Our live stream ahead of Sundays Premier League match, Man Utd vs Leeds is now up and running, kicking off at 16.30 GMT
You can keep an eye on the commentary as it happens below, but first, we take a preview into the fixture, lineups, predictions and much more…
Manchester United extended their Premier League away winning run to 10 games as Marcus Rashford scored twice, coming from behind again to win 3-2 at Sheffield United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have become the first side to win six successive away games after conceding first in a single Premier League season. The Red Devils now sit sixth in the Premier League table with a game in hand over most of the teams around them.
However, Old Trafford is by no means the fortress it used to be at the moment, with United having won just one of their last eight Premier League games on their own patch.
Only three teams have picked up fewer points at home all season, and perhaps even more worrying is the fact that only Burnley have scored fewer home goals than Man United’s measly tally of three from six games so far.
Three goals in the final 15 minutes – including a Jack Harrison screamer – got Leeds back to winning ways with a 5-2 victory over Newcastle, after their set-piece frailties almost cost them again at Elland Road.
Leeds had lost their last two coming into the match, and only won one of their first six home league games, dominated throughout as Patrick Bamford scored his ninth goal of the season.
With five wins and six defeats among their 13 outings so far, inconsistency has been the issue for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season. The key to victory could be keeping Man United’s misfiring home attack at bay.
Leeds’ three away wins this season have all come alongside clean sheets, but when they have conceded they have gone on to ship four against Liverpool, four against Crystal Palace and three against Chelsea.
Man United and Leeds last competitive match was a Carling Cup tie back in 2011, where United won 3-0 at Elland Road
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ole, how much are you looking forward to this game? You played in many of them and Manchester United versus Leeds has a ring to it, of course…
“I can’t wait. It’s been too long. Of course, I know how much it means for our supporters. I know how much it means for our club but the other bit is it’s a different type of Leeds coming up, with a coach who has really done a great job with them and will test us to the limit.”
Ole, I was just wondering what your take is on the Edinson Cavani charge?
“Well, of course, we have spoken to Edinson about it. He’s apologised. He knows and we know it wasn’t meant in a malicious way. He’s explained and there’s cultural differences there and linguistic differences. So he’s apologised.”
“He hopes that mistake is not going to be costly. He’s still working on his fitness. He’s very meticulous on his rehab work and has not felt right. He couldn’t play in this game but let’s see in the last training session how he feels.”
What is the Cavani injury?
“It was a muscle injury he felt in his groin.”
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have started the last nine Premier League games. Is that becoming quite taxing on them, and is Axel Tuanzebe injured after missing the last two squads?
“Victor and Harry have been very consistent, I thought, last season as well, they were excellent. Eric and Axel had small injuries but are available for us and, for Leeds, I hope so. So let’s see what we do.”
“Obviously, Harry played the most minutes in European football last season, I think. I think he’s enjoying playing. Victor is maturing, growing and getting more and more used to the demands of the Premier League. They’ve been very consistent and I’m very happy with them. It might come to the point where they’ve got to rest, of course.”
On Saturday, it marks two years for you in the job. How do you sum it and do you think you’re on course to get this club where you want it?
“I do not like, or I hate, talking about what I think I’ve done and where we’re at. So I don’t really enjoy that bit of looking back. I’m always looking forward. I know there’s a lot of good work to be done still to get to the standard I want, the level I want.”
“That’s what we’re working on, every single day, but I’ve really enjoyed those two years. Even tough games like this, which make my hair turn even greyer very, very quickly.”
On Leeds, you played against them a few times, so can you recall what the hostility was like?
“There were fiery games, the tackles were flying in, players from both teams were winners and we had a few fights, of course. But Elland Road wasn’t the quietest place when you came off the coach, walking into the stadium, put it that way.”
The club hoped to have fans in on Sunday. How big a disappointment is it that it’s been delayed again? Is it also an imbalance that rivals clubs are allowed to have fans in?
“This is a delicate question to answer because we want fans into the stadiums. I can’t see why we should stop the fans coming into the stadium, where it’s possible. That’s such a difficult answer to give you but I don’t think it would be any problem for us at Old Trafford to host 2,000 or 4,000 fans as well.”
“We can’t wait to get fans in. I don’t want to stand here and say it’s not fair but having fans is, of course, an advantage for them. Everyone loves the support from their own club so we’ll just wait and, hopefully next time, we’ll be open.”
Marcelo Bielsa
A lot of love for fifth-goal celebration on Wednesday – have you calmed down yet?
“In relation to the game against Man Utd, we are just finishing up looking at the Newcastle game and we are looking at Sunday now.”
Are players aware how big this is with Man Utd?
“Leeds does not ignore what it means to play in such a game. We’re prepared to adapt to the characteristics this game will demand.”
What do you make of Solskjaer?
“We are all over-observed and this is a situation where no coach is exempt. It increases or decreases depending on the success the team has. It’s part of the job. Of course, Solskjaer has dealt very well with this aspect we have just spoken about.”
Concussions subs – how beneficial to the game? Five subs opinion?
“These are decisions taken by the people in charge, who of course have information from scientists and other sources. I will adapt to whatever the rules are.”
Must help having the time given by concussion subs?
“Any decision that protects the health of the players is welcome.”
Does managing the teams you played for give you more time? Like Solskjaer at Man Utd
“It’s not exactly the same. Solskjaer was a reference for Manchester United. I played two games in the top division. Normally, when a player has played for a long time in a team they have the affection of the fans and when they become a manager they have more of their support.”
Do you research the history of this game?
“More than the past of people who play in football are footballers and coaches. The motivation or repercussions of motivation are linked to what you can get from the following result.”
“When what happens on the pitch can have a big impact on the fans it increases the responsibility and it multiplies the desire to impose yourself.”
How big a moment was your Bilbao win at Old Trafford?
“It’s a very solid memory. You’re referring to the Bilbao and Man Utd game.”
[Yeah]
“The memories are many. Initially, to the players who produced the performance, for the 8,000 Basque fans who attended the game. The image of them being installed to the right side of me, I have it installed in my memory.”
“That triumph is in the memory of all the Athletic fans. What it has to do with me, is it solidifies the link I have with the Athletic fans and the Basque people. There’s one thing that clearly shows its impact on the fans, this kind of result increases the art of a city, of a place, of the people of the village, of the place, but not from a commercial point of view.”
“From the imagination that comes from the body and is expressed in the culture. Works, sculptures, jewellery, paintings, readings or writings, that are produced by common people, where the feeling created is something unimaginable.”
“The same as when Phillips had a mural done of him. Done in a smaller way with different manifestations by normal people who don’t want the recognition. They don’t want any payment for them or anything in return.”
“They show the pride that is to be part of a tribe. Me, for example, I don’t forget when you say hello to a Basque person, the first thing they do is show you their Athletic season ticket or they tell you how long they have been a ST-holder. This is a form of identity like if it was a document and that game synthesised a lot of what Athletic is. What Athletic is all about.”
How have you translated those Athletic memories over to the Leeds players this week?
“I was part of a victory and this victory is less for the protagonists and more for the fans. If I had to make a reference of a big rivalry, I would use those I experienced as a Newell’s fan against Rosario.”
“In these big clashes, I prefer to stop and ask what the players feel about playing. If we listen to them we can see how the affection of the players’ functions.”
“One of football’s big losses is measuring the results of what’s happening. In the football world that is more industrialised and professionalised. It’s impossible to talk about feeling.”
“Every time is less and less about the feelings. There will come a time where the fans won’t be able to have the feelings that help them identify with the team.”
Does this fixture carry more because of the feeling between the teams?
“Football is identification and you can identify yourself when you face these kind of opponents. The bond of communication, it goes stronger in these games. Fans can say ‘I am from this side’ and the side I am from is represented by this badge and values.”
“To show what I am is very important to have a big opponent and defeat them. This process, so rich in history, especially in English football. Any library in the sports section you will see this and reinforce everything I am saying.”
Team news
“There’s no injuries and the time for recovery has been sufficient. If possible, I’d like to avoid the following question.”
How do you assess the season so far?
“Seventeen points is a decent amount, but it would not have been an injustice to have a few more.”
Thoughts on your murals?
“It makes me very proud and I’m very thankful. Of course, I won’t forget it.”
How difficult for experienced players like Hernandez to accept their role from the bench?
“For any player it is difficult to be a substitute. For the prestigious players and those who are idols it’s difficult. In a parallel way, not everyone can play. Before the start of the competition nobody can be guaranteed their minutes. We all understand it is this way.”
“There’s no doubt it is difficult to put this into practise. The other day, I was told it is normal for a player to be substituted to manifest their feelings in a bad way. I heard it from a commentator in a different league, another country.”
“It came to my attention it was common, but to understand the player doesn’t play the minutes he wants. Of course, I understand the satisfaction and difficult to manage that.”
Have you always been aware of the Leeds and Manchester United rivalry or did you have to be informed?
“Well of course I have been here for two-and-a-half years now and I know about the immediate history of the club, of course.”
Do you feel this is a match where you will miss the away fans more?
“The absence of fans is always something that is hurtful. There is always a reason to say that it is hurtful that the fans are not there.”
Thoughts on Fergie
“I have noted down a memory with respect to that game against Man Utd. Anything I say about Ferguson is just to confirm everything he has already done. Of course, what Ferguson means to all his colleagues.”
“I have noted anyone in the presence of Ferguson is like receiving a medal. In relation to the game we played, he had a praise I never forgot. He said he wasn’t surprised Athletic had won, that it was within what was possible and he also wasn’t surprised how much the team had run to be on equal terms with them.”
“What did surprise him was on the day of the game, in the morning, my team had trained an hour and a half on the morning of that game. I never forgot that comment from him. There’s sometimes training on the day of the game is an exaggeration, for some.”
“There is something that justifies training on the day of the game. Of course, the training consumes some energy necessary in the night. They are training sessions advise them of co-ordinations needed in the night of the game.”
“They permit you to run less in the game because you are running in the correct manner. It’s difficult to explain a training necessary on the day of the game, but the justification was it was needed for the team to run in a co-ordinated manner and, therefore, less. As we all know, any explanation of this needs to be validated by a victory.”
FORM:
Manchester United Premier League form: WWWWDW
Manchester United form (all competitions): WLWLDW
Leeds United Premier League form: LDWLLW
LINEUPS:
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred, Pogba; Fernandes; Martial, Rashford
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski; Phillips, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Hernandez, Harrison; Bamford
THATSAGOAL TIP:
Marcus Rashford Anytime Scorer – 13/10 with FanTeam
Rashford netted a brace in a comeback win over Sheffield United, taking him to three goals in his last three Premier League games. Manchester United’s defence has been an issue but their attack is currently more than making up for it with a series of wins from behind.
Leeds have conceded seven goals in their last three games despite taking three points during that period. Manchester United can take advantage of these defensive frailties and Rashford is perhaps best placed to do so among the United ranks.
Time to take a look at our Manchester United vs Leeds live match stream as it happens…
You must be logged in to post a comment Login