Man United 1-0 Leicester: Varane Superb, Sancho Strikes at King Power as Player Ratings Are Handed Out

The move that decided the match began at the feet of Diogo Dalot. At the King Power Stadium, his opening pass set in motion the passage of play that ended with Jadon Sancho putting Manchester United 1-0 up against Leicester. That was the only goal of the game, and it was Sancho's second of the season.

The Manchester Evening News ratings give a clear picture of where the win was built. Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, the two centre-backs, each received an 8, the highest marks on the team. Varane, the verdict ran, did not put a foot wrong, and it seemed perverse that he had briefly been fourth-choice centre-back in pre-season. Martinez fared so well against Jamie Vardy that the Leicester striker was withdrawn with five minutes left.

Behind them, David de Gea earned a 7 for what was described as his best display of the season so far. He was much better with the ball at his feet and denied James Maddison with a fine save. Dalot also scored a 7: proactive going forward and slick on the ball, though he was booked. On the other flank, Tyrell Malacia, also a 7, was quietly efficient until he was shown a yellow card for upending Boubakary Soumare, a booking the ratings called harsh.

In midfield, Scott McTominay anchored with discipline while Leicester tried to lure him into tight traps. He panicked at times in the second half but stayed solid, and received a 6. Christian Eriksen, a 7, was elegant on the ball and barely wasted a pass as United showed impressive control. Bruno Fernandes timed his run well in the build-up to Sancho's goal and was less wasteful than he had been at Southampton, though the ratings said he could have been more intense in the final third. He got a 6.

Up front, the picture was more mixed. Anthony Elanga supplied energy but was not especially effective with the ball, and he was taken off before 15 minutes of the second half had passed. He scored a 5, the lowest of the night. Sancho, a 7, finished superbly but was quiet afterwards and made way for Cristiano Ronaldo. Marcus Rashford, a 6, timed his assist for Sancho perfectly and was far better through the middle than on Saturday, but never looked like scoring.

The substitutes each scored a 6. Casemiro was proactive with his passing and made only one major error. Ronaldo used the ball well and could have scored. Fred came on to help see the game out.

The manager earned a 7. Many were surprised when he named an unchanged side, but United controlled the first half, and he acted decisively in the second by sending Casemiro on quickly.

The ratings point to where the questions lie: the defence looks settled, while the forward line, Elanga and Fernandes in particular, drew the more guarded verdicts. What Ronaldo's late cameo means for United's attacking options is the thing to watch next.