Leeds Look to Capitalise on Manchester United's Struggles

The fierce rivalry between Leeds United and Manchester United reignites this weekend as the two sides clash at Elland Road in Premier League Matchday 7. Kicking off at 16:00, the historic showdown finds both heavyweights in contrasting form and promises plenty of drama.

Daniel Farke's Leeds sit seventh in the table with nine points from six matches (W2 D3 L1). The Yorkshire outfit suffered their first league defeat of the campaign last time out, falling 2-1 away to Arsenal. Prior to that, they held Crystal Palace to a goalless draw and claimed a dominant 4-1 victory over Newcastle.

Manchester United are enduring a difficult spell under Michael Carrick. The Red Devils languish in 13th place with just six points to their name (W1 D3 L2) and are winless in their last five outings across all competitions. Following a 1-1 league draw against Tottenham, United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in midweek.

For the hosts, defender Joe Rodon and striker Mateo Joseph remain sidelined with long-term injuries. However, Daniel James could return to the squad after recovering from back issues. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor are once again expected to lead the line for Leeds.

Carrick faces a significantly longer injury list. In midfield, Manuel Ugarte is definitely out with a torn ACL, while Patrick Dorgu misses out with a thigh problem. Benjamin Sesko is also unavailable due to a shin injury. Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, and Noussair Mazraoui are major doubts, though defender Lisandro Martinez is in contention to feature.

Leeds have been formidable on home soil, unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games at Elland Road. Goalkeeper James Trafford has been in stellar form, boasting an impressive 82.8% save percentage this season. Manchester United, meanwhile, have struggled away from home and are still searching for their first away win of the campaign.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Leeds and Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United are their respective teams' top league scorers so far, with three goals apiece.

Historically, Manchester United hold the upper hand with 50 wins to Leeds' 27, alongside 38 draws across 115 competitive meetings. Their last clash at Elland Road in January 2026 finished in a 1-1 stalemate, while Leeds secured a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford in their most recent Premier League encounter in April 2026.