Leeds United are back in Premier League action on Monday night, when the Whites make the trip to Old Trafford to take on their bitter rivals, Manchester United.
It was one of the fixtures most Leeds fans would have immediately circled when the fixture list came out last summer, and the wait for the highly anticipated clash will soon be over.
Leeds got back to winning ways in their last outing against West Ham, which booked their place at Wembley in the semi-final of the FA Cup; however, Leeds had been on a poor run of form in the Premier League prior to that.
Leeds’ last win in the Premier League came back in February, and the game against Man United may have just become even more challenging as Michael Carrick confirmed they have received a major boost ahead of kick-off.
Michael Carrick delivers pivotal injury update ahead of Leeds clash
Leeds gave a good account of themselves in the reverse fixture between the two sides at Elland Road, with the game finishing 1-1 after Brenden Aaronson initially put United a goal up.
Since then, however, Man United have become a far better side since parting ways with Ruben Amorim and replacing him with Carrick on a temporary basis.
Speaking to Man United’s media team, the former England midfielder delivered an injury update on multiple key players.
‘The break has actually worked in our favour in some ways in terms of getting players back, Mason (Mount) is back in and around it and has been training. He’s had that period of time to build it up. To have Licha (Martinez) back in and around us this week is good.
“Obviously, Harry (Maguire) is going to miss the (Leeds) game, so to have Licha back in and around it, with Leny (Yoro) and Ayden (Heaven), we just want to keep getting stronger as a group, really.”
Leeds fans will be hopeful that Daniel Farke can deliver a positive injury update of his own at his press conference, after Anton Stach had to be substituted off against West Ham with an ankle injury.
Data suggests Manchester United will be the favourites against Leeds United
Since winning promotion to the Premier League with Marcelo Bielsa in 2020, the Whites have not been able to get the better of their bitter rivals.
- Since 2020, Leeds have faced Man United on seven occasions
- The Whites have lost four of these games and have drawn the other three
- Farke drew his only game against Man United so far, whilst in charge at Leeds
On paper, the trip to Old Trafford is Leeds’ trickiest remaining game between now and the end of the season, and if we are being brutally honest, Farke’s side are not expected to pick anything up.
However, if the German can somehow mastermind a win there, it would be a massive step in the right direction when it comes to Leeds amassing the points they need to stay in the division.
