Set the scene for me… After an impressive run of nine straight victories in all competitions was halted by last month's draw against Liverpool, the Reds have struggled to find the same winning form of late and were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Hull City on Wednesday night. But United remain unbeaten in 14 Premier League games and will be determined to return to winning ways against an inconsistent Leicester side, who are languishing in 16th place in the table.
Any team news? Phil Jones is the only senior player unavailable for the Reds after coming off with a bruised foot in the second half against Hull. Jones said after that game that the problem was not serious but Mourinho confirmed in his pre-match press conference that his centre-back will not be ready to feature against Leicester. Meanwhile, third-choice keeper Joel Pereira has picked up an injury, so Dean Henderson has been recalled from his loan spell at Grimsby Town and is eligible for Sunday's squad, if required.
What about Leicester? The Foxes could have Islam Slimani back for the first time since the Algerian picked up a minor groin injury while away with his country in the Africa Cup of Nations. Fellow forward Leonardo Ulloa is likely to miss out on facing the Reds with a muscular problem but deadline-day signing Molla Wague could be in the squad after the defender joined from Italian club Udinese on loan for the rest of the season.
How have the Foxes been faring? Well, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Foxes have struggled to live up to the heights of last season, when they defied odds of 5000-1 to storm to a first-ever top-flight title. Claudio Ranieri’s side find themselves only two points above the relegation zone after Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at Burnley and their only win in six games during January was a 2-1 success at Everton in the FA Cup. Despite boasting a prolific strikeforce, Leicester have struggled for goals recently, netting just once in their last six league games and failing to score in any of the last four.
What about our previous meetings? After both league games finished 1-1 last season, the Reds have enjoyed better success against the East Midlands outfit this term and are looking for a hat-trick of victories after a 2-1 win in the Community Shield at Wembley last August and a thumping 4-1 success in the Premier League in September, when United were 4-0 up by half-time at Old Trafford.
We’ve been good defensively recently, haven’t we? Yes, in fact the Reds have maintained a solid defensive record throughout the season so far, conceding just 21 goals in 23 Premier League games. Indeed, only the league's top two teams – Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea – have kept more clean sheets than United’s eight and, against Leicester, Mourinho’s men are seeking a third successive shutout in all competitions for the second time already in 2017.
Any former Reds in the Leicester ranks? Yes, there are two players who could face their old club on Sunday. Right-back Danny Simpson came through the United Academy and appeared three times for the first team in between several loan spells, before joining Newcastle permanently in 2010, while midfielder Danny Drinkwater was a regular for United’s Under-18s and Reserves but didn’t make a senior appearance before leaving for Leicester in 2012. Matty James is also a United Academy product but the midfielder was loaned to Championship side Barnsley last week.
Who are our other rivals playing? The Premier League weekend will begin with a heavyweight battle between London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal as the leaders face the third-placed Gunners at Stamford Bridge, while Liverpool travel to bottom club Hull and Spurs host Middlesbrough later on Saturday. On Sunday, Manchester City will take on Swansea City at the Etihad Stadium before the Reds kick off in Leicester. Here is the full list of fixtures:
Saturday 4 February (15:00 GMT unless stated)Chelsea v Arsenal (12:30)
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Everton v Bournemouth
Hull City v Liverpool
Southampton v West Ham United
Watford v Burnley
West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City
Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough (17:30)
Sunday 5 February
Manchester City v Swansea City (13:30)
Leicester City v Manchester United (16:00)
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