Tips Feed

United have the upper hand in recent meetings against Leeds, and they are unbeaten in each of the last ten head-to-head encounters across all competitions.

There has been a noticeable gap in quality between these sides over the years, as Man United have won six of those contests, but Leeds did at least manage to take a point when these sides met for the reverse fixture in January. 

However, there has been a real dichotomy in form for Leeds when playing at home, compared to away. Daniel Farke’s men have only picked up ten points from their 15 Premier League matches on the road this term, with a dismal record of one win, seven draws, and seven losses. That sole win came against bottom side Wolves. 

Meanwhile, Man United have been in a rich vein of form since Michael Carrick took charge, and they will hope to pick up where they left off just before the international break. 

Carrick has been in charge for ten games this season, and Man United have won seven, drawn two, and lost just one of those.

However, the one area to improve is the defensive efficiency, as the Red Devils have only kept three clean sheets in that stretch. They will also have to contend without Harry Maguire for this clash, as he is suspended. 

While that weakens Man United at the back, they still look threatening going forward, and it’s difficult to envision Leeds keeping their rivals at bay at Old Trafford. Leeds will have to be front-footed here, and they will fancy their chances of finding the back of the net.

BTTS has landed in eight of Leeds’ last ten away matches in the Premier League, which shows that they can carry a threat in the final third.

The reverse fixture between these sides in January finished 1-1, and Matheus Cunha was the standout player at Elland Road.

After Brenden Aaronson put the hosts ahead after 62 minutes, Cunha fired home the equaliser just three minutes later. He came incredibly close to securing all three points for his side, as his curling effort in the 81st minute only struck the post. 

Cunha has been a consistent threat in the final third for Man United, and his average of 3.19 shots per 90 across all competitions is one of the highest in the squad. He usually doesn’t hesitate to pull the trigger if he can work a yard of space, and the 26-year-old has landed this selection in each of his last four starts coming into this clash. He even managed to get on the scoresheet in his last home outing against Aston Villa. 

With Maguire suspended for this clash, 20-year-old Leny Yoro will have a significant defensive responsibility at the heart of the United backline on Monday night. The Frenchman will be directly up against Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is unlikely to make life easy for him.

The centre forward is one of the more physical players in the division, and he is usually the target of long balls. Yoro will have the job of stepping up to deal with his threat, and Calvert-Lewin is averaging 1.2 fouls drawn per 90 across all competitions this season, making that a matchup to keep an eye on. 

Yoro is still adapting to the physical demands of the Premier League, and this will be a real test for him. The centre back is averaging 0.9 fouls per 90 across all competitions this season, rising to 1.01 at Old Trafford, where he has landed this selection in each of his last six starts. 

Bruno Fernandes was absent from the reverse fixture due to a hamstring injury, but he was in exceptional form prior to the international break for Man United.

He set a new club record for the most assists in a single Premier League season in March, registering his 16th of the campaign in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa. He then continued that form during the international break, contributing two assists for Portugal against the USA. Bruno Fernandes has eight goals and 17 assists under his belt for Man United this season, but it seems like he still has plenty more in the tank. 

This matchup against Leeds should bring out the best in Fernandes, especially considering how well he has performed against them in recent years. He scored a hat-trick against them in the 21/22 season, meaning he has scored six goals and provided three assists in his last six meetings against Leeds.

Fernandes and Casemiro have developed a productive partnership in the final third, as the Brazilian regularly has become the primary target for Fernandes’ pinpoint deliveries into the box.

The Portuguese international set up Casemiro's headed goal in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa just before the international break, and he did the same against Newcastle earlier in the campaign, picking Casemiro out from a corner. 

Operating alongside Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, Casemiro has the freedom to push forward into the box, looking to create overloads and get on the end of crosses. He is strong in the air, and is averaging 1.8 shots per 90 in the Premier League.

33% of those efforts have hit the target, and Casemiro has bagged seven league goals this term, which is an impressive return. Leeds will hope to remain compact, but Man United should have plenty of opportunities to deliver the ball into the box.

Jayden Bogle will have the tough task of trying to contain Cunha on the right flank for Leeds, which promises to be a tough assignment for the wingback.

One of Cunha’s key strengths is his ball-carrying ability - he is so strong at carrying in between the lines, and often drops deeper to receive the ball. That means Bogle could be drawn out of position at times, and a cynical foul could be on the cards. 

Bogle is averaging 1.25 fouls per 90 across all competitions this season, and was carded in back-to-back matches prior to the international break. That figure rises even further to 1.49 when playing away, which is one of the highest values in the Leeds squad.

With Leeds playing a back three, Bogle is given a bit more license to be aggressive in his duels, knowing that there is cover behind him.