After 24 days without a first-team game, United are back under the lights at Old Trafford for one that never really needs selling. Leeds coming to town always brings its own edge, but there’s plenty riding on it beyond the rivalry as well. Michael Carrick’s side restart the run-in sitting third on 55 points, one ahead of Aston Villa and six clear of Liverpool, while Leeds arrive 15th and still looking over their shoulder in the relegation fight.

There’s a bit of momentum to pick up again too. Our last game was that 2-2 draw at Bournemouth before the break, while Leeds go into this one off the back of their penalty shootout win over West Ham in the FA Cup quarter-finals, a result that sent them into the semi-finals for the first time in 39 years. In the league, the reverse fixture at Elland Road finished 1-1 after Brenden Aaronson put Leeds ahead and Matheus Cunha responded almost immediately.

Manchester United Team News

The big call is at centre-back. Lisandro Martinez is back in contention after returning to training, but Carrick has made it clear United won’t rush him if he is not fully ready. With Harry Maguire suspended after his red card at Bournemouth, there is at least one change coming in that back line.

There are better signs elsewhere. Mason Mount is fit again and gives Carrick another option, even if a start still feels unlikely, while Diogo Dalot is back with the group after his recent issue. Matthijs de Ligt remains out, and Patrick Dorgu is still further away.

Leeds United Team News

Leeds have a few problems of their own. Daniel Farke has confirmed that Anton Stach and Joe Rodon are both out after picking up ankle injuries against West Ham, while Daniel James also misses out. Jaka Bijol, Noah Okafor and Gabriel Gudmundsson have all been described as doubts, so they may not arrive at Old Trafford with quite the squad depth they’d want for a game like this.

That said, they won’t come here short on belief. Farke has spoken about the confidence his side took from that cup win and about how much this fixture means to everyone connected with Leeds. Whatever their league position says, they’re not treating this like just another away game.

Predicted XI

Lammens;

Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Shaw;

Casemiro, Mainoo;

Amad, Fernandes, Cunha;

Mbeumo.

The Context

This is a big one for both teams, just for very different reasons. United are trying to lock down a Champions League place and keep building on the calm Carrick has restored since taking over in January. The United legend has taken 23 points from a possible 30 in the league, which tells you why the mood around the club feels very different from a couple of months ago.

Leeds are in a stranger place. They’re 15th, only three points above the drop zone, and haven’t won in the league since February, but they’ve also just had one of their biggest cup nights in years. Their last two Premier League games ended 0-0 against Crystal Palace and Brentford, so there’s clearly been a focus on staying in matches and making themselves harder to beat.

Recent Form (All Competitions)

Manchester United:
D W W L W D

Leeds United:
D L L D D W

(Oldest to newest)

Tactical Focus

This feels like one where patience matters. Carrick said himself that Leeds have defended really well recently and do not give much away, and their last two league games back that up. So even with the rivalry and the noise around the fixture, United probably do not need to force it early and turn it into the sort of frantic game Leeds would love.

The key area is likely to be central space around Bruno Fernandes. If United can get Bruno receiving on the half-turn and linking with Cunha, Mbeumo and Amad between the lines, we’ll ask questions of a Leeds side missing Rodon and Stach. If Leeds can keep it compact, slow things down and make it scrappy, then this could become more of a grind than the table suggests.

Predicted Score

Leeds will scrap, and the occasion always adds a bit more bite to this one, but United have more quality, more control and a lot more to lose if we let this drift.

It probably won’t be a walk, and it may need a bit of patience, but at Old Trafford you’d still back us to get it done.

Manchester United 2-0 Leeds United