Manchester United claimed a 2-1 victory against Leicester City in their 2018-19 Premier League opener courtesy of goals by Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw.

United went into the campaign on the back of a tumultuous pre-season that was dominated by discontent and a lack of signings, leading to Jose Mourinho making veiled digs at the club’s hierarchy and, while they secured all three points at home, the team’s display was hardly an emphatic response.

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Initially, all looked rosy at Old Trafford, as United’s encouraging start saw them go ahead through captain Pogba, but thereafter Leicester were the controlling force in the first period.

The only thing missing from Leicester’s display was a killer instinct in the final third before Jamie Vardy’s second-half introduction, though his stoppage-time effort was too little, too late, as Shaw’s first senior goal seven minutes from time proved decisive in the final reckoning.

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United stroked the ball around confidently during the early exchanges and that poise was personified by Pogba when he placed a third-minute penalty into the top-right corner after Daniel Amartey was adjudged to have handled Alexis Sanchez’s deflected shot.

The early confidence soon dissipated, however, and Leicester were unlucky to go into half-time trailing, with impressive debutant James Maddison drawing a marvellous save from David de Gea in the 29th minute.

The hosts improved after the break, looking a little more convincing in possession and preventing Leicester from crafting clear-cut chances.

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