Leeds United vs Manchester United. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats and more

Leeds United FC will host Manchester United FC in the English Premier League 23rd-tour match at Elland Road Stadium. The fixture will take place on Sunday, February 12, beginning at 19:30 IST.

The 23rd round of the EPL continues as this Sunday sees two matches scheduled, one of them being another Derby of the Roses, which definitely bears intrigue.

The rivals met recently in the middle of the week in a rescheduled match and split the points, 2-2. The Mancunians were 0-2 down but found the strength to equalize. On the whole, ten Hag’s lads showed good football, but there was a lack of concentration and goalscoring efficiency. Leeds, in turn, battled heartily from the start and deserved their point.

Presumably, Manchester United will work on their mistakes and prepare themselves better for away the encounter with the Yorkshire side. However, emotion will certainly be on the side of the Peacocks, and the colorful atmosphere at Elland Road will only benefit a revamped Skubala team, so Man United’s vulnerable defense will have another tough challenge ahead. At the same time, the Mancunians have plenty of their own players ready to cause trouble for the Whites, whose winless streak is still frustrating the fans.

What can we expect this Sunday night? Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.

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Leeds United News & Current Form:

As the calendar dictates, Leeds and Manchester United will meet for the 2nd time this week. The previous meeting ended in a 2-2 draw, with the supposedly weaker side scoring a goal in the opening minute of the match at the foreign stadium. The author of the goal was Wilfried Gnonto. He became the 2nd player in the history of the game against Man Utd at the Old Trafford stadium to score a goal this fast. Just after the break Leeds took a 0-2 lead thanks to an auto-goal from Raphael Varane, but Marcus Rashford and the returning Jadon Sancho soon equalized the score. 

At home, Leeds could be stronger in attack, at least in the creation aspect. Despite losing two points, interim manager Michael Skubala said his team should be proud of its performance.

In the last eight rounds in the English top division the team from Leeds has not won a single victory. It drew with Newcastle United FC (0-0), West Ham United FC (2-2), Brentford FC (0-0) and MU. In all other games it suffered legitimate defeats.

Due to unsatisfactory results, the club’s management dismissed Jesse Marsсh. By the way, in the meeting with MU the Whites played, in fact, without their head coach. So far they have not been able to find a replacement for the American. A few specialists – CB Rayo Vallecano coach Andoni Iraola, as well as Mauricio Pochettino – have declined the offer.

The Peacocks are nowhere near as good as the Red Devils. At the moment, the club from Leeds is not far from the relegation zone – in 16th place in the EPL standings. They crashed out of the English Football League Cup a long time ago, losing in the third round against Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (0-1). In the Emirates FA Cup so far they have been lucky with their opponents. But the team is unlikely to go further than the 1/8 finals.

The club’s defense is one of the most vulnerable in England right now. The Whites want to play at zero, but simply can not: they have a lot of mediocre players, who are not in shape, they do not have a leader player, and the former specialist taught the team to attack, not to defend. Since the promotion of the hosts to the top division, Manchester has scored 17 goals against them in 5 games, in 4 of them at least twice. Almost all the attacking players are in formation, and Rashford is in top form. Leeds can’t avoid conceding.

Leeds’ 1 obtained point at Old Trafford came at a price: Luis Sinisterra left the pitch with a hamstring sprain in just the eighth minute, and Pascal Struijk was withdrawn for a concussion. The severity of Sinisterra’s problem is not yet clear, but concussion protocols indicate that Struijk will be unavailable – as a result, Junior Firpo should step into the left guard position, and Crysencio Summerville can confidently take Sinisterra’s place in attack. Stuart Dallas, Rodrigo Moreno, Archie Gray and Adam Forshaw also remain in the sack, so Weston McKenney can expect to make his second consecutive start.

Manchester United News & Current Form: 

Under Erik ten Hag’s careful guidance, Manchester United continues to make rapid progress. The club has noticeably increased the depth of its squad and improved competition. There are a number of well-functioning patterns of play. Plus the leading players have noticeably improved.

Everything is so great that the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who is a member of the MU board of directors, began to attend away meetings of the club. According to some reports, the Scottish specialist is thrilled with ten Hag’s work. You couldn’t find better praise.

The Mancunians are excelling in all competitions. More recently, they reached the League Cup final, twice confidently beating Nottingham Forest FC (3-0 and 2-0). Also the Red Devils qualified for the FA Cup 1/8 finals, winning 3-1 against Reading FC.

In the last nine rounds of the EPL, the reds have suffered only one defeat – against leading side Arsenal FC (2-3). It also drew with Crystal Palace FC (1-1) and just with Leeds (2-2). In all other cases, he won effectively, including the match against Manchester City FC (2-1).

The Mancunians scored 18 goals in those nine games. Seven of them were scored by Marcus Rushford. The forward has shown great form. Having scored a goal in the last match of the tour with Leeds he repeated the achievement of Wayne Rooney. Rushford is reportedly the first MU player since 2012 to score in six consecutive matches at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Although coach Erik ten Hag called his team’s start on Wednesday intolerable, it is the visitors who may feel they have the edge thanks to such a fantastic comeback. Wednesday’s start without Casemiro and Christian Eriksen due to disqualification and injury respectively was nothing but catastrophic, and Erik ten Hag made the questionable decision to put Rashford on the right flank. After the break, however, the tactical changes paid dividends, and Sancho marked his first Premier League appearance since October with a calm and collected finish, tying the score.

Casemiro is serving his second of a three-game suspension and remains out, along with Eriksen, Donny van de Beek, Scott McTominay and the unfortunate Anthony Martial, who now has a fresh hip problem. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (illness) was absent from Wednesday’s game and remains questionable this time as well, and if the former misses the game again, it will only increase Sancho’s chances of being in the starting lineup for the first time since Oct. 22 in the Premier League. Wout Weghorst has yet to wow the world since joining MU on loan in January and was substituted after just 59 minutes on Wednesday, but at this point the Dutchman’s place in the starting lineup is unquestionable.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has spoken out about the dissatisfaction of Alejandro Garnacho with substitutions:

“His dissatisfaction with substitutions? He’s an emotional guy, and that’s the strength he brings to the game. He wants to win. He wants to play soccer and he doesn’t want to miss a minute, and I think that’s a good thing. He’s totally confident in himself. That’s a good thing.”

“He’s doing well, making an impact on our game and being a threat to the opponent. Against Leeds he had good actions, he played lively and created chances, but he should have scored.”

Leeds United form guide: L-W-D-W-L-D

Manchester United form guide: L-W-W-W-W-D

Leeds United vs Manchester United Head-To-Head Record: 

• December 20, 2020: Manchester United 6 – 2 Leeds United (Premier League);
• April 25, 2021: Leeds United 0 – 0 Manchester United (Premier League);
• August 14, 2021: Manchester United 5 – 1 Leeds United (Premier League);
• February 20, 2022: Leeds United 2 – 4 Manchester United (Premier League);
• February 8, 2023: Manchester United 2 – 2 Leeds United (Premier League).

Leeds United vs Manchester United Predicted XI:

Leeds United possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Wober, Firpo; Adams, McKennie; Summerville, Aaronson, Gnonto; Bamford.

Manchester United possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Sabitzer, Fred; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.

Statistical preview of the match Leeds United vs Manchester United:

• Leeds’ First XI average age is 25.2 yrs.
• MU’s First XI average age is 26.9 yrs.
• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 7 h2h games against this opponent.
• Leeds are winless in their last 8 games.
• Manchester United are unbeaten in 8 of their last 10 games.
• Manchester United are scoring an average of 2.40 goals per game in their last 5 games.
• Manchester United are scoring in their last 3 games against this opponent.
• Manchester United have managed to score in each of their last 15 games.
• Manchester United have conceded in the last 5 games.
• Leeds are conceding an average of 1.20 goals per game in their last 5 games.
• Manchester United are conceding an average of 0.80 goals per game in their last 5 games.
• Leeds are scoring in their last 3 games against this opponent.
• Leeds are scoring an average of 2.00 goals per game in their last 5 games.
• Manchester United have not scored more than 2 goals in 16 of their last 17 away games in the EPL.

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What has been said before the match:

Michael Skubala commented the upcoming fixture:

“The players are amazing. They’re a good group of players to work with, they are hard working, they’re honest, and they’ve responded really, really well, and all the staff have as well. The club should be proud of them and the fans should be proud, but it’s still one point. This is another game to try and get three points for the club.” 

“We have to go into this game as a fresh game and think about it in a fresh way.  Whatever happened in the last game for me is now closed, the books closed and we go again Sunday and we try to get three points.”

“Pascal Struijk got a concussion at Old Trafford. So the medical team are following the concussion protocols, so he’ll miss the game Sunday, which is the right decision. Luis has a slightly different injury but we think he’ll be okay, but we’re still going to assess whether it’s too early for him for Sunday.”

“For me, it’s about protecting players first and foremost. We don’t want to take any risks with any players, this is a long season and we need to look after them.”

Erik ten Hag ahead of the Sunday game:

“I feel we are really connected with this team and with this squad. We are united, also really connected with the culture of Man United. We are really connected with that. The team is really growing – I would say it is about how to beat [teams], win games and do it in the United way. So, togetherness and do it in an attacking and proactive way.”

“So that when they go onto the pitch they know what is going on and they make the right choices and the right decisions – so you have to rely on your players in such moments, which we can do.  And players like it, to play games. Like Leeds, like big games coming up like FC Barcelona, like City and Arsenal. But I think all of the Premier League games – players like it to have a challenge. Because when they get challenged they get the best.”

“We can safely say that we won a point, because to come back from 0-2 in the derby is great. On the other hand, it was inadmissible to start the match that way. You have to be ready to fight, and we weren’t. That was the first thing I said at halftime. I said to make sure we were ready. And in the second half, we conceded a goal on the fly. That’s disappointing.”

“We’re going to play again in a few days, and the fact that we’re capable of winning if we play our soccer is encouraging. And we have to win. But we have to stay focused throughout the match. In the last 20 minutes we created a lot of good chances, but the realization left much to be desired. We must be more clinical.”

Leeds United vs Manchester United Prediction:

In the last match Leeds managed to frustrate Manchester United, who were expecting an effortless game at Old Trafford. The team, who had lost their head coach, made a very serious attempt to break their unbeaten streak by taking advantage of the Mancunians’ vulnerability (in the form of Casemiro’s absence) and by utilizing their few chances. Luck was also on the side of the Peacocks.

However, Eric ten Hag and his coaching staff certainly have plenty of expertise to make competent adjustments to the defective moments and make up for it in the return leg. 

The hosts don’t have many chances today. Let’s not forget that Leeds have serious playing problems (both in terms of ideas and results). What’s more, they’ve also lost a huge number of players, which could be decisive. The Yorkshire side have already revealed their “trump cards”, now it will be difficult to surprise due to the lack of variety in the team and the absence of the main instigator on the coaching bridge.

Man Utd will take control of the game from the opening minutes and avenge last week’s cheeky slap in the face. The statistics are also on the side of Rashford and Co., with Man Utd beating Leeds 4-2 in their last head-to-head encounter at Elland Road. The Merseysiders have won five of the last seven meetings with Leeds United while drawing twice.

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Parimatch News staff prediction:

We say: Manchester United to win – Yes.