The Red Devils have 49 points, eight better than Newcastle (4th), beaten on Saturday at St James Park by Liverpool (2-0) but who have one game less.
They are also just three behind Manchester City and five behind leaders Arsenal, although the Gunners also have a game in hand.
Still deprived of Casemiro in the league, suspended, and with Raphaël Varane resting before a decisive week, Manchester got scared at the start of the match.
Without two very good saves from David de Gea, a head-to-head headline against Harvey Barnes (8th) and on his line after a header from Kelechi Iheanacho (20th), the Foxes would have taken the lead.
But on their first opportunity, well launched in the back of the defense, from outside the foot of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford adjusted Danny Ward to give the advantage to the Red Devils (1-0, 25th).
From there, Manchester practically unrolled, Diogo Dalot (37th) and Lisandro Martinez, whose header hit the bar (49th), being very close to doubling the bet.
It was again Rashford, once again at the extreme limit of offside, who had this honor (2-0, 56th) for his 16th goal since his return from the World Cup and the 24th of the season, all competitions combined, already a record for him.
Marcus Rashford in Manchester on February 19, 2023 © Oli SCARFF / AFP
Entering after the break, Jadon Sancho confirmed his return to form by adding a third goal at the conclusion of a great collective action (3-0, 61st).
What to fill up with confidence before the play-off return of accession to the knockout stages of the Europa League, Thursday against Barcelona, and the final of the League Cup Sunday against Newcastle at Wembley, which could offer him his first trophy since 2017.
© 2023 AFP