After a lengthy 24-day break, Manchester United return to Premier League action on Monday night, hosting rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils head into Gameweek 32 sitting comfortably in third place, holding a seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Chelsea. Meanwhile, Leeds find themselves in a tense relegation scrap, currently 15th and just three points clear of the drop zone.
It has been an unusually long pause for United, who have not played since their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on March 20. With no European fixtures and an early FA Cup exit, Michael Carrick has had ample time to fine-tune his squad, even taking them on a training camp in Ireland.
Carrick’s interim spell has been highly impressive, delivering seven wins, two draws, and just one defeat from his first 10 matches. That form has firmly placed him as the leading candidate to take the job permanently.
At home, United’s dominance over Leeds is clear—they are unbeaten in their last 18 league meetings at Old Trafford against the Whites and have lost only once in their last 20 encounters overall.
However, Leeds have shown resilience in recent clashes, earning draws in two of the last three meetings, including a 1-1 result earlier this season.
For Daniel Farke and his Leeds side, survival remains the top priority. Their league form has been inconsistent, with no win since early February, though they have picked up draws against Crystal Palace and Brentford recently.
Interestingly, Leeds come into this game boosted by FA Cup momentum after defeating West Ham United on penalties to reach the semi-finals, where they will face Chelsea at Wembley later this month.
Still, their away form is a major concern—just one win in 15 Premier League matches on the road, conceding heavily along the way.
Team News
United will be without Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire (suspended), and Patrick Dorgu due to injury. However, Lisandro Martinez has returned to fitness and is expected to start in defence.Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Kobbie Mainoo should anchor the midfield, while Benjamin Sesko is pushing to lead the attack.
For Leeds, injuries rule out Daniel James, Joe Rodon, and Anton Stach. There are also late fitness checks required for several players, including Jaka Bijol and Gabriel Gudmundsson.
Midfielder Ao Tanaka could earn a starting spot after an impressive FA Cup performance, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to feature in attack.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United:Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Leeds United:
Darlow; Bornauw, Struijk, Bijol; Bogle, Aaronson, Ampadu, Tanaka, Justin; Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin
Prediction
Manchester United 2-1 Leeds United
