more shot on target with four. It has been fairly even, and the stats tell that story.
Can Lukaku muster a response for United in the second half?
😳 Premier League goals in 41 games against the Top 6...
- Vardy: 22
- Lukaku: 5
One player came from non-league football and the other cost £75m!#LEIMUN pic.twitter.com/usLPKElyW2 — The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) December 23, 2017
BENCH WATCH: Will the Lion tame the Foxes in the second half? Ibrahimovic will come on if things stay like this for much longer, while Mourinho also has Rashford and Mkhitaryan to call upon.
KICKOFF: Jon Moss blows the whistle to start the second half with both sides unchanged...
BOOKING: De Gea's poor clearance plays his side into trouble and Matic is forced to take a yellow card for the team after being nutmegged by Fuchs. The free-kick comes to nothing.
Leicester have started the second half on the front foot, but the action hasn't reached the tempo that the first half did as yet. United are sitting off slightly and inviting the hosts onto them.
Pogba nearly picks out the run of Lukaku with a great spot from deep, but the Belgian was offside and could not bring the ball under anyway. Lukaku has been quiet since the first 15 minutes.
Easy for Schmeichel as Pogba shoots softly from range down the centre of the goal.
BLOCK! Superb play from Mahrez who dribbles past Young and fizzes a cross which lands at the feet of Fuchs at the back post. The Austrian has time to line up his shot but Lindelof blocks brilliantly in front of De Gea.
CHANCE! At the other end, Martial misses a golden opportunity for United. Lukaku picks him out with a lovely pass and the first touch is good too, but the forward gets under his shot and sends it over the crossbar.
Simpson is off the pitch after receiving treatment on what appears to be a hamstring injury. He is going to try to run it off, but will need to be at full throttle to keep up with Martial on his form tonight.
SUBSTITUTION: No luck for Simpson as he is replaced by Daniel Amartey, who is appearing in his first Premier League game since the opening weekend of the season. United now have even more reason to keep feeding Martial down their left.
United have a free kick in a great position on the edge of the box after Maguire bundles over Martial. Mata seems to be lining it up ahead of Ashley Young, as it is suited to the left footer.
GOAL! LEICESTER 1-2 MAN UNITED (JUAN MATA)
Vardy may have been having a party earlier, but Mata has well and truly gatecrashed it. The Spaniard has turned things around with his second of the game, a superb free kick which he managed to get over the wall and dip under the crossbar from only 20 yards out. It isn't right in the corner, but it is just underneath the crossbar so Schmeichel could not do much about it.
Mourinho fails to muster a smile on the United bench but he must be thrilled with the impact that Mata has had tonight. He hasn't had his best season, but he remains a class act - on and off the pitch.
How do Leicester respond now? Okazaki looks as though he is getting stripped and ready...
N'didi dribbles into the box from the right wing but Martial stays with him all the way and eventually wins the ball off the midfielder, and a free kick for his hard work. Great covering defending from the forward.
SUBSTITUTION: Leicester have now made that substitution, and it is an attacking one with Iborra coming off and Okazaki coming on. Puel signals for Albrighton to move inside to central midfield. Iborra may have been tiring a little having played 120 minutes in midweek.
Schmeichel scuffs a clearance against Lukaku, but it does not bounce kindly for the United forward and Leicester eventually get the bodies back to thwart the danger. Nervy moments for the Dane, whose dad must have split allegiances this evening!
BOOKING: Amartey has entered the book for a clumsy trip on Young on the halfway line.
SUBSTITUTION: Mourinho turns to his bench for the first time as Rashford replaces Martial. The Frenchman had plenty of the ball tonight but did not do as much with it as he should have done. Rashford, meanwhile, scored in the reverse fixture in August.
MISS! Jesse Lingard will have enjoyed the last few weeks, but his purple patch may be over with this horrendous miss. Lukaku hasn't had a great chance himself tonight, but he has created great chances for his colleagues and here times his pass perfectly to pick out the run of Lingard, who rounds Schmeichel but then rolls the ball against the post from 12 yards.
RED CARD! Hammer blow for Leicester as substitute Amartey is sent off for a second yellow card. There can be no complaints, with the right-back cynically blocking Rashford down the left wing. Madness from the Ghanaian, who had only been on the pitch for 17 minutes.
SUBSTITUTION: Ander Herrera is on for his 100th Premier League appearance as Lingard comes off. That may be a signal that Mourinho wants to gain full control of the game against 10 men.
Leicester remain a goalscoring threat and Mahrez is the man that is most likely to make something happen. I wonder if Herrera has been brought on to do a man-to-man marking job on the Algerian.
CHANCE! Great opportunity for Rashford to wrap things up for United as he tries to round Schmeichel, but the Dane sticks out a hand to knock the ball against the forward and out for a goal kick.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Final change for either side, with Chilwell coming on for Gray as Leicester switch to a back three. Mkhitaryan is on for Mata, the potential match-winner who leaves to a warm ovation.
BOOKING: Mahrez is booked for diving after trying to buy a free kick on the edge of the box, under the challenge of Herrera.
Lukaku's overall play deserves a goal today, but Mkhitaryan can't find him from a great position - unmarked inside the box with three United players to his left. That should have sealed it again for the visitors.
Smalling appears to have picked up an injury but he must soldier on for the final few minutes as Mourinho has already made three substitutions. Leicester haven't given up this chase and now have a weak link to target.
The ball breaks to Albrighton on the edge of the box but he drags his left-footed shot wide.
There are FOUR minutes of added time to be played and Smalling is still playing at centre-back. Surely somebody should be covering for him? The defender is a limping liability as it stands!
GOAL! LEICESTER 2-2 MAN UNITED (HARRY MAGUIRE)
Late drama at the King Power as Maguire equalises with vritually the last kick of the game! Albrighton's delivery from the left is outstanding, and the Leicester defender gets the run on the injured Smalling at the back post to meet the cross with a calm side-footed finish across De Gea.
FULL TIME: LEICESTER 2-2 MAN UNITED
What a finish to this game! The Smalling injury created a weak link in that United back line and Leicester capitalised on. Mourinho will be furious that his team could not kill off the 10-man hosts, but Leicester never gave in and will enjoy Christmas Day after the stoppage-time heroics from Maguire!
That is it from the King Power Stadium, from where the Leicester fans are pouring out in full voice. You can read our match report on the dramatic action here, and please rejoin us for more Premier League coverage on Boxing Day. Until then, have a wonderful Christmas. Leicester certainly will!
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
