Leeds United and Manchester United will aim to continue their unbeaten runs when they lock horns at Elland Road on Sunday.
The curtains will fall on Gameweek 20 of the 2025/26 Premier League season on Sunday. The action on the day will start with Leeds United vs Manchester United, with both teams eager to secure three points this weekend.
Leeds United’s recent form has been remarkable, and they have been one of the best teams in the Premier League in the last few weeks. The Whites are on a six-game unbeaten run, which has alleviated the pressure off Daniel Farke’s shoulders and created a seven-point gap over 18th-placed West Ham United. That has enabled the West Yorkshire outfit to take a massive stride towards safety from relegation.
On the other hand, Manchester United’s recent form has been disappointing, even though the Red Devils are only three points outside the top four. However, Ruben Amorim’s have been that close to breaching the UEFA Champions League spots for several weeks, and repeated dropped points have been frustrating for the manager and the supporters. The latest setback was a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this week.
The most recent Premier League match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road ended in a 2-0 win for the away side, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Leeds United
Daniel Farke has a new roster issues that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Leeds United manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players vs Manchester United on Saturday.
Ethan Ampadu is the latest absentee, as he will serve a suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Additionally, Joe Rodon (ankle), Sean Longstaff (calf), and Daniel James (hamstring) remain in the treatment room.
Lucas Perri is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Leeds United lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him vs Manchester United. The central defensive unit will feature Jayden Bogle, Jaka Bijol, and Pascal Struijk. James Justin and Gabriel Gudmundsson will start as the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will protect the centre-backs and provide width in the final third. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Anton Stach, Brenden Aaronson, and Ao Tanaka. Aaronson will often take up advanced positions and attempt to pull the strings behind the two strikers, Noah Okafor and the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Perri; Bogle, Bijol, Struijk; Justin, Stach, Aaronson, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Leeds United dugout, Ruben Amorim has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Elland Road. The Manchester United manager will be without eight first-team players on Saturday.
Matthijs de Ligt (lower back), Harry Maguire (thigh), Bruno Fernandes (hamstring), Kobbie Mainoo (calf), and Mason Mount (knock) are closing in on returning to action, but Sunday’s game has come too soon for them. Meanwhile, Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo remain at the Africa Cup of Nations with their national teams.
Senne Lammens is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Leeds United on Sunday. The backline will feature Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte. Joshua Zirkzee will reprise the no. 10 role, with Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha being the two wide attackers. Finally, Benjamin Sesko will spearhead the Manchester United attack against Leeds United this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Dorgu, Zirkzee, Cunha; Sesko
Key Stats
- Leeds United have won just one of their last 19 Premier League matches vs Manchester United (D6 L12), and they are winless in nine since a 1-0 home win in September 2002. The Red Devils have won their two most recent away league games against Leeds United. They have never been victorious on three consecutive visits to Elland Road before.
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 25 Premier League games against promoted sides (W22 D3) since a 4-1 loss to Watford in November 2021.
- Manchester United have never beaten Leeds United when facing them in their first league game of a calendar year, drawing 0-0 in 1931, 1-1 in 1958, 0-0 in 1994, and losing 2-1 in 1969.
- Manchester United have drawn six games in the Premier League this season, with the Red Devils opening the scoring in every one. Their 12 points dropped from winning positions this term is already more than they dropped in the whole of 2024/25 (11).
Player to Watch
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
While Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Anton Stach were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the Player to Watch for Sunday’s Premier League clash between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road.
The English international has resurrected his fortunes after a slow start to the 2025/26 season, and he is one of the most in-form players in the Premier League. Calvert-Lewin has scored in his last three Premier League home games.
He has never scored in four consecutive outings before, while the last Leeds United player to do so was Mark Viduka in April 2004. With Calvert-Lewin in superb touch, it is hardly surprising that the Englishman is one of our captaincy candidates in FPL for Gameweek 20.
Prediction
Leeds United 2-1 Manchester United
Manchester United’s record against promoted teams in the last four years has been exceptional, even though they have been on a topsy-turvy ride during this period. However, with Ruben Amorim down to a thread-bare squad, the performance levels have plummeted.
On the other hand, the hosts are on a roll, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is leading the charge away from the relegation dogfight. The English striker should deliver the goods again for Leeds United and seal three points at the end of an engrossing clash. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Daniel Farke and his charges.
