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Manchester United and Leeds is one of the biggest rivalries in English football, but this week marks the first time these two giant clubs meet each other this season.
The game was originally scheduled for September but was postponed due to a police shortage in the wake of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, with Greater Manchester Police assisting other forces across the country at locations and events of high significance.
Once a mainstay of the top flight for decades, the two Uniteds met only twice in 16 years when Leeds were absent from the Premier League. They returned in 2020 and this will now be the fifth such fixture since then, most of which have been filled with goals.
Leeds have hit the reset button ahead of this week’s game, making the decision to part company with manager Jesse Marsch just under a year after choosing him to replace Marcelo Bielsa.
Man Utd vs Leeds H2H Results (Last Five Games)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Man Utd team news
Casemiro is suspended following his red card in the win over Crystal Palace, which is a huge blow for United. Anthony Martial has also suffered a setback in his ongoing battle for fitness.
Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek are all injured, leaving Erik ten Hag super light in midfield. But it will likely mean a full debut for January signing Marcel Sabitzer.
Man Utd starting 11 (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Sabitzer, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.
Leeds team news
Robin Koch is eligible to return for Leeds, but Rodrigo, Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, Archie Gray and Sonny Perkins are all sidelined.
It is unclear at this stage who will be in charge of the team come Wednesday night, although it is worth noting that Chris Armas was not among the coaching staff immediately let go.
Leeds starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Ayling, Cooper, Wober, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Sinisterra, Harrison, Gnonto; Bamford.
The way the fixture list has worked out, this is the first of two Premier League meetings in the space of only four days between these clubs.
The big question is whether firing Marsch will give Leeds the jump the hierarchy are looking for, or if it has come simply too close to Wednesday’s game to change anything for the better. Their only victories in recent months have been against lower league opposition in the FA Cup, with no Premier League wins since before the World Cup break commenced in mid-November.
Manchester United recently made it four consecutive wins in all competitions, while their only defeat of any kind since early November was the result of a last minute goal against Premier League leaders Arsenal last month. In other words, there are not many riding as high right now.
Prediction: Man Utd 3-0 Leeds
