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Leicester can land the title tonight if they score first

One more win. That’s all former 5000-1 rank outsiders Leicester City need to be crowned champions of England - completing the fairytale everyone except Claudio Ranieri’s men thought was too romantic to come true. Fittingly, they can even claim the crown tonight (Singtel Ch102 and StarHub Ch227; 9.05pm) at the Theatre of Dreams. Our EPL expert Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) gives his take on what do the Foxes need to do to beat Manchester United, and make history…

Riyad Mahrez celebrating with his team mates after scoring the first goal for Leicester against Swansea last week. Photo: Reuters

Riyad Mahrez celebrating with his team mates after scoring the first goal for Leicester against Swansea last week. Photo: Reuters

One more win. That’s all former 5000-1 rank outsiders Leicester City need to be crowned champions of England - completing the fairytale everyone except Claudio Ranieri’s men thought was too romantic to come true. Fittingly, they can even claim the crown tonight (Singtel Ch102 and StarHub Ch227; 9.05pm) at the Theatre of Dreams. Our EPL expert Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) gives his take on what do the Foxes need to do to beat Manchester United, and make history…

Score first

It sounds obvious, and too simplistic to be called a plan, but snaring the opening goal in this match could be pivotal.

Louis van Gaal’s side have only conceded first at Old Trafford twice in the Premier League this season, and guess what, they were beaten both times.

Norwich City and Southampton both stayed nice and solid to keep United at bay early on, before swooping for the kill – and on neither occasion did the Red Devils come up with an adequate answer.

The FA Cup finalists are in pretty confident form, but to keep the pressure on Arsenal and Manchester City for a top-four spot, only a win will do. Going behind could easily be the onset of a panicky response.

Just as Leicester did across the city at the Etihad Stadium, I suspect they’ll chase an early strike.

If Ranieri has done his homework, he’ll know that United have only been behind at home for just 55 minutes all season. Chasing the game in front of their own fans is something they have had to do just 3.2 percent of the time – which means they’re highly unaccustomed to the challenge.

Van Gaal’s team like having their noses in front. Remarkably, Swansea are the only opponents to have equalised at Old Trafford in the league this term.

Score first and United will be dragged where they don’t want to be, and that’s outside their comfort zone.

Suffocate the service

If Leicester let Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial run riot, they may as well not bother getting the champagne out of the fridge.

While getting tight to each is a good idea (letting them turn and run at you isn’t wise), the key to keeping the youngsters quiet is to stifle the service into them at source. That means suffocating time on the ball for United’s best passers - Daley Blind, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney.

These three playmakers are capable of opening up any defence with a single pass, and if that’s not possible, they will feed the in-form trio as much as they possibly can.

Leandro Ulloa must pressure Blind when he looks up to hit a pass, the ebullient Shinji Okazaki has a vital hassling job to do on Carrick, and the magnificent Danny Drinkwater-N’Golo Kante combination will focus on throwing a blanket over Rooney’s influence, smothering him with tackles and interceptions.

Torture United’s left

He’s played in a World Cup Final and represented Argentina 37 times, but for me, Marcos Rojo is a liability in the Premier League. I just don’t rate his defensive acumen, especially at left-back, and that makes him the most obvious target for the Foxes.

If Van Gaal selects him, instead of switching Timothy Fosu-Mensah or Matteo Darmian to the left, the South American will be asked to nullify PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez. On the back of Mahrez’s wonder show last time out, that’s wonderful news for the champions elect.

With no Jamie Vardy to aim for, I suggest Leicester look right as their first port of call even more often than usual, for Mahrez versus Rojo is a duel that should weigh heavily in their favour – especially with striker Martial less inclined to drop back down that flank.

When play is building down the other wing, the leaders should think about ensuring both Rojo, and the man inside him, Blind, are occupied with runners.

Rojo’s dodgy, and although he’s capable of producing majestic displays for United, Blind isn’t the best at tracking bursts into area either. Twice against Spurs, he switched off, and was also culpable for Jose Salomon Rondon’s winner for West Brom.

If Blind fails to concentrate for 90 minutes, I’d hazard a guess Ulloa or Okazaki will prosper.

Set-piece precision

United have plenty of tall players but they are not a team that defend corners and free kicks with any authority. This is one area Leicester can definitely target with confidence.

Four of the last eight league goals the Red Devils have conceded have stemmed from set pieces, and they shipped another against West Ham in the FA Cup. Chris Smalling (twice), Marcos Rojo, and Morgan Schneiderlin all made errors with their marking in those contests, while David de Gea didn’t cover himself in glory when allowing a wide freekick to curl straight in at Sunderland.

In their two most important wins of the campaign - away at Tottenham and Manchester City - Robert Huth scored with headers from set-pieces. With partner Wes Morgan a major aerial threat too, the visitors will fancy their chances from corners and freekicks.

Schmeichel in a starring role

It’s written in the stars isn’t it? How fitting it would be for Kasper Schmeichel to land his first Premier League title at the ground where he grew up watching his father Peter inspire Manchester United to five league crowns.

Football doesn’t work like that sadly, so the young Dane will need to earn his spoils the hard way, and I believe he’s ready to accept the challenge, He’s been terrific all season, and I expect him to be a busy man tomorrow evening.

To become champions at Old Trafford, Leicester will need an outstanding display from their impressive 29-year-old stopper.

Schmeichel was magnificent at White Hart Lane and the Emirates, and even better at home to Manchester City, so I sense he’s a man for the big occasion.

Prediction:

Call me soppy, but I believe Leicester City can hold their nerve and win the Premier League this weekend.

Tactically they have the game to restrict Manchester United’s quality, and should they get their noses in front, there is no one calmer or more savvy than they are at protecting the advantage. One-nil wins have been a feature of their run-in, and as long as they don’t change their style, they can do it again.

Manchester United 0 Leicester City 1

Big Match Predictions

Swansea City v Liverpool (tonight, Ch102 and Ch227; 7pm)

Trounced in their last two away games, the Swans will be glad to make their Liberty Stadium return against a Liverpool side that’s bound to feature multiple changes. Jurgen Klopp is putting all his eggs in the Europa League basket, and will give his fringe players another chance to impress. If Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jefferson Montero are in the mood, I think the home team will nick it.

Prediction: 2-1

Southampton v Manchester City (tonight, Ch102 and Ch227; 11.30pm)

With a spot in their first ever Champions League Final just 90 minutes away next Wednesday, I’m not convinced Manuel Pellegrini’s players will have their usual focus on. No one will want to get injured, and in-form Southampton possess the talent to punish any lack of focus. It’s a chance for Sadio Mane, Shane Long, Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic to shine against one of the big guns, and I expect them to.

Prediction: 2-1

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (Tuesday, Ch102 and Ch227; 3am)

Chelsea fans hate Tottenham. Tottenham fans hate Chelsea. So no matter what happens with the Leicester result, this bitterly contested derby will mean an awful lot to everybody involved at Stamford Bridge. Spurs will miss the influence of suspended Dele Alli, and that could be their undoing against a Blues side that’s playing with energy and freedom.

Prediction: 1-0

About the author:

TODAY’s EPL analyst Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of the English game. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for many major football websites, and international publications. Follow him @adrianjclarke

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