MANCHESTER UNITED avoided another cup semi-final showdown with rivals City… before sidestepping the next round entirely.
The Red Devils missed out on a Wembley trip to face Southampton following a 3-1 defeat to Leicester City on Sunday.
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United were the architects of their own downfall as defensive mistakes led to goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Youri Tielemans that spelled the end for their time in the cup.
Here’s how SunSport’s Joe Brophy judged the efforts from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men…
Dean Henderson – 6
Stitched up by Fred for the Foxes’ opener but failed to put down a marker as he conceded two more times with David de Gea in the stands.
Made one important first-half save from Jamie Vardy but arguably could have done more to get a hand to Tielemans’ strike.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
Typical outing for the right-back. Generally solid in defence but largely absent in attack.
Victor Lindelof – 6
Coped well with Vardy in the first-half but the veteran striker gradually started winning the battle after the break.
Wasn’t at fault for any of the goals with defensive howlers elsewhere.
Harry Maguire – 5
Looked uncomfortable against his old side. Fred was at fault for Leicester’s first but it was his centre-back’s hospital pass that put him in trouble.
Clumsy booking and slow to react when Vardy went through after the break only for his former team-mate to drag his shot wide.
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Alex Telles – 6
Much more assured performance than the last time he deputised for Luke Shaw in the Europa League first-leg draw against AC Milan.
Perhaps the only one of the four starters that were subbed early to have a complaint.
Fred – 3
An unmitigated disaster. Conceded possession cheaply a number of times early on before he was finally punished by Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Brazilian then failed to get back and make a challenge on Youri Tielemans for Leicester’s second.
In the words of Real Madrid star Karim Benzema, United fans may feel that Fred was ‘playing against us.’
Nemanja Matic – 4
Brought in for his experience but on this evidence his powers are waning.
Anonymous in the first-half and got nowhere near Tielemans for his goal. Deservedly subbed for the energy of Scott McTominay.
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Paul Pogba – 6
Naturally looked a bit rusty as he continues to work his way back to full fitness but reminded fans of his quality with his involvement in the opener.
A lovely drop of the shoulder deceived Wesley Fofana before his cross found Greenwood, via van de Beek’s dummy.
Donny van de Beek – 6
Tidy footballer but understandable why he’s struggling to get chances in this United team.
Clever dummy for the equaliser but struggled to impose himself on the match. Naturally frustrated to be hooked early.
Mason Greenwood – 6
Ended his own recent drought in front of goal with a smart finish past Kasper Schmeichel for his first in 16 games.
Quiet in the second-half but not helped by a lack of involvement from United’s attackers that emerged from the bench.
Anthony Martial – 5
Often isolated for long periods of the first-half as the Frenchman made several diagonal runs that weren’t found by his team-mates.
Never troubled Jonny Evans or Caglar Soyuncu and was similarly ineffective out wide when Edinson Cavani took up the No9 role.
Subs
Luke Shaw (For Telles) – 6. Didn’t affect the game.
Edinson Cavani (For VDB) – 5. Built match fitness.
Bruno Fernandes (For Pogba) – 6. Took a good free-kick.
Scott McTominay (For Matic) – 4. Switched off for Leicester’s third.
Amad Diallo (For Fred) – N/A
