Check out our latest products
![[Upgraded] USB Computer /Laptop Speaker with Stereo Sound & Enhanced Bass, Portable Mini Sound Bar for Windows PCs, Desktop Computer and Laptops](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61NAayKmVIL._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
Key events
Karen Asad writes in:
There was serious talk around Calvert-Lewin joining United on free transfer in the summer. I personally thought it was good business, give his prem exprience. Yet there was a backlash and it never happened.
Now I’m thinking, considering the said backlash, had he joined United, the sheer amount of media narrative surrounding his injury record would not give him the slightest chance of reaching his current form. Now there lies the problem of Man UTD; so much talk and attention is seeping the professional sport out of the team.
Ruben Amorim will be pretty pleased with how his side have gone there, keeping up with the chaotic energy of the hosts. The issue remains his bench and how the teenagers will cope when they’re required in the cauldron later on.
HALF-TIME: Leeds 0-0 Manchester United
An old-world, all-action half … but one low on chances.
45 min: Calvert-Lewin continues to be a nuisance whenever the ball is in the air … but it’s Manchester United who break forward as Dorgu fires from outside the area … his low, stinging shot travels wide.
44 min: Martínez hoofs the ball away as United resist at the back.
43 min: Martínez continues to drift forward and pose a threat inside that left channel for Manchester United. Shaw keeps up with Justin as Leeds win a corner on the right.
40 min: Shaw will deliver a corner for the visitors … it’s deep and finds Casemiro, whose header is flicked on by Yoro … Perri leaps to tip over the bar! Another fine corner comes in, with Cunha’s volley going over. United showcase their threat from set pieces.
39 min: Dalot has been lively for United on the right and builds the move forward, though Dorgu’s left-footed cross is cut out.
35 min: Calvert-Lewin leaps in the area, gets a head on it … and clips the far post! It was a delicious ball from the right, and the man in form delivers the first serious threat to the Manchester United goal.
34 min: Dorgu is a few hours late with a sliding challenge on Calvert-Lewin. It’s an easy decision for Jarred Gillett: yellow card.
33 min: Bijol cuts out a long ball, one that threatened to leave him in trouble against Sesko.
32 min: Aaronson bursts through the middle for Leeds but drags his shot from the D wide; he was surrounded by red shirts.
31 min: Dalot is everywhere; this time he swings his left foot for a shot inside the area, but the hoof is wild and the ball flies way high.
30 min: Dalot finds space on the right and plays to Dorgu; the former ventures into the area and receives, his cross blocked out for a corner.
29 min: Neither keeper has been tested yet, both defences proving difficult to break down.
28 min: Yoro holds his own against Okafor, who tries to cut in once again but can’t keep control of the ball.
26 min: Yoro v Okafor is an interesting battle out on Leeds’ left, where most of their attacks are coming from.
24 min: The visitors have matched Leeds’ physicality so far … Heaven tackles Justin inside the area. It was a touch wild from the United defender but he got the ball clean.
22 min: Manchester United have a corner with Cunha, the type of player for this sort of game, to deliver. In comes the inswinger but a foul on Lucas Perri ends the venture forward.
20 min: Shaw pulls off an excellent defensive header at the far post, inside the six-yard box, after a dangerous ball in from Gudmundsson.
19 min: Manchester United finally string together a few passes … but Casemiro can’t nail his dinked ball over to Shaw on the left.
18 min: No one appears capable of holding on to the ball.
17 min: Alas, TNT have lost sound as Ayden Heaven, right up on DCL, takes down the former Everton forward inside the Leeds half.
15 min: Luke Shaw nutmegs Aaronson but goes down … he doesn’t get a free-kick for his efforts.
14 min: Okafor pulls off a fancy flick on the edge of the area but Leeds’ advance breaks down due to the offside flag.
13 min: The offside flag goes up against Dorgu as he chases a long ball from Martínez.
11 min: It’s an old-fashioned game this, long balls, plenty of hassle and adrenaline. Not a lot of chilled-out passing at the back.
9 min: Leeds move it quickly down the left before Okafor cuts in, finds Aaaronson, who plays to Calvert-Lewin inside the area – he pokes at the ball but blasts over.
7 min: Time for another Dalot throw … he goes back to Martínez who retreats to Lammens. The long ball goes to Casemiro, who heads to Cunha … a fierce volley from outside the area finds the net! But the flag was up for offside. What a hit, though.
6 min: The main act at present is Gudmundsson launching throws from the Leeds left. Dalot launches a long one himself from the right for the visitors, with Ugarte heading over the bar.
4 min: It’s a scrappy opening as Leeds press with proper intent, Calvert-Lewin leading it.
2 min: Leeds power down the left, win an early throw that goes long, but Manchester United stay resolute. Dorgu appears to be his side’s right-sided No 10.
Peeeeeeep!
Manchester United kick things off, and overload down the right as Lammens goes long. Here’s to a thriller.
Here we go. The players are out of the tunnel and Elland Road is rocking in the sunshine.
Some pre-match reading: Louise Taylor on the resurgence of DCL.
The last time Leeds beat Manchester United? Sixteen years and one day ago. Not in the Premier League but in the FA Cup, when Jermaine Beckford’s goal at Old Trafford delivered a massive upset. What a lovely finish:
Here’s how we’re looking:
Patrick Dorgu as one of Amorim’s No 10s? Funky if so. Joshua Zirkzee’s reward for a goal against Wolves is a place on a very inexperienced bench. Leeds, on the other hand, welcome Calvert-Lewin back to the starting XI. Noah Okafor starts, too.
The teams
Leeds: Lucas Perri, Bornauw, Bijol, Struijk, Justin, Aaronson, Gruev, Stach, Gudmundsson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
Subs: Darlow, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Harrison, Tanaka, Byram, Gnonto, Chambers
Manchester United: Lammens, Yoro, Heaven, Martínez, Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Shaw, Dorgu, Cunha, Sesko
Subs: Bayindir, Zirkzee, Malacia, Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato, Kukonki.
Preamble
The last time this pedigree fixture took place, in February 2023, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were Manchester United’s goalscorers in a 2-0 victory. Erik ten Hag was enjoying his debut campaign in England while Leeds had just parted ways with Jesse Marsch and were on their way to relegation. It feels long, long ago.
Today, it’s the hosts who have form. Daniel Farke’s side went unbeaten in the league through December, and they’ve put on some serious entertainment at Elland Road: clashes with Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Liverpool resulted in 15 goals, with Leeds picking up seven points along the way. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has rediscovered the form that made him an England international.
Manchester United? Well, there’s always a crisis of sorts lurking close by. Ruben Amorim went under interrogation on Friday, the injury list is long, and they could only muster a point at home against Wolves last time out. And yet victory today would take them to fourth place. It’s been a funny old season. Kick-off’s at 12.30pm GMT.
