Pranav Nair
Team News: Manchester United prepare to take on arch-rivals Leeds United
We take a look at the team news as Manchester United take on arch-rivals Leeds United in one of the standout fixtures of the weekend’s Premier League action.
The Red Devils have been in excellent form of late and are still within a small chance of overtaking Manchester City to the Premier League summit. Dropping points against the Whites will not do us any favours.
According to the club’s official site, United will be reinforced at the back following the return of Eric Bailly. The Ivory Coast international missed our last five games after testing positive for COVID-19 while on international duty.
The only major first-team casualties are Anthony Martial and Phil Jones. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has an otherwise full squad to choose from.
Promising youngsters Hannibal Mejbri and Anthony Elanga also trained with the first-team. Neither of them has experienced first-team action and it remains to be seen if they will make the Premier League bow.
Untied and Leeds are sworn rivals and have been involved in some heated matches in the past. Marcelo Bielsa’s team are unbeaten in five games and can be a thorn in our side on their day.
While United have a nearly clean bill of health, the same cannot be said of Leeds. Captain and centre-back Liam Cooper will be missing for the game, while the attacking duo of Rodrigo and Raphinha face a race against time to be fit.
United defeated Leeds 6-2 in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford earlier this season. It was one of our finest performances of the season and a repeat of the same would be a welcome sight.
More Manchester United News
- Manchester United target Erling Haaland backed to stay on at Dortmund for another season
- Alex Telles makes up his mind to leave Manchester United
- Manchester United target David Alaba set to join Real Madrid in the summer
Bruno Fernandes hopes to see his close friend and former Sporting Lisbon teammate Raphinha feature against us. He is looking forward to the game and has vowed to shut down the Leeds attacker if he is fit to play.
