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Luke Shaw scores first career goal as Man Utd make winning start against Leicester

Luke Shaw scores in the second half to secure victory for Manchester United - Action Images via Reuters
Luke Shaw scores in the second half to secure victory for Manchester United - Action Images via Reuters

Storm clouds remain heavy over Manchester United with even this vital opening Premier League victory against Leicester City failing to lift the dark mood of Jose Mourinho.

Goals from Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw – which felt strangely appropriate given the uncertainty over their futures under Mourinho – were not enough for the manager to move on from his burning sense that he has been badly let down this summer by the club’s hierarchy.

Post-match and Mourinho was talking failed transfer targets and tricky pre-seasons – again – and he made a barbed comment about how managers nowadays should all be re-defined as head coaches such is the power they have had to cede to their clubs. A bit like the fable of the scorpion and the fox he just cannot help himself.

Goodness knows what Mourinho’s reaction would have been had United lost to a reshaped Leicester who preyed on that uncertainty and pushed and pushed before scoring in injury-time through substitute Jamie Vardy. The final play of the match was United watching nervously as a header from a Leicester corner, and with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in the home penalty area, drifted wide.

The match itself was a microcosm of how Mourinho is perceived. It was either an important, encouraging win earned through managing the depleted resources available to him – for example using 22-year-old attacking midfielder such as Andreas Pereira in a deeper role – or another example that they are a maddeningly constrained curiosity given the vast resources available to them. They won; but they did not win convincingly. 

Paul Pogba  - Credit: AP
Paul Pogba was outstanding for Manchester United Credit: AP

They lack the fluency of other sides, they lack that constant attacking flair, but they finished above them all bar Manchester City last season.

Mourinho praised both Shaw and Pogba but that comes with context. Shaw has been vilified in the past for his fitness, his attitude, even apparently his weight but the left-back struck late on and it proved so vital. 

Mourinho may have allowed himself a wry smile as the goal followed a poor first touch but Shaw finished well enough given it was the first time the 23-year-old had found the net in 134 appearances – 67 each for Southampton and United.

It had seemed until then Pogba would be the story after he had scored the early penalty – awarded on just 77 seconds - that had nevertheless appeared set to settle this encounter.

Pogba had been handed the captain’s armband and that felt symbolic and maybe it was an olive branch from Mourinho who later called him a “monster” with the impressive power of his performance after just a few days of training. But the midfielder’s celebrations at scoring – having pulled rank on Alexis Sanchez – then appeared muted and a million reasons will be read into that.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Leicester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 10, 2018 Manchester United's Paul Pogba with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho after being substituted Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers - Credit: Action Images 
Jose Mourinho (L) will be relieved with the win Credit: Action Images

Maybe the World Cup winner was just being cool but there is that huge backdrop of Barcelona’s interest, Mourinho’s unhappiness with Pogba last season and despite United’s insistence that he will not be sold a feeling that the manager may not entirely share that sentiment. And so it goes on.

Even the United coach turned up late. It made it to the stadium just an hour before kick-off – leading to jokes about how Mourinho failed to park the bus – which will not have helped his sense that things are just conspiring against him. That should have been quickly dispelled by events on the pitch as referee Andre Marriner rightly awarded the penalty which came as Daniel Amartey inexplicably stuck out an arm to try and control the ball after Wes Morgan had blocked Sanchez’s shot. Amartey claimed it was his chest but, crazily, he had handled. Almost as bizarre was Pogba’s technique with a run-up that was more a slow tip-toe before side-footing the ball high into the corner of the net above Schmeichel’s dive. 

It was the third successive season that Leicester had conceded the first Premier League goal; having also opened the last campaign on a Friday evening, away to Arsenal, but they began to dominate with debutant James Maddison, clever and creative, Demarai Gray and Ben Chilwell – three young English players in front of England manager Gareth Southgate – prominent.

Manchester United's Luke Shaw is mobbed by teammates after scoring his sides second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford, in Manchester, England, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018 - Credit: AP
Luke Shaw is mobbed after scoring his first ever career goal Credit: AP

Maddison would have scored but for the excellence of David De Gea who, one-handed, palmed away his fierce shot with Leicester also targeting United right-back Matteo Darmian while Fred, on his debut, worked hard to plug the gaps and Eric Bailly did well in defence.

After the break United were much improved although it was Leicester who went close, and were again denied by De Gea, after Gray met Vardy’s cross when the striker had caught out a dawdling Shaw. Thankfully that would not be Shaw’s only significant involvement.

Schmeichel brilliantly thwarted United substitute Romelu Lukaku, turning over his low shot with an outstretched leg, before Shaw took possession out on the left. His touch was heavy but he reacted quickly to collect it ahead of Ricardo Pereira and volleyed low back across goal to beat Schmeichel.

Just as it felt that would be it and that, despite Mourinho’s demands for a central defender – and with one of those targets, Harry Maguire, playing for Leicester – a clean sheet would be collected by United, Leicester hit back. Vardy had already wastefully hooked a volley over before his presence confused De Gea and Bailly who allowed a Pereira cross to rebound back off the far post for the England striker to head home. Would United throw it away? No, they held on – but Mourinho has not let go of that sense of grievance. Not yet, anyway.

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9:56PM

Sweet relief

That really wasn't great from United, but with so many injuries and fitness concerns, Mourinho will be absolutely delighted* to get three points. 

*Obviously he won't actually be delighted. 

9:52PM

Full-time! Man Utd 2 Leicester 1

Schmeichel wins the header...but the ball trickles wide! The final whistle follows and it finishes Man Utd 2 Leicester 1

A decent game with a brilliant finale goes United's way. 

9:51PM

90+5 min Man Utd 2 Leicester 1 

Gray twists and turns and fires in a cross that Bailly blocks for a corner. Schmeichel has sprinted forward for it...

9:49PM

GOAL! Man Utd 2 Leicester 1 (Vardy 90+2 min)

Pereira's left-footed cross from the right evades everyone, bounces off the post and Vardy bundles home from about a yard out. Will Leicester have enough time to create another chance?

9:48PM

90+1 min Man Utd 2 Leicester 0

It really should be 2-1 but Vardy hooks a volley from about eight yards well over the bar. Huge sigh of relief at Old Trafford followed by a rousing "wahey!". 

9:47PM

90 min - Man Utd 2 Leicester 0

There'll be four minutes of time added on. 

Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 10, 2018. Manchester United's Luke Shaw celebrates scoring their second goal - Credit:  Action Images
Credit: Action Images

9:45PM

88 min - Man Utd 2 Leicester 0

A beautiful cross-field pass from Sanchez picks out Mata, but the Spaniard's cross evades the waiting Lukaku. 

9:41PM

85 min - Man Utd 2 Leicester 0

An exhausted Pogba gets a well-deserved reception as he's replaced by Fellaini. 

9:40PM

GOAL! Man Utd 2 Leicester 0 (Shaw 83')

Well that is that, United have surely won this now - and it's a first ever career goal for Luke Shaw! Mata clips a ball over the top that Shaw slightly fortuitously dinks over Pereira, before hooking an excellent volley beyond Schmeichel. Great finish. 

Man Utd 2 - 0 Leicester (Luke Shaw, 83 min)

9:36PM

80 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Leicester make their final change - Iborra on for Silva. 

Adrien Silva of Leicester City in action with Juan Mata of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on August 10, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom - Credit: Getty Images
Credit: Getty Images

9:35PM

78 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

How have United not scored there?! Sanchez threads a pass through to Lukaku, who has time to set himself and get a shot away from about six yards that Schmeichel does brilliantly to divert over the bar. That would have been game, set and match for United. 

9:34PM

78 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Gray, who scored a peach at Old Trafford from a similar distance two years ago, gets a 30-yarder all wrong and his shot flies high and wide. 

9:33PM

76 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Very nearly the equaliser for Leicester but De Gea does brilliantly to smother Gray's close-range volley. Vardy made the chance by haring after Shaw and winning the ball before delivering an excellent cross. 

United then replace Fred with McTominay. Solid debut for the Fredster. 

9:30PM

74 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Pogba continues a masterful performance by picking the ball up deep and driving forward towards half-way to take the pressure off his defenders. Superb. 

9:29PM

72 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Sanchez has been poor tonight and he fails to find Lukaku as United look to break. 

9:26PM

70 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Pereira is booked for United after flying in to a tackle on Silva. 

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Leicester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 10, 2018 Manchester United's Andreas Pereira in action with Leicester City's Demarai Gray - Credit: Action Images
Credit: Action Images

9:23PM

67 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

United respond to that Leicester double switch with a change of their own - Rashford, who's worked hard to little avail, replaced by Lukaku. 

9:21PM

65 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

A wondrous pass from Pogba completely splits the Leicester defence and sends Sanchez scampering away. Sanchez checks inside and feeds Mata, whose shot with the inside of his left foot is deflected wide. Lovely move. 

Meanwhile replays suggest Bailly may have fouled Iheanacho in that incident a couple of posts ago. 

9:20PM

63 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

At last Leicester make that double change. 

The debutant Ghezzal on for Amartey. 

Vardy on for the impressive Maddison. 

9:18PM

62 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

As ever when a team is preparing a sub, the ball stays in play for an absolute age. Iheanacho then almost gets away again, but Bailly comes across to deny him once more. 

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City in action with Victor Lindelof of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on August 10, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. - Credit: Getty Images
Credit: Getty Images

9:15PM

59 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Good interplay from United almost carves Leicester open, but Sanchez's pass for Mata is just over-hit. Leicester are preparing a double change...

9:12PM

57 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Darmian has a decent effort for United from the edge of the box, which Schmeichel gets down well to save.  

9:11PM

55 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Great feet from Pogba allows him to evade two challenges and glide up the pitch to send Sanchez away. Sanchez's cross through is too strong and Schmeichel claims. Fred, who's put in a few meaty challenges, then gets booked for a late tackle on Maddison.  

9:09PM

53 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Rashford is sent scampering through on goal but he delays too long, and eventually the flag goes up anyway. It's not been Rashford's night thus far. 

Leicester City's Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi (L) vies with Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on August 10, 2018 - Credit: AFP
Credit: AFP

9:08PM

51 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Leicester get to the edge of the United box but Maddison and Iheanacho can't quite produce a telling pass. Amartey then picks up a booking for cynically bringing down Sanchez. 

How long until Puel sends Vardy on? 

9:06PM

50 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Great foot race down the United right as Rashford takes on and beats the whippet-like Gray. Schmeichel comes out to claim the resulting corner. 

9:04PM

48 min -  Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Last season United won every game where they scored first. Leicester looked like they could end that sequence in the first 45 minutes, but United will surely be better this half. 

9:01PM

Kick-off - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

We're back under way at Old Trafford. No changes for either side at half-time. 

 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho - Credit: Action Images
Credit: Action Images

8:51PM

Man Utd 1 Leicester 0: First-half summary

United flew out of the blocks and took a third-minute lead through their skipper for the night Paul Pogba. Leicester looked rattled for a few minutes but since then they've been much the better side and very nearly equalised through the highly impressive debutant James Maddison. 

United recovered a bit of their composure towards the end of the half, but overall Jose Mourinho will be furious at the way his side have dropped in intensity since the early stages. 

They'll need to improve after the break or it's tough to see them holding onto this lead. 

Man Utd vs Leicester shots on goal

8:46PM

Half-time: Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

The half-time whistle goes. At the break it's Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

8:46PM

45 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Bailly lunges in pretty recklessly at Maddison but he does win the ball and gets away with it. One minute of time to be added on. 

8:42PM

42 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

All of a sudden it's a flurry of United attacks. Shaw gets forward from the left and volleys in a decent effort that Schmeichel holds onto. That would have been Shaw's first ever goal in senior football. 

Manchester United's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez (R) vies with Leicester City's Ghanaian midfielder Daniel Amartey (C) as Leicester City's Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel looks on during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford - Credit: AFP
Credit: AFP

8:41PM

41 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Fred dinks a lovely ball through to Alexis, whose header is well over. He is then erroneously flagged for offside. Great pass from the boy Fred. 

8:39PM

40 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

United finally mount an attack, but Pogba's effort from range is weak and straight at Schmeichel. 

8:38PM

38 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Leicester win yet another free-kick down their left as Fred kicks out at Gray. United again head it clear. Surely Leicester will get one of these right sooner or later? 

8:36PM

37 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Iheanacho looks like he's clean through on goal, but by the time he finally shrugs Lindelof off Bailly comes back to cover and make the tackle. 

Half-time can't come quickly enough for United. 

8:35PM

35 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

United just can't get out at the moment, and the Maddison-Chillwell partnership is causing so many problems down the Leicester left. Mourinho has just told Rashford to move over to the United right to try and combat the threat.   

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: James Maddison of Leicester City in action with Fred of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on August 10, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom - Credit: Getty Images
Credit: Getty Images

8:32PM

32 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Maddison wins a free-kick off Pogba about 35 yards out. He takes the resulting set-piece but his effort fails to clear the wall. 

8:30PM

30 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Pereira long-range shot from the resulting corner is deflected wide with De Gea beaten all ends up. United have completely lost control here, Leicester should be level. 

8:29PM

29 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

So close Leicester! The visitors work the ball beautifully to Amartey, whose pull-back to Madison is perfect. Madison, who's been excellent, connects cleanly from about 12 yards out but De Gea saves the shot smartly. 

8:27PM

28 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Chillwell wins a corner off Bailly with a low cross from the left. Maddison curls it into the area, but Bailly heads clear. 

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Leicester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 10, 2018 Manchester United's Eric Bailly in action with Leicester City's James Maddison Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further detail - Credit:  Action Images
Credit: Action Images

8:26PM

25 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Now Leicester have a bit of joy down the right, but Amartey's cross is cleared slightly unconventionally by Bailly, whose foot was extremely high. 

8:23PM

24 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Fred's been bright, and he pings a pass to Alexis that's just a little mistimed. Pogba meanwhile has been everywhere, charging around the pitch with the ball and when trying to win back possession. 

8:21PM

21 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Leicester have actually had 61 per cent of the ball. No clear-cut chances as yet though. 

Man Utd vs Leicester shots on goal

8:17PM

18 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Just watching the penalty again, the confidence Pogba shows to do such a stuttering run up and then nonchalantly pass the ball into the top corner... fair play. 

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 10: Paul Pogba of Manchester United (hidden) celebrates with team mates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on August 10, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom - Credit:  Getty Images
Credit: Getty Images

8:16PM

15 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Leicester have grown into this game, with Gray giving Darmian as schooling down the left. First, more good work from Gray leads to a long-range effort from Ndidi that's straight at De Gea. Iheanacho then drags a shot wide from close range, though the flag was up for offside. 

Still, much better from Leicester. 

8:13PM

13 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Bailly puts in what can only be described as a reducer on Iheanacho close to the corner flag. Great tackle. 

8:11PM

12 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Leicester win another free-kick in a promising position down the left as Darmian chops down Gray. Agian though Pogba heads Chillwell's delivery away. Great start to the game from United's captain for the day Pogba. 

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Leicester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 10, 2018 Manchester United's Paul Pogba scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Darren Staples EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details - Credit: REUTERS
Credit: REUTERS

8:09PM

10 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Leicester stroking the ball around to gain some much-needed respite after this ferocious United start. Incidentally Pogba's goal is the earliest United have scored in the first game of a Premier League season. 

8:07PM

7 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Debutant Maddison does well to win a free-kick off Fred down the Leicester left. Chilwell whips in the resulting dead ball, but Pogba heads it clear ahead of the always dangerous Maguire. 

8:04PM

5 min - Man Utd 1 Leicester 0

Mata's long ball forward causes panic in the Leicester defence, but Schmeichel eventually hacks the ball clear after racing out of his area. Big noise at OT, and United are bang up for this. 

8:03PM

GOAL!!! Man Utd 1 Leicester 0 (Pogba pen 3')

After a ridiculously slow, stuttering run-up Pogba fires his penalty into the top right-hand corner. Great pen against the penalty specialist Schemichel. 

8:02PM

2 min - Man Utd 0 Leicester 0

Weird to think that Leicester have won the Prem more recently than United. Also weird to think that Darmian is still at United. He tries to get forward early on but to no real effect. 

Shaw has better luck down the left, and he feeds Sanchez, whose shot is deflected onto the hand of Amartey! It's a penalty for United!

8:00PM

Kick-off

We're under way at Old Trafford. 

7:59PM

Right said Fred

Martin Tyler is pronouncing Fred as "Fred", eschewing the Portuguese pronunciation of "Fray-zhee". That could well set the tone for the Premier League's other commentators this season. 

7:56PM

Players are out

The teams take to the pitch. A reminder of the teams for this one:

Manchester United: De Gea, Darmian, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw, Pereira, Fred, Pogba, Mata, Sanchez, Rashford

Subs: Grant, Smalling, Young, Fellaini, McTominay, Martial, Lukaku

Leicester: Schmeichel, Pereira, Maguire, Morgan, Chilwell, Gray, Amartey, Silva, Ndidi, Maddison, Iheanacho

Subs: Ward, Evans, Vardy, Albrighton, Iborra, Fuchs, Ghezzal

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Leicester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 10, 2018 Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku and Leicester City's Harry Maguire before the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers  - Credit:  Action Images 
"See you here in January mate" Credit: Action Images

7:49PM

World Cup hangover? 

Lots being made of the feel-good factor post-World Cup. I hope that's the case, but I expect in the age of social media that things will get pretty poisonous pretty quickly. 

7:34PM

Gearing up

Big noise from the OT crowd as the players come out for the warm-up. Three months since the last home game of course. 

7:16PM

G Nev lends his support

Gary Neville backs Mourinho to succeed at United, and adds that the manager was right to demand a new centre-back. 

During a cut-away some fans appear to have joined Neville and Carragher and join the discussion. Hmm, that was weird. 

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Leicester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - August 10, 2018 Fans outside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details - Credit: Action Images
Credit: Action Images

7:11PM

Mou speaks

Mourinho plays down the significance of Pogba captain, pointing out that he was skipper a couple of times last season as well. "It's his third season in the club, made in the academy, he understands the club and a good example of making himself available today to try and help the team," Mourinho adds. 

7:07PM

What it all means

Pogba captaining the side is an interesting one. Inevitably the suggestion will be that it's an attempt to dissuade him from moving to Barcelona.

Martial and Lukaku are on the bench, while midfielder Andreas Pereira makes only his sixth Premier League appearance for United. You suspect you'll spot him in this game on a future edition of Premier League Years and think "who's that playing for United?"

For Leicester, Maguire starts against his future (?) club, but Vardy is fit enough only for the bench. Iheanacho will lead the line in his absence. 

Pogba - Credit: PA 
Credit: PA

7:03PM

Team news - Pogba captains United, Maguire starts

Manchester United:De Gea, Darmian, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw, Pereira, Fred, Pogba, Mata, Sanchez, Rashford

Subs: Grant, Smalling, Young, Fellaini, McTominay, Martial, Lukaku

Leicester: Schmeichel, Pereira, Maguire, Morgan, Chilwell, Gray, Amartey, Silva, Ndidi, Maddison, Iheanacho

Subs: Ward, Evans, Vardy, Albrighton, Iborra, Fuchs, Ghezzal

6:49PM

Here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go...this is it, this is it! 

This is excellent and important work from Adam Hurrey, especially after the killjoys at Sky Sports asked for all their old-school promos to be taken down from YouTube. 

6:47PM

Like it's never been away

It does feel as though the new season has come around quicker than ever before. But weirdly I feel ready. I think the fact that City effectively wrapped the title up in December means it's a long time since matters at the top end of the Premier League really mattered. 

I mean, as much as any of it really matters. 

Team news in just under 15 minutes. 

6:33PM

And so it begins

When each of us at Telegraph towers was asked to make one prediction for this season, mine was that claims of Jose Mourinho's demise will prove to have been a little premature. 

Yes, it's been a frustrating summer for United, and yes Mourinho has been insufferable, but I suspect all that will be forgotten if his side start the season strongly. 

And I expect them to do just that. Amid all the noise around failing to sign a centre-back, United still have a very strong squad and in Alexis Sanchez - fresh from his first summer off since 2013 - Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku possess a world-class attack. 

Key to the general mood at Old Trafford will be tonight's game against Leicester, who in their dogged refusal to sell Harry Maguire have already played a big part in United's summer. 

Maguire staying at the King Power is a massive bonus for Claude Puel, as was striker Jamie Vardy signing a four-year contract on deadline day. 

Read Thom Gibbs' definitive list

Riyad Mahrez may have finally left but in general it's been a very satisfactory pre-season for Leicester, especially given their deadline-day captures of central defenders Filip Benkovic and Caglar Soyuncu. 

It's unclear if they'll be thrust straight into duty this evening, and Puel was coy yesterday about whether Maguire and Vardy would start after the pair returned late to pre-season following their World Cup exertions. 

Mourinho faces the same dilemma with the likes of Pogba and Lukaku, and he will be without six players through injury, including the recently anointed captain Antonio Valencia. 

The team news will be confirmed at around 7pm, and we'll have the line-ups with you then. Just as a side-note, Leicester were also involved in the first game of last season, which was also played on a Friday night. On that occasion they were beaten 4-3 by Arsenal in arguably the best game of the entire campaign. 

Let's hope for something similarly entertaining tonight.