Leeds United face Roses rival, Manchester United in a massive Premier League encounter at Elland Road.
Victory would move Leeds up to fifth in the table, whilst Man Utd can potentially climb as high as eighth with a win and leapfrog Leeds in the process.
Team News
Dan James could be available for Leeds after he sat out their 2-1 loss at Arsenal due to a back injury.
Joe Rodon (hamstring) and Mateo Joseph (ACL) remain absent.
Man Utd could welcome Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw back into contention, after the pair missed their 2-0 Champions League loss at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening due to unspecified injuries.
Noussair Mazraoui (back) could return but Benjamin Sesko (shin), Tom Heaton, Patrick Dorgu (both hamstring) and Manuel Ugarte (knee) are still absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Leeds host Man Utd at Elland Road on Sunday 17 October at 2pm BST, live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Leeds have won just one of their last 11 league meetings against Man Utd (W1, D4, L6).
- Man Utd have dropped four points in their last five league visits to Leeds (W3, D2).
- Leeds have never recorded consecutive victories over Man Utd in the Premier League.
- No Leeds player has committed more fouls in the top flight this season so far than Anton Stach (13).
- No Man Utd player has put more top-flight shots onto target this season than Bryan Mbeumo (8).
Prediction
Despite their inevitable defeat at Arsenal, Leeds can be proud of the fact that they pushed the champions throughout the match and even led at one point, but this is a big opportunity to build on the positives and be more clinical than they were in that game.
Man Utd meanwhile realistically know that this is must-win after a poor start to the league campaign as defeat coupled with results elsewhere could leave them one point above the relegation zone, but they can’t be as wasteful as they were at Atletico otherwise serious questions need to be asked.
Lisandro Martinez though is right that the club’s mess lies beyond just players and manager because the board do need to give their glasshouse a serious reality check, yet players and manager could still be punching above their limitations through unity and team spirit.
All eyes therefore will be on Utd and that might just suit Leeds if they can soak up United’s likely aggressive attempt to produce a reaction and be clinical.
Prediction: Leeds 2-1 Man Utd
Result: Leeds 1-1 Man Utd
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