The absolute last thing that Michael Carrick or Manchester United need right now is a trip to Elland Road. So, it’s no surprise that the Premier League scriptwriters have pencilled a trip for this afternoon. Daniel Farke‘s Leeds United side are primed to get one over on their rivals and extend their impressive start to the campaign.
The Yorkshire side have been excellent since the start of the season. In many ways, they are thriving in the exact areas that Man United are failing.
They are among the best runners in the league and the best pressers, whilst keeping goals out at one end and finding the back of the net at the other.
If Man United could describe the type of team that they’re struggling to beat this season, then Leeds would emerge. But how could Farke line up to match those predictions?
How Leeds could line up to beat Man Utd
For Leeds, it’s simply a case of don’t fix what’s not broken. Even in defeat against Arsenal last time out, the Whites left a big enough mark on the Gunners to suggest that they’re more than capable of competing against the Premier League’s top sides this season.
On the injury front, there aren’t too many concerns for Farke, either. He will still be without Joe Rodon for Man United’s visit, with the centre-back expected to be out for an extended period following a hamstring injury, and rotational forward Mateo Joseph is also expected to be sidelined.
The good news is that summer signing Harry Wilson made his return to action from the bench last time out and should be fit enough to start if Farke deems it necessary.
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Leeds Predicted XI vs Man Utd |
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|---|---|
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Position |
Player |
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Goalkeeper |
James Trafford |
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Right centre-back |
James Justin |
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Centre-back |
Tarik Muharemovic |
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Left centre-back |
Nico Elvedi |
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Right wing-back |
Jayden Bogle |
|
Central midfield |
Ethan Ampadu |
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Central midfield |
Ao Tanaka |
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Left wing-back |
Gabriel Gudmundsson |
|
Attacking midfield |
Anton Stach |
|
Attacking midfield |
Noah Okafor |
|
Striker |
Dominic Calvert-Lewin |
That said, it would be difficult for the manager to make any dramatic changes after such a good performance at the Emirates.
If that is the case, then the likes of Noah Okafor, Tarik Muharemovic and others will be expected to start from the off.
Man Utd injury news hands Leeds major advantage
Carrick seemed to be in high spirits in his press conference earlier this week, despite another defeat against Atletico Madrid and the fall-out of Lisandro Martinez’s pipe bomb.
The manager even claimed that his side enjoyed their best training session since his arrival in the build-up to their trip to Leeds this afternoon.
Whether that is a classic political lie or undeniable fact remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that Carrick needs a big result if he is to fend off reports of his pending demise.
Compared to Leeds this season, only four clubs have run less than Man United this season and only nine sides have had fewer pressing sequences.
Those numbers wouldn’t be alarming if there was some control about Carrick’s side, but to say that there is no control whatsoever would be a damning understatement.
The bad news doesn’t end there, either. On the injury front, Man United will still be without Benjamin Sesko against Leeds, which means that they’ll be without a natural striker against Farke’s impressive back three.
“We will see about Luke [Shaw] and Kobbie [Mainoo]. Ben’s [Sesko] got to have a few more checks. He’s still a little bit further away.” – Carrick on Sesko
After deploying Bruno Fernandes off the right against Atletico Madrid and moving Youri Tielemans into the No.10 role as a result, it’s clear that Carrick is unsure about his best attacking formula.
Against a side who have conceded just five goals in six games this season, the Red Devils could do without that uncertainty. With Bryan Mbeumo most likely to be the man to lead the line in Sesko’s absence, Muharemovic and Elvedi have the chance to overpower United’s frontman.
Without Sesko, there is not the threat that Leeds can get caught in behind and there is not the same physical presence.
Instead, Mbeumo is likely to drift wide, leaving Justin and one of Bogle and Gudmundsson to sweep up. Life instantly becomes easier for Farke’s men.
Indeed, the confirmation of Sesko’s absence again should certainly be perfect news for Farke and co.
Man Utd’s predicted line-up vs Leeds: Senne Lammens; Ayden Heaven; Harry Maguire; Leny Yoro; Diogo Dalot; Carlos Baleba; Kobbie Mainoo; Bruno Fernandes; Matheus Cunha; Amad Diallo; Bryan Mbeumo
