Man Utd v Leeds preview: Red Devils look to continue fine form
Erik ten Hag’s men will go in search of that 50th H2H win without the suspended Casemiro, and that’s certainly an ill-fated sign given United have lost three of the four games in all competitions this season in which he hasn't featured.
This game falling at home should offset that disappointment though, with the Red Devils winning each of their last 13 games at Old Trafford as they continue to edge ever closer to the club record run of 20 from the famous Sir Alex Ferguson days.
Extending that run and getting to within five points of leaders Arsenal certainly looks likely here too, especially considering they haven’t tasted defeat in any of their last 17 home league H2Hs (W11, D6) against their bitter foes.
Rivals off the pitch, it’s hard to say Leeds and Manchester United are rivals on the pitch at the moment, with Leeds’ struggles deepening by the week.
A 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest heaped further pressure on Jesse Marsch, and after Leeds fans made their opinions perfectly clear at full-time by serenading their American boss with a chant of ‘Jesse, time to go’, the Leeds board acted upon those cries and sacked him on Monday.
It’s easy to see why Leeds pulled the trigger after a run of just two wins in 17 Premier League (PL) games (D5, L10) plunged them to the periphery of the relegation zone.
With pride and points on the line in the first of this quickfire double header against Man United, it’s hard to see a way out of this rut for Leeds unless they can secure just a second H2H win at Old Trafford since 1981.
Players to watch: In the form of his life, Marcus Rashford would become the first United player since Wayne Rooney in April 2012 to score in six consecutive home league games should he net a first-ever goal against Leeds. Wilfried Gnonto has been a shining light in an otherwise dark Leeds season, and he has seen his three goals this term all arrive before half-time.
Hot stat: Leeds have scored exactly once in five of the last six away H2Hs.
