Leeds United vs Man United: Match Preview, Latest Team News and Score Prediction

Leeds United vs Man United: Match Preview, Latest Team News and Score Prediction Leeds vs Manchester United: Team News and Prediction for Elland Road Clash Leeds United lost at Arsenal last weekend, but there was no collapse and no embarrassment. They were beaten 2-1, gave Arsenal problems and left with some credit intact. That matters, because promoted sides often get praise for effort and nothing else. Leeds have moved beyond that stage. Under Daniel Farke, they look organised, competitive and increasingly hard to bully. Manchester United arrive in a very different place. A 2-0 defeat away to Atletico Madrid followed a 1-1 home draw against 10-man Tottenham. The numbers are ugly and the mood is worse. It has already been described as their worst start to a league season in 40 years, and that is the sort of line that follows a club around when confidence is thin. This fixture carries its usual edge, but the context has shifted. Leeds are no longer simply hoping to stay close. United are no longer turning up with an automatic aura. For the first time in Premier League history, Leeds go into this meeting as favourites. That tells you enough. Leeds United form points to real progress Last season’s 1-1 draw at Elland Road ended up being significant for different reasons. It proved the end of the road for Ruben Amorim, who left with 25 wins from 63 matches in charge. Since then, the two clubs have drifted in opposite directions. If you judge the table from that result through to now, Leeds sit seventh. That sounds about right. They have improved over the last 10 months and they have done it without drama. Farke has made them more stable, more sensible and more dangerous in transition. They also won 2-1 at Old Trafford last season, their first Premier League win over Manchester United since 2002. Psychological barriers are useful until they disappear. Leeds have already dealt with that one. Photo IMAGO There are still issues for Farke to manage. Dan James is being assessed after returning from Wales duty with a back problem, an issue that kept him out of the Arsenal defeat. Joe Rodon remains unavailable with the hamstring injury he suffered against Brentford and is not expected back in full training until next month. Harry Wilson, after a quad problem, is back in contention after being an unused substitute last time out. There is enough there for Leeds to feel positive. They have pace, energy and enough midfield quality to make this awkward for United, especially at home where emotion tends to accelerate everything. Manchester United injuries add pressure on Michael Carrick United’s team news is not ideal and that is putting more weight on Michael Carrick before a ball is kicked. Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are both doubts after picking up knocks in the draw with Tottenham. Neither travelled for the defeat in Madrid. Benjamin Sesko has missed the last two matches because of a recurring shin problem and there is still no return date. Patrick Dorgu is ruled out until late November with a hamstring injury. Manuel Ugarte continues his recovery from knee surgery. Noussair Mazraoui is also a doubt because of a back issue. There is at least some encouragement with Matthijs de Ligt back in the frame after travelling in midweek, while Leny Yoro is available because his red card against Atletico only applies in Europe. Still, none of this hides the broader issue. United are too easy to unsettle and too inconsistent when the game turns against them. They actually had moments in Madrid and should have scored at least twice, but that is the point. “Should have” has become one of the defining phrases around this team. There is also noise off the pitch. Lisandro Martinez’s criticism of the hierarchy after the Atletico defeat adds another layer to a game that did not need one. Rival grounds are unforgiving when they smell disorder, and Elland Road is among the least forgiving of the lot. Noah Okafor could decide Leeds vs Manchester United If this turns into the kind of open, emotional contest that rivalry games often become, Noah Okafor looks a live threat. He scored both Leeds goals in the 2-1 win at Old Trafford last season and also found the net in the 4-1 victory over Newcastle a couple of weeks ago. He is in form and he attacks space quickly, which is exactly where United have looked vulnerable. There is even a left-field angle around Martinez, who scored against Sabah in the Champions League earlier this season and now returns under a cloud after his comments. Strange games produce strange outcomes, and this rivalry has always had room for a goal nobody sees coming. As for the result, all things being equal Leeds have a real chance here. Better form, home advantage, more cohesion, and fewer visible cracks. But football rarely moves in a straight line and United still have enough quality to drag themselves into the contest. Add the bizarre early kick-off stat and the possibility of a reaction from the visitors, and the draw starts to look like the sensible call. Leeds should be the better side for periods. United should have moments too. That probably leaves this finishing level, with tension high and nobody fully satisfied. In other words, exactly what you would expect from Leeds vs Manchester United. Kick-off is at 2pm BST on Sunday, October 18 at Elland Road. Score Prediction: Leeds United 2-1 Manchester United