Manchester United will go fourth if they win today, with a game in hand on those above them. A victory for Leeds would lift them into the top ten.
“Hi Rob,†says Conol Huetter. “While Pogba can certainly be a defensive liability and doesn’t deserve to be an automatic pick, his ability to slow the game down and keep the ball could be missed in a game that looks like it will be frantic and end-to-end. Fred, for all his improvement, still loves to dither on the ball, and Leeds could absolutely punish that. I hope I’m wrong.â€
Pogba dithers on the ball even more, I’d argue, though I thought he would start after his performance on Thursday.
Team news
David de Gea returns in goal for Manchester United, one of five changes from the team that beat Sheffield United on Thursday. Dan James, Scott McTominay, Fred and Luke Shaw replaces Mason Greenwood, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba and Alex Telles.
Leeds are unchanged from the team that thumped Newcastle on Wednesday.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1) de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; James, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
Substitutes: Henderson, Bailly, Telles, Mata, Matic, Cavani, Pogba, van de Beek, Greenwood.
Leeds United (4-1-4-1) Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski; Phillips; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Klich, Harrison; Bamford.
Substitutes: Casilla, Struijk, Davis, Casey, Hernandez, Shackleton, Poveda-Ocampo, Roberts, Costa.
Referee Anthony Taylor.
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Preamble
Hello. Manchester United and Leeds United have a unique rivalry, fuelled by pharmaceutical grade hatred. There’s nothing quite like it in English football. It’s such a shame there will be no crowd at Old Trafford for their first league meeting since 2004, but the match should still be played with a shuddering intensity. You get that with Leeds at the best of times, never mind in a game of this significance.
Leeds won on their last visit to Old Trafford, an FA Cup shock in 2010, but their last league victory here was in 1981. Marcelo Bielsa is already adored by everyone connected with Leeds; imagine if he wins today. His intrepid Athletic Bilbao played Manchester United off the pitch in a Uefa Cup tie in 2012, and Leeds will come with the same aggressive approach. Manchester would be well advised not to make their usual slow start.
Kick off 4.30pm.
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