Leeds United vs Manchester United

Leeds United and Manchester United are set to trade tackles for the second time in a matter of days, with Elland Road forming the backdrop for the latest chapter of this long-standing Premier League rivalry.

Despite cruising to a comfortable two-goal cushion in the reverse midweek fixture, Leeds United could only manage a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, taking their winless league run to eight matches (D4, L4). Yet to appoint a new permanent manager after sacking Jesse Marsch earlier this week, the ‘Whites,’ firmly embroiled in a scary relegation scrap, are back to Elland Road, where they’ve won none of their last three Premier League outings (D2, L1). Moreover, Leeds suffered a thumping 4-2 defeat in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22 but haven’t lost consecutive home league meetings with Man Utd since 1976. Scoring first won’t necessarily strengthen their case here, with only Leicester City dropping more points from winning positions than Leeds (15) this term.

On the other hand, Manchester United may have fought back to hold Leeds to a draw in midweek, yet that result knocked them down from a 13-game winning home run in all competitions. Amends for that underwhelming result could prove a powerful motive at Elland Road as the ‘Red Devils’ bid to strengthen their position in a top-four race, with fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur now only four points off. However, Erik ten Hag’s men have failed to live up to expectations lately, picking up just one win in their last four outings in the Premier League (D2, L1). They have opened the scoring in four consecutive league games on the road in the lead-up to this trip, yet they’ve been victorious just twice in that run (D1, L1).