Preview: Manchester United vs Leeds United

Preview: Manchester United vs Leeds United

Premier League campaign gets underway at Old Trafford.

Leeds United will play their first match of the 2021/22 Premier League season on Saturday lunchtime, when they travel to Old Trafford (12:30pm). 

The Whites will be looking win at the home of their fierce rivals for the first time in the league, since 1981. More recently, Jermaine Beckford’s memorable FA Cup strike saw Leeds win at Old Trafford in 2010. 

Manchester United will be looking to begin their season with a win this season, after suffering an opening day defeat to Crystal Palace at the beginning of the 2020/21 campaign. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side did not win any of their opening four Premier League fixtures on home turf last season. 

With the success of 2020/21 still fresh in the minds of the Whites, an impressive away record of 10 wins and nine losses was an excellent return from the first season back at this level. In achieving that record, Marcelo Bielsa’s side were the only team in the league to go the entire year without drawing an away match. 

On home turf, the usually strong Red Devils found things a bit harder in the unusual circumstances of having an empty stadium. From their 19 home clashes, they managed just the nine wins, with four draws and six losses. 

One the most talked about transfers of the summer was the arrival of Jadon Sancho, who joined Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund. After spending four years in Germany, and now still only at the age of 21, the England international will be adding firepower to the frontline at Old Trafford.

For the Whites, eyes will be on Junior Firpo who joined Bielsa’s side from Spanish giants, Barcelona. The full-back has experience of playing at the highest level and has formed a strong partnership over pre-season with Jack Harrison, down the left hand side of the pitch. 

The Whites are set to be backed by a sell-out away end in the corner of Old Trafford, the first time that Leeds fans have been allowed away from home to a competitive fixture in the Premier League since the clubs return. 


Manager/head coach:

Man Utd: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Leeds: Marcelo Bielsa


What Marcelo Bielsa said:

“A game like the one on the weekend is independent, it doesn’t really matter when it is played, it has a life of its own at any time. We tried to convert the experiences [from last season] into conclusions. The natural thing is that in certain games and certain moments, and the player tries to incorporate experiences and decisions that are the adequate ones. Every game in the Premier League is complicated.”

Jon Howe


League position (2020/21)

Man Utd: 2nd

Leeds: 9th


Premier League form (Last five of 2020/21)

Man Utd: WLLDW

Leeds: LWWWW


Premier League top scorer (2020/21)

Man Utd: Bruno Fernandes (18)

Leeds: Patrick Bamford (17) 


Head to head

Man Utd: 47

Draws: 36

Leeds: 26


Last Leeds United win at Old Trafford

Sunday January 3rd, 2010.

FA Cup

Manchester United 0

Leeds United 1 (Beckford 19’)

Jon Howe


Team news

Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that Kalvin Phillips, Jamie Shackleton and Junior Firpo are all available for the trip to Old Trafford, but Diego Llorente will be missing. 

Marcus Rashford looks likely to miss the lunchtime kick-off for the hosts with a shoulder injury, whilst fellow absentees will be Alex Telles, Jesse Lingard, Dean Henderson, Amad Diallo, Phil Jones and Eric Bailly. 


Officials

Referee - Paul Tierney

Assistant Referee 1 - Constantine Hatzidakis

Assistant Referee 2 - Neil Davies

Fourth Official - Anthony Taylor

Video Assistant Referee - Chris Kavanagh


The key battle

Bruno Fernandes vs Kalvin Phillips

An intense and long battle between the two last season was fascinating at Elland Road, during the 0-0 draw. Phillips stayed with Fernandes throughout the match and looked to nullify his qualities on the ball when in attacking areas. This time, both players are likely to be matched up against one another again, so it will be interesting to see if any different tactics are deployed from either player in Saturday’s opener. 

Jon Howe


Match stats

  • Since the Premier League era began in the 1992/93 season, Leeds United have only beaten Manchester United four times. Those matches were in 1994 (2-1), 1995 (3-1), 1997 (1-0) and 2002 (1-0). 
  • None of those wins came at Old Trafford, so this weekend the Whites will look to get their first Premier League away win against their fierce rivals. 
  • Manchester United have won 19 out of 29 opening day matches in the Premier League. 
  • Manchester United’s biggest opening day victory was in 2006/07, when they beat Fulham 5-1. 
  • This is the first time Leeds and Manchester United have met in an opening match in the top division, since 1970/71. The result on that day, was 1-0 to Leeds United. 
  • Leeds have scored three times in all three of their opening day fixtures under Marcelo Bielsa, 3-1 (vs Stoke City 18/19), 1-3 (vs Bristol City 19/20) and 4-3 (vs Liverpool, 20/21).
  • Manchester United failed to win their opening four home fixtures of the 2020/21 season. In those opening matches, the Red Devils conceded 10 goals.  
  • Leeds won their last four matches of the 2020/21 Premier League season. 
  • If the Whites win at Old Trafford on Saturday, it would be the first time the club has won five games in a row at this level since 2001. 

Latest odds

Man Utd: 8/15

Draw: 16/5

Leeds: 5/1


How to watch 

If you are not one of the  3,000 Whites heading to the game, it will be broadcast on BT Sport, with live commentary available on LUTV. 


Important Supporter information

Please click here to read full supporter information if you are attending the match on Saturday. 

Jon Howe

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