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  • Leeds Vs Man Utd: Stakes High For Both Sides For Different Reasons In Roses Derby

Leeds vs Man Utd: Stakes high for both sides for different reasons in Roses derby

Bruno Fernandes battles Robin Koch in Man Utd vs Leeds

It's always a big occasion when Leeds face Manchester United, and this weekend will be no different.

Leeds host old rivals Manchester United this weekend with both clubs in equally urgent need of points for very different reasons.

Man Utd moved themselves back into the top four with a 2-0 win over Brighton last time out, although stories of discontent at Old Trafford continue to rumble on.
Leeds, on the other hand, are ticking along at a point-per-game. That would keep them up this season if they can maintain it, but they will be acutely aware that they could easily be dragged into the relegation fight if they can't.

The Roses derby is always emotionally charged and full of niggle, but this one should could go to an extra level.

Who is the ref for Leeds vs Man Utd

Paul Tierney will take charge of this one, ensuring s satisfying level of symmetry is observed.
Tierney was also the referee for the reverse fixture this season when Man Utd won 5-1 on the opening day at Old Trafford.
Manchester United fans may be more enthused by his record than Leeds supporters. Tierney has refereed Man Utd 17 times in his career and award five penalties to the Red Devils. He hasn't been as generous to Leeds, awarding them just one penalty in 10 games and brandishing two red cards to Whites players.
As well as the 5-1 defeat at Old Trafford in August, Tierney was also the man in the middle for their 7-0 thrashing at Manchester City, although he did oversee their 3-1 home win over Burney last month too.
Season stats 2021/22: Premier League matches (18), yellows (70), reds (1), penalties (4)

Recent form

Manchester United ended a run of three successive 1-1 draws (including a penalty shootout defeat to Championship side Middlesbrough) when they beat Brighton 2-0 in midweek.
Their longer-term form is just as unconvincing. They have won seven Premier League matches since the start of December but five of them have been by a single-goal margin. They aren't losing either though, with the 1-0 reverse at home to Wolves their only defeat (in 90 minutes) since Ole Gunnar Solksjaer was sacked.
Leeds registered a brilliant 3-2 away win at West Ham in mid-January but have only picked up one point in the three games since then.
Wins have certainly been tough to come by for Marcelo Bielsa's men. They have just two of them in their last nine games and have lost five in that run.

Leeds and Man Utd players in form

Jack Harrison scored a hat-trick for Leeds at West Ham last month and has maintained some semblance of form since, while those around him have struggled.

Former Manchester United winger Daniel James is a player worth keeping an eye on too, especially after he scored twice in the 3-3 draw at Aston Villa earlier this month.

You probably would say that Cristiano Ronaldo was in form for Man Utd, but he appeared to at least flirt with it against Brighton last week.

The former Real Madrid and Juventus star scored a fine goal and put in a performance to remember, but it was just one game.

Jadon Sancho, meanwhile, has scored twice in his last four matches. You have to note that Bruno Fernandes has five goals in his last three matches against Leeds too.

Last three matches

Man Utd 5-1 Leeds (August 14, 2021)

Man Utd made the best possible start to their Premier League campaign when Leeds visited Old Trafford in August.

Bruno Fernandes was the star of the show bagging a hat-trick, with Mason Greenwood and Fred scoring the other two.

Luke Ayling scored the solitary Leeds goal to equalise just after half-time.

Leeds 0-0 Man Utd (April 25, 2021)

This fixture wasn't especially thrilling last season, with a resilient Leeds extending their unbeaten streak in the Premier League to six matches.
It was a special day for Harry Maguire, though, as he equalled Gary Pallister's club record for the most consecutive appearances by an outfield player in the Premier League (71).

Man Utd 6-2 Leeds (December 20, 2020)

It was another Old Trafford goal-fest when these sides met in December 2020 with Man Utd again enjoying the best of it.
Scott McTominay was an unlikely goal hero as he scored twice in the first three minutes to get the Red Devils off to a flier.

Bruno Fernandes scored two as well, with Victor Linelof and Dan James, now of Leeds, netting the others.

Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas got the Leeds goals on a miserable day for the Whites.

Last 10 matches

Leeds wins: 2
Draws: 2
Man Utd wins: 6
Leeds scored: 9
Man Utd scored: 21

Managers' thoughts

Marcelo Bielsa believes a derby match could be the perfect occasion to lift their season after recent poor results.
"A classic (derby) game is always a challenge that's very motivating," Bielsa said.
"Yes, there's differences between the styles (of Solksjaer and Rangnick) and high-pressing stands out the most."

Meanwhile, Ralf Rangnick said: "Leeds is probably a team that plays with the highest amount of momentum and speed and tempo. For us, it's important not to allow them to play like that. On the other hand, they have conceded quite a few goals.

"Apart from Norwich, [they are] the team with the highest amount of conceded goals. I think we know we are well prepared for that game and we will try to prepare the team to play for 90-94 minutes and stick to the game-plan."

Leeds vs Man Utd predicted teams

Stuart Dallas could play despite colliding with Alex Iwobi against Everton. Dallas' replacement Leo Hjelde sustained a knee injury in the same game and could require an operation. Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford are still missing.
Edinson Cavani is expected to miss the game again with a groin injury. Raphael Varane will be available, while Eric Bailly and Nemanja Matic are back in contention.
Possible Leeds starting line-up: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Dallas, Koch, Forshaw, Raphinha, Harrison, Rodrigo, James

Possible Man Utd starting line-up: De Gea, Varane, Maguire, Dalot, Shaw, Fred, Fernandes, McTominay, Ronaldo, Sancho, Elanga

Leeds vs Man Utd prediction

The goals have tended to be saved for Old Trafford when these two sides have met recently and there is little in either side's form to expect an especially open game here either.
We'll go for a 1-1 draw that will help Leeds more than Man Utd.

READ MORE: Manchester United set to sack manager - looking back to the Burns' Day Storm of 1990

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