Manchester United travel to Elland Road on Sunday to face old rivals Leeds United in a Premier League encounter that arrives at an awkward moment for the visitors. Fresh from a frustrating home draw against relegation strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ruben Amorim’s side must now respond against a Leeds team enjoying a renewed sense of belief after extending their unbeaten run at Anfield.
United appeared comfortable when they welcomed Wolves to Old Trafford on December 30, especially given that they had beaten the same opposition convincingly away from home only weeks earlier. That confidence quickly evaporated as Amorim’s men slipped back into familiar problems, settling for a disappointing one all draw against the league’s bottom side. Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring, but Ladislav Krejci levelled just before half time, leaving fans and pundits questioning both the performance and the tactical setup.
Criticism focused heavily on Amorim’s decision to revert to his preferred three four three formation after a more traditional back four had worked effectively against Newcastle United. The Portuguese coach explained that he was attempting to mirror Wolves’ system, but the plan failed to deliver the desired control or intensity. Despite the setback, United remain sixth in the table and sit only three points outside the Champions League places, offering some perspective on what has otherwise been an inconsistent campaign.
There are still encouraging trends for the Red Devils away from home. They have scored in seven consecutive Premier League away matches and boast a long unbeaten run against newly promoted sides, stretching back 25 games. However, defensive frailties remain a major concern, with United conceding in 14 straight away league fixtures and already dropping more points from winning positions this season than they did throughout the entirety of last term.
Leeds, by contrast, arrive buoyed by one of their most impressive displays of the season. Daniel Farke’s side held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield, earning their first away clean sheet of the campaign. While they benefitted from a glaring miss by Hugo Ekitike and saw a potential penalty decision go in their favour, Leeds were disciplined, organised and fully deserving of their point.
That result extended Leeds’ unbeaten league run to six matches and preserved a seven point cushion above the relegation zone. Ten points from their last six games underline their steady progress, with recent home form playing a particularly important role. The Whites have scored ten goals in their last three matches at Elland Road, although defensive solidity on home soil has been harder to come by, with their last clean sheet there dating back to August.
History still favours Manchester United, as Leeds have not beaten them in a top flight fixture since 2002. United have also won their last two league visits to Elland Road and could make it three in a row for the first time. Even so, the current momentum suggests that this fixture may be far more competitive than the league positions alone might indicate.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Team news offers little relief for Amorim, who confirmed that none of his injured players are expected to return. Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo remain sidelined, while Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire are also unavailable. In addition, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are away on Africa Cup of Nations duty. Amorim may still be tempted to abandon wing backs in favour of a back four again, which would allow Patrick Dorgu greater freedom going forward.
Leeds must cope without Ethan Ampadu, who is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. Ao Tanaka is the most straightforward replacement in midfield, although Farke has other tactical options at his disposal. Dominic Calvert Lewin, rested against Liverpool to manage his fitness, is expected to return to the starting lineup after seeing his scoring run end. Sean Longstaff, Joe Rodon and Daniel James remain out injured, while Sebastiaan Bornauw faces a late fitness test.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Perri; Bogle, Bijol, Struijk; Justin, Stach, Aaronson, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Dorgu, Zirkzee, Cunha; Sesko
EXPERT PREDICTION
Leeds 1-1 Manchester United
