Leeds United took another decisive step in the relegation battle on Saturday night with a dominant 4–1 win over Crystal Palace at Elland Road, continuing to put distance between themselves and the bottom three at a crucial stage of the season.
The Whites once again looked composed and confident, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s brace setting the platform before second-half goals from captain Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach sealed a comfortable victory.
Daniel Farke’s side are now easing the pressure on themselves while piling it onto rivals around them, and attention will quickly turn to their next challenge — a huge clash against Manchester United on January 4 that could further define Leeds’ survival push.
After losing six of seven league games earlier in the campaign, Leeds have responded with eight points from their last four matches. With momentum building and a statement fixture on the horizon, the Whites have a clear opportunity to strengthen their position and deepen the problems for other teams in the relegation fight.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is set to miss the Leeds United trip
Manchester United suffered a 2-1 loss against Leeds on Sunday. However, more importantly for Leeds, they might have lost their captain for a while.
The Portuguese midfielder picked up a hamstring issue just before half-time, and he didn’t come out after the break as Ruben Amorim was forced into making a change.
Amorim conceded that the midfielder could be out for a while, as it seems to be a soft tissue injury. However, he later insisted that he is banking on Fernandes’ ability to recover quickly
The Manchester United manager told Sky Sports: “I think it’s soft tissue.
“So, it’s going to take a while. We’ll see.”
He later added, “It is really strange. During this year, especially at this time, we have so many problems, but we have to cope with that.”
“I don’t know, I think he is going to lose some games, but I don’t know for sure.
“I don’t want to talk about the matter; he is a guy who is always fit, and he has shown he can always recover.”
Leeds must fancy their chances against Amorim’s team
Manchester United have had an up-and-down season. However, losing Fernandes is likely to be a huge problem for a side who sit seventh in the Premier League table.
The 31-year-old midfielder has been Manchester United’s best player for more than five years now, and rarely misses a game due to an injury.
He has scored five times and registered seven assists in the Premier League and is the creative hub of the team.
| Games Played | 17 |
|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 5 |
| Assists | 7 |
Leeds facing a Manchester United side without Fernandes will be a huge advantage, and a raucous atmosphere at Elland Road will put the away side under more pressure.
Farke’s men now have a huge chance to beat another top team, who are feeling wary and have been inconsistent in the Premier League this season.
