Manchester United and Leicester City played out a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford to delay the Foxes' Premier League title celebrations.
The league leaders required a win to secure their first ever top-flight crown, and things looked good for them when Wes Morgan powered home a header to cancel out Anthony Martial's eighth-minute opener.
Chances dried up in the second half, though, and neither side could truly make their possession count in the final third, even after Danny Drinkwater was dismissed for a second bookable offence late on.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford. The Foxes head to the Theatre of Dreams, a venue that has seen more title wins than any other ground in the country, knowing that just one more win from their final three games will be enough to round-off the most amazing of stories.
It really has been the most incredible of season's for the Foxes, as a squad assembled for a cost of £30m is now one win away from what once appeared to be the impossible - ousting the established big boys to become just the sixth team in Premier League history to lift the famous trophy. Forty-seven different sides have competed in this competition across its 24 seasons, but so very few have gone all the way.
There is plenty riding on this fixture from a United point of view, too, with their top-four hopes hanging by a thread heading into the final few games of the season. Questions over Louis van Gaal's future appear to be just as unclear at this point in time than at any other stage of his Old Trafford tenure, but just maybe success in the FA Cup and a Champions League berth will be enough to keep Jose Mourinho away from the highly-regarded hot seat.
The Red Devils currently find themselves in sixth place, which does not look all that good on the face of it but could look considerably rosier come the end of play today. West Ham United appear to be Van Gaal's biggest rivals for a charge for third and fourth place; positions that are currently being occupied by Arsenal and Manchester City. A win for the hosts this afternoon and they will move back into fifth place, just two points behind near-neighbours City.
Full credit to the Dutchman, because if there is one thing he has become an expert at during his two-year spell at United it is the ability to pull off a big result just when it is required. The latest of those much-needed wins came last month when seeing off West Ham in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, setting up last week's final-four clash with Everton that the Red Devils just about came through. Van Gaal will most certainly remain in charge until the summer, but will he be at the helm come the opening game next August?
That, you feel, depends entirely on results between now and the season's end. Going all the way in the FA Cup will certainly ensure that Van Gaal writes his name in United folklore, but it is unlikely to be enough to completely win over certain doubtful sections on the club's fanbase. Four victories on the bounce has certainly helped him in that regard, though, and momentum is now very much in his side's favour in this final stretch.
Reports linking Jose Mourinho with the Old Trafford job just will not go away at the moment, with talks said to have now been opened ahead of a summer arrival. If that is the case then Van Gaal quite clearly has not been told, as he fully expects to see out the third and final year of the deal signed in 2014. The Dutchman admitted this week that he would have been happy to settle for a two-year spell at the club, but he was talked into extending those personal terms prior to signing on the dotted line.
In fairness to Van Gaal, he has managed to get his side playing some more attractive football of late, with the results - always more important than the style of play - to match. Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial ran riot at times against Everton eight days ago, managing to get in behind the Toffees' backline thanks to their energetic movement. The return of Wayne Rooney has also helped, with the skipper now adapting to a deeper role in the mould of Paul Scholes.
While on the face of it results over the past couple of months may look far more impressive, particularly in recent weeks with four wins on the bounce, it should still be remembered that United exited the Europa League - having already crashed out of the Champions League - at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool, while also losing heavily to Spurs in the Premier League. The club's board really have got a big call to make this summer - is it worth twisting or sticking with what they have?
DID YOU KNOW? Manchester United have won six games in a tow at Old Trafford, while also keeping a clean sheet in five of those outings. That is certainly one way to keep supporters on board, with Southampton the last side to take points off the Red Devils here when they claimed a 1-0 win in January. In fact, only Man City can boast more victories on home soil overall this campaign (12), although they have played one game more than their rivals.
It has been a difficult campaign for Louis van Gaal, who has faced numerous calls to depart Manchester United just two years into a three year deal. The Dutchman remains confident that he will still be in charge ahead of next season, but if recent reports are to be believed then Jose Mourinho is ready to be ushered in with the lure of a hefty summer transfer kitty.
Van Gaal has certainly managed to form a solid structure at United, as emphasised by the fact his side have conceded just seven goals in their 17 home games to date - a superb defensive record. Many will argue that a lot of that is down to the work of David de Gea, who is fast becoming the world's finest goalkeeper, but credit must also go to the former Netherlands boss for building from the back. It has certainly not been a perfect Man United tenure, yet there are positives for the new man to build on should change indeed be made in the summer.
It was interesting to hear the Dutchman bring up David Moyes's ill-fated spell earlier this week, claiming that he has stabilised the club since taking over from the Scotsman if nothing else. That may be true on the face of it, with a top-four finish secured last year and a potential FA Cup trophy to add to the cabinet this time around, but United are currently five points short of their previous record low in a Prem campaign of 64 from the 2013-14 season.
With Norwich City to come next Saturday and a home meeting against Bournemouth on the final day, the Red Devils will surely pick up the six points required to better that terrible season of a couple of years back. There is one fixture that really does stand out from the three remaining, though - the visit to West Ham United later this month. If things go to plan, that could well be a straight shootout for a Europa League berth, but Van Gaal will of course be hoping that a top-four finish is still on the cards at that late stage in the season.
So all eyes are very much on Leicester today, then, but this really is a huge game for United; one that they simply cannot afford to lose if Champions League football is to be played here for the second season in succession next time out. The club's board have remained quiet amid all the recent rumours surrounding Van Gaal's future, but maybe the axe will finally come down should a place in the top four slip away for good. Only time will tell.
Before switching attention to visitors Leicester, we are expecting some team news in the next five minutes or so. In terms of United, they are likely to remain unchanged from last time out following that dramatic win over Everton at Wembley, while the Foxes could bring Marc Albrighton back into the team out wide in place of Jeffrey Schlupp - a player who had a spell at United not so long ago.
Schlupp is not the only Leicester-Unite connection, however, as Danny Drinkwater and Danny Simpson both started their careers at the Theatre of Dreams. Kasper Schmeichel also has obvious links to the club, thanks to father Peter's incredible success with the Red Devils during his own playing days. The Great Dane has made it quite clear that he will be backing Leicester today, though, with family coming first as ever for him. What a story that would be!
TEAM NEWS!
MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard, Rooney, Martial, Rashford
LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs, Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Schlupp, Okazaki, Ulloa
Starting with the home side, then, and as expected Van Gaal has made very little change to his side from last time out. Just the one alteration, in fact, as Tim Fosu-Mensah is replaced by Antonio Valencia at full-back for the visit of champions-elect Leicester. That means Lingard, Rashford and Martial will once more lead the way up top, with Rooney providing some support from a deeper midfield position that he has now become accustomed to.
Luke Shaw is hoping to make his return to action before the end of the season, but he is still not fit enough to take his place in the matchday squad. It is a similar story for Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is also not expected to play a part prior to the summer, while Will Keane is another on the sidelines nursing an injury problem. That aside, it is a healthy-looking group of options for Van Gaal to choose from, with just the one change from last time out.
If you were a betting man, you would put all you have on Leicester naming an unchanged side - which they have once more. The only real question for Ranieri to answer centred around the left side of midfield, where Schlupp is once more preferred to Albrighton. As already mentioned, the winger has links of his own to United, having been invited to a six-week trial a few years back which ended in a disappointing manner when Sir Alex Ferguson left the club and therefore pulled the plug on any potential deal.
Jamie Vardy is the obvious omission from the starting lineup, and indeed the squad altogether, as he serves the second of an extended two-match ban for his angry reaction to being sent off against West Ham last month. A Hollywood movie is said to be in the pipeline to mark the Englishman's journey from bottom to top, but the fairytale ending for him - scoring at Old Trafford to win the title - will not be the ending that many would have hoped for.
Elsewhere in this impressive City side, Leonardo Ulloa keeps his place up top despite nursing a back injury this week. The tricky forward has played as big a role as anyone for Leicester this campaign, usually providing the perfect decoy to allow Vardy to burst through into space, but he has a vital part to play on his own this afternoon much like he did in the win over Swansea City last time out.
Much has been made of the Foxes' stubborn backline, but can they keep out Wayne Rooney this afternoon? History certainly suggests that they will, as the England captain has only previously failed to score against three teams in Premier League history - Leicester being one of them. Rooney is stuck on 99 goals at Old Trafford, incidentally, needing one more to hit a century milestone that only Thierry Henry - at Arsenal - can match at one club.
BENCH WATCH!
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Darmian, Fosu-Mensah, Herrera, Mata, Schneiderlin, Memphis
LEICESTER CITY SUBS: King, Albrighton, Amartey, Gray, Wasilewski, Chilwell, Schwarzer
So Albrighton having to settle for a place among the Leicester subs once again, then, but he could play a vital role from the bench. Demarai Gray is another with the potential to open up a backline from out wide, while Andy King will be desperate to play a part this afternoon as he seeks to become the first player to ever win League One, Championship and Premier League titles at one club. Now that is befitting of any Hollywood movie!
In terms of the hosts, Juan Mata is unable to break back into the starting lineup following an impressive showing by the front-three trio of Lingard, Martial and Rashford recently. Plenty of combative midfield options in the shape of Morgan Schniederlin and Ander Herrera, while the underwhelming Memphis Depay will likely be called upon should the Red Devils require a goal at any stage this afternoon.
So here we have it. Thirty-five games into this incredible campaign and Leicester are on the brink of the most incredible sporting achievement of all time. I mentioned it a little earlier but it is worth repeating: this group of players cost just £30m to assemble and were ranked as 5,000-1 outsiders to win the title - the longest successful odds ever should they indeed get the job done today. As things stand, in case you have been living on the moon over the past week, one win from their final three games will seal the title.
Of course, Leicester could actually lose all three of their remaining fixtures - highly unlikely if the past 35 games are anything to go by - and still come out on top. That is because Spurs, who face Chelsea tomorrow night in the first on their final-three assignments, must make up a seven-point gap on the current leaders. Not impossible, granted, but anything other that a Foxes title success this term will now be a real shock - almost as surprising as those who backed them to win it before a ball was kicked!
For all the recent talk of Leicester potentially bottling their comfortable position at the top of the table, Ranieri has now seen his side go nine games without defeat in this final run-in. The 2-2 draw with West Ham was seen by many as nerves getting to the Foxes, but that was well wide of the mark. The Hammers were in form and, even with all 11 players, a point from that match was never going to be the worst result. Just to prove those doubters wrong, though, City won comfortably against Swansea last weekend to leave them on the brink of their greatest ever achievement.
It was events elsewhere earlier this week that really got supporters excited, however, as a surprise 1-1 draw between Tottenham and West Brom at White Hart Lane essentially saw Spurs concede the title. The Lilywhites' players will fight until the end, of course, but mentally the task has just become twice as tough with seven points to make up in three games. Even if Leicester fail to win today, they still have games against Everton (h) and Chelsea (a) to come over the next fortnight. Guard of honour at Stamford Bridge, anyone?
Leicester City's 22 victories this season is as many as they have achieved in their previous three Premier League campaigns combined. Having secured survival by the skin of their teeth 12 months ago, pulling off what was a great escape at the bottom, they now have three games to pick up the one win required to shake off Tottenham Hotspur for good.
Furthermore, Leicester boast the best away record in the league with 11 wins and 37 points from their 17 games so far. Key to the success has been clean sheets, as 12 shutouts in 17 games since Boxing Day has helped clear the way at the top. That has unquestionably been the biggest change since the turn of the year; the ability to grind out narrow victories, best emphasised by the five 1-0 wins in six games between February and April.
Leicester also have the ability to brush aside teams, of course, as witnessed many a time over the past eight months or so - just ask Swansea City who found out the hard way last weekend! Of those 12 clean sheets since the end of December, six have arrived in their last seven outings. To give this rise some further context, City have never previously finished higher than eighth since the birth of the Premier League in 1992, and have been relegated in three of their previous nine seasons at this level - incredible.
The Foxes did finish as runners-up way back in 1929 when missing out on the top-flight title by a single point, but the hurt of all those years ago will surely come to an end at some point in the coming weeks. If not today, then City have a nice home fixture with an out-of-sorts Everton side to come on home soil next weekend. Then attention can turn towards this summer and what will be the club's most important ever transfer window, with a season of Champions League football - and a Premier League title defence - to come.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Three of Leicester City's six wins away at Manchester United came before the Second World War. The most recent arrived in January 1998 when Tony Cottee scored the only goal of the game in a rare 1-0 win for his side. The Red Devils have won the last six league and cup fixtures between the pair, in fact, conceding just one goal during that time.
The reverse fixture last November finished 1-1, in a match best remembered for Jamie Vardy's record-breaking 11th Premier League goal in succession. Bastian Schweinsteiger cancelled out that historic opener on the brink of half time, but both players will be absent for today's clash at the Theatre of Dreams. It is fair to say that, with respect to the German World Cup winner, Vardy has proved to be the more important player to his side this term.
In terms of Claudio Ranieri's previous trips to this famous ground, the Italian has won two of his nine Premier League matches. You may remember he was applauded off the pitch by some home supporters when visiting year with Chelsea a decade ago, picking up the result needed to secure a second-place finish in the table. The Blues would go on to become just the fourth team ever to win the league title, while Man City made it five. Can Leicester - little Leicester - make it six this afternoon?
With a little under 20 minutes to go until kickoff at Old Trafford, let us check out some of the pre-match thoughts from both camps heading into this huge Premier League showdown.
Claudio Ranieri: "It's unbelievable, it's history and we know this. It is important to finish the story like an American movie. Always in the final it is OK, a happy ending. It's a good opportunity but for this reason we have to be focused. Let me be calm, wait, we have time. I told them, 'Everything is in our hands and we must continue.' Other people can enjoy it but I am very concentrated."
Louis van Gaal: "We are still in the first five, last year we were in the first four, so the difference in points [to Leicester] is not bigger than with Chelsea I believe. The question for us is to qualify [for the Champions League]. Fourth position is okay, third position then we have reached our aim. But we have of course a final to play in the FA Cup, so we have pluses. We are more or less in the same position only last year we didn't play so many matches. We have played a lot of matches. I think only Manchester City has played one more and Liverpool probably."
You would not expect Ranieri to say anything else really, would you?! The Italian is remaining very grounded, despite surely knowing deep inside that the title - and a place in history - is now very much his side's to lose. The Hollywood ending to the season could well arrive at Old Trafford today - a venue that has seen more title successes than any other in the land. It was here, back in 2002, that a certain Sylvain Wiltord goal secured a memorable title win for Arsenal. Over to you, Leicester.
In terms of those previous title winners, Manchester United have won more than any other team with 13 to their name - all arriving under Sir Alex Ferguson - while Chelsea (4), Arsenal (3), Manchester City (2) and Blackburn Rovers (1) all trail in the Red Devils' wake. You have to go back to that Blackburn success of two decades ago to find anything close to resembling what we are witnessing this year in the Premier League, but even then the Lancashire club were heavily backed in financial terms.
The big question, as we approach the final 10 minutes before kickoff, surrounds the gameplan that Ranieri will set out with this afternoon. A point is a good result, make no mistake about it, but a win at Old Trafford to secure the Premier League title? That really would be something to savour. Leicester have been very strong defensively, as have their opponents, so a cagey match could ensue. A goalless draw would suit the visitors far more than United.
PREDICTION! Following on from that previous point, I am going to sit on the fence a little and back a no-score draw this afternoon. That will certainly not be the result that many neutrals watching across the world are after but, as Van Gaal himself said earlier this week, United will merely delay the City title win and not end it for good. An early goal could change the mood of things, but I am going with a 0-0 stalemate. Sorry.
Sticking with Van Gaal, those comments made in his pre-match press conference for today's game really do make for interesting reading. The Dutchman claims that he has once more done a good job at United, having kept the club in touching distance of the top four while dragging them within one win of a first FA Cup success in more than a decade. Supporters will debate that point, of course, with plenty now riding on today's fixture.
Both sets of players have now made their way into the tunnel area at Old Trafford, with kickoff a little over five minutes away. Just a reminder if it was needed - Leicester need three points from their remaining three matches to win the Premier League for the first time in their history. A City side assembled for a collective cost of £30m, rated at 5,000-1 outsiders, are on the brink of something truly special.
The teams have now made their way onto the pitch at Old Trafford, greeted by a strong applause from across every facet of this famous ground. Sylvain Wiltord's goal here won the title for Arsenal 14 years ago; can one of the Foxes' heroes do likewise and send the 3,000+ travelling supporters camped in one section of the Theatre of Dreams into bedlam? We are about to find out!
The players are ready, with the pre-match handshakes now out of the way with, and we are finally ready to get underway at Old Trafford. What an afternoon this could be for the Foxes.
KICKOFF! Marcus Rashford, one of the breakthrough talents of this remarkable Premier League season, gets proceedings underway at the Theatre of Dreams alongside Wayne Rooney. How will United approach these early stages? The pressure is on them to find a way through.
Fairly tentative start to the match, which was to be expected really. The Red Devils doing most of the early pressing, but a loose ball on the edge of the box was just about cleared away before Martial could wrap his foot around it.
A positive enough start to the match for United, as they continue to knock the ball around with some urgency. Leicester are able to sit back and soak up any pressure this afternoon, knowing that a point will do their title hopes no real harm with two games to go.
Only the one real shot so far in the opening seven minutes, coming via the boot of Rashford for Huth to block from 18 yards out. A Fellaini foul on Ulloa allows City to breath a little after spending a lot of this game in their own half so far.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 LEICESTER CITY (ANTHONY MARTIAL)
A collective groan from the neutrals watching on around the world, as Anthony Martial smartly tucks the ball home to open the scoring for United. It was a well-worked goal, too, with Valencia getting down the right on the overlap before cutting inside and picking out his teammate at the back post who just peeled away from his man. Incredible composure shown by the Frenchman to pick his spot beyond the Leicester No.1 for goal number 15 of the season.
A very bright start from the hosts, who have come out of the blocks fast to perhaps catch their opponents a little by surprise. Still plenty of time for the Foxes to net a goal or two of their own, but at the moment they are very much second best.
SAVE! Leicester still camped inside their own area, unable to get a grip on this contest. United probably should have had a second, as a ball from the left was knocked down brilliantly by Fellaini into the path of Lingard, who saw his strike kept out by the hands of Schmeichel.
Morgan with a fine long ball into the channel for Schlupp, but the winger - selected ahead of Albrighton once more - fails to pick out a teammate with his cross. Pretty much the first time City have managed to get high up the field and put some pressure on their opponents.
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 LEICESTER CITY (WES MORGAN)
First attack, first goal. The sign of champions? It's skipper Wes Morgan who powered home the header, meeting a fine chipped free-kick delivery into the box from former United man Drinkwater, leaving De Gea with very little chance to get anything on the ball. What a superb response from the visitors, who have been second best all afternoon.
Rooney drags a shot wide of goal from 20 yards out as United go in search of a quick response of their own. The Englishman has just seven goals for the campaign, needing three to hit double figures to match the feat of his previous 12 years at the club.
The Red Devils wins themselves a free kick in a decent shooting position around 25 yards out. It is a little too central, but that does not prevent Rooney from taking the shot on, which he sends right into the Leicester wall.
The game's quietest spell so far, but it has followed a familiar theme as United continue to ask most of the questions. Rojo sends a teasing cross into a central position, although it was simple enough for the Foxes to deal with. "We shall not be moved" chant the travelling army of City supporters.
Van Gaal will be more than happy with his side's showing in the opening quarter of this match. The Red Devils have been on top pretty much throughout, scoring once and creating another big chance which Schmeichel kept out, but Leicester found a way through from their only attack of note.
The onus is still on the Red Devils to pick up a win here, remember, so it is not all that surprising that Leicester are willing to sit back a little. No reason for the visitors to go all-out attack this afternoon unless they are chasing a goal.
Leicester's best attacking move of the match so far sees the ball smartly moved from the left into a central position via three different players, but Schlupp's shot inside the box was well blocked behind for a corner. Good play from the visitors.
A huge moment in this match already, as Simpson gives the ball away to Lingard who is free to race through on goal. Schmeichel raced out to narrow the angle, though, and the former United defender also tracked back and did just enough to put his countryman off without conceding a foul. Home supporters wanted a red card but it appeared to be the correct call.
Rashford is the latest to see a shot from inside the box deflected to safety, but Schmeichel made sure by pouncing on the ball to prevent a corner. Home fans now urging their side on, buoyed by that red card appeal that went against them a little earlier.
Lingard looking lively again as he bursts forward, but Fuchs gets the better of that personal battle on this occasion and the ball rolls out for a goal kick. The excitement levels have certainly lowered over the past 20 minutes or so but this one is still delicately poised.
Ulloa gets his first sight of goal when picked out by Mahrez's cross from the right, but he can only glance the ball over the bar. Not the worst attempt you will see, and his run to get into the position certainly offers hope of more chances to come.
CLOSE! Schlupp's cross from the left is dipping horrible and forces De Gea to claw it away - technically Leicester's second on-target attempt of the match. Mahrez gets on the loose ball and is brought down by Rojo, but Michael Oliver felt the defender simply stood his ground.
So much energy on display at Old Trafford in this first half. Leicester get forward again, with Ulloa and Drinkwater linking up for the later to fire a deflected shot narrowly wide of goal. Morgan gets on the end of the corner once more but this time cannot direct it on target.
United enjoying another strong spell at the end of this first half. Rooney is the first to see his shot blocked on the edge of the box, before Martial's attempt is also deflected wide for a corner. Can the Red Devils bag a second before the break? Time is against them.
HALF TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 LEICESTER CITY
So we are all square at the interval, then, in a game that has certainly kept those in attendance on the edge of their seats. Only three real attempts on target, but there has been plenty of attacking intent on show and plenty to keep us gripped for the remaining 45 minutes.
United started by far the brighter of the two sides in a high-energy first half, and they found a way through from the first shot on target of the afternoon when Valencia - down the right on the overlap - picked out an unmarked Martial at the back post. The Frenchman, a protégé of Ranieri's at Monaco, left Schmeichel with little choice when finding the back of the net.
The Red Devils really should have had a second goal when Fellaini did brilliantly to pick out Lingard in a central position, but the youngster saw his well-taken effort superbly kept out by Schmeichel. That proved a crucial moment in the opening 45 minutes, too, as Wes Morgan powered home a set piece from Leicester's first attack of the match 17 minutes in at Old Trafford.
Schlupp almost caught De Gea out with a dipping cross from the left, which the Spaniard was simply happy to claw away from his goal-line. Moments later, Mahrez went down under a challenge from Rojo, but referee Michael Oliver felt that the PFA Player of the Year made the most of it and waved away the penalty appeals. The other big incident of the half came at the other end, when Simpson brought down Lingard as the last man, but again he did just enough to avoid conceding a free kick.
BENCH WATCH!
MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Darmian, Fosu-Mensah, Herrera, Mata, Schneiderlin, Memphis
LEICESTER CITY SUBS: King, Albrighton, Amartey, Gray, Wasilewski, Chilwell, Schwarzer
RESTART! Leicester City get proceedings back underway at Old Trafford. Let's just hope that the next 45 minutes are just as gripping as what we witnessed in the first half. So much on the line at the Theatre of Dreams!
SAVE! Leicester with the first attempt of the second half - Morgan again getting his head to a corner which De Gea keeps out routinely enough down the middle. Martial creates some space up the other end but cannot keep his shot on target.
Half a chance for Leicester to take the lead for the first time, as Simpson is played in behind the United backline down the right but opts to fire across goal in the hope of a touch from Okazaki than going for target himself. The Foxes striker was inches away from connecting, and we remain at 1-1.
City well on top at the start of this second half, really looking to create some inroads in the attacking third. United therefore having to sit back, which is a complete reverse of what we saw in the opening 45 minutes.
YELLOW CARD! Jesse Lingard is shown a yellow for a late challenge. Seconds later Ulloa has his shot deflect wide of the target with De Gea sprawling across. City coming close to a second at Old Trafford.
YELLOW CARDS! Ulloa's glancing header is cleared away close to the line. Carrick was shown a yellow card in the next wave of play, while Drinkwater also entered the referee's book for a niggling challenge on Lingard out wide.
Juan Mata is being readied to come on by Van Gaal and his backroom staff, so the Dutchman appears to be the first to roll the dice. Leicester slightly on top over the past 10 minutes, with the Red Devils not really able to find any rhythm in attack.
Morgan taking no chances when blasting a ball up the line well into the stands. Momentum just appears to be swinging the hosts' way as we hit the hour mark, but they have not really looked like scoring since the restart.
Leicester holding on a little as the ball is played around the edge of the box. The Foxes were quick to pounce on Rooney when the loose ball made it to the Englishman, forcing the United skipper to dink his attempt well over the bar.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Mata is indeed introduced for the home side for his 100 appearance in Red Devils colours, replacing Lingard out on the left-hand side. That seems like a smart change from Van Gaal on the face of it.
Drinkwater sends in another decent delivery from a right-sided free kick, which Ulloa again glances narrowly over the bar. A rare half-chance in this cagey second half, with neither side really able to get in behind so far from open play.
YELLOW CARD! The cautions keep on coming, the latest being shown to Rooney for dissent towards the linesman. We have seen less of that from the Englishman in recent times, but he failed to keep his cool on this occasion. Okazaki has now been replaced by Gray for the visitors.
This game has gone very flat all of a sudden. Again, the onus is very much on the Red Devils to find a third goal to win this match, with their top-four hopes depending on it. City happy to soak up the pressure in the remaining 20 minutes of the contest.
Fellaini gets his head to a corner after Ulloa misjudged the flight of the ball, but he could not pick out the target. Been a quiet half for both goalkeepers, in truth, with this second half failing to match what we saw in the first in terms of entertainment.
SAVE! A rare save for De Gea to make, but it was simple enough by the Spaniard's high standards. Leicester hit their opponents on the break, forcing a four-on-four situation and, just when the chance to shoot looked to have gone, Mahrez unleashed a bullet which De Gea punched well away.
Both managers have used just one of their three available substitutions so far. Will Ranieri or Van Gaal be next to roll the dice at Old Trafford, in a match that has more importance to the hosts in terms of needing a win.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! The Red Devils just stepping things up a tad in the final quarter of this match. Fellaini, who appeared to elbow Huth in the first half, is the next to make way in place of Herrera. Twelve minutes left for United to win this game.
Most of the game is being played in Leicester's half now, but the Foxes just love springing forward on the counter. They do just that with 10 minutes to play, but Ulloa's shot at the end of the move fails to truly test De Gea. We are entering Sylvain Wilton, 2002 territory now.
A dangerous cross right into the centre of Leicester's box was superbly met by Morgan, who get the slightest of touches on the ball to put Mata off. Incidentally, Rooney pulled back on an opponent during that Leicester counter a few minutes ago, but the referee clearly did not see it. Lucky boy!
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Final change of the afternoon for the Red Devils; Memphis Depay replacing Marcus Rashford for the final stages. Martial will now operate down the middle, but can he be the hero for a second week running?
RED CARD! Danny Drinkwater is shown a second yellow card for pulling back on Depay on the edge of the United box. An unhappy return to Old Trafford for the midfielder, who will now miss next week's meeting with Everton. Leicester will now have to hold on with 10 men.
LEICESTER CITY SUB! Andy King is quickly on to fill the void left by Drinkwater, replacing Mahrez for the final minute of normal time.
CLOSE! Rooney gets the resultant free kick on target, which Leicester's number one fairly routinely kept out. Depay's own set-piece attempt hit the wall, before the Englishman was again thwarted from range. Three minutes of added time to come.
United throwing all they have at their opponents now. A ball fell loosely in the box but Schmeichel was superbly off his line after reading the danger and cleared the ball before a United man could get to it. One minute left to play.
FULL TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 LEICESTER CITY
There was to be no late drama at Old Trafford, then, as Michael Oliver's full-time whistle brings to a close what was an entertaining match on the whole. Leicester City will be the happier of the two sides with the point, particularly after being reduced to 10 men with four minutes to go, while Manchester United are now likely to have to settle for fifth place at most.
The Foxes could be crowned champions as early as tomorrow now, with Tottenham Hotspur knowing that anything less than a win at current champions Chelsea will see their outside hopes of finishing top come to an end. Should the Lilywhites pull off another big result, then Leicester will host Everton next weekend looking to get the job done on home soil. Over to you, Spurs!
Well that concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Old Trafford. An on-the-whistle match report from the 1-1 draw can be found right here, while updates are now underway from the evening kickoff between Manchester City and Southampton on the South Coast. Thanks for joining!
