Kris Moore in action during Man United vs Leeds United. Inset, Leeds Untited's Georginio Rutter looks on.
Kris Moore in action during Man United vs Leeds United. Inset, Leeds Untited's Georginio Rutter looks on.
As Leeds United prepare for their pre-season opener against Manchester United on Saturday, it’s time to look back on the rivals’ last meeting.
Leeds being back in the Premier League means they can face their old enemies, Man United.
Daniel Farke would love to be the man to end the 15-year drought of not gaining a win against their famous Lancashire rivals.
There is already controversy surrounding the game as Jim Ratcliffe has stopped pre-season gift giving, which Leeds are the first victims of.
Stockholm’s meeting will be anything but friendly, as Leeds are looking for revenge from 2023’s showdown.
Manchester United v Leeds United - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
How Leeds United fared against Man United in 2023
The Strawberry Arena will host the clash this year, but back in the pre-season of 2023, both clubs had seasons at opposite ends of the spectrum, as they geared up for a bout in Norway.
Leeds were preparing for a new Championship season under Farke, fresh from their Premier League relegation, and the Red Devils were looking up under Erik ten Hag.
Of course, come to now, Leeds are arguably in a better position than their Manchester rivals, but unfortunately, on the day, it was ten Hag’s side who came out on top, as Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill got on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win for Man United in Oslo.
But looking at the Leeds starting lineup that played the first half of the game, there is plenty to pick out, with a plethora of well-known names along the way…
Leeds United XI in 2-0 defeat to Man United in 2023 friendly
Goalkeeper – Kristoffer Klaesson
Leeds are trying to sort their goalkeeper situation now, with the 49ers treading carefully with a new keeper, but in 2023, there was an experiment with Kristoffer Klaesson.
Klaesson arrived from Valerenga in 2021 for £1m as the Norwegian was back-up to Illan Meslier, but Klaesson left permanently for Poland.
Klaesson only got three appearances for the Whites, but Farke opted for him to start in this friendly, and thankfully for him, he kept a clean sheet in this game, with both goals coming in the second half, but the only thing remembered of the Norwegian in that season was an unusual haircut…
Back four – Cody Drameh, Jeremiah Mullen, Liam Cooper, Leo Hjelde
Four names fans will know well, as Liam Cooper’s name stands out to a tee, with him of course appearing as captain for the game.
Alongside him was Jeremiah Mullen, the academy graduate who now plays his football at Dunfermline Athletic, and despite it not working out for him at Elland Road, Mullen still had his chance in senior training.
The full-backs who played the opening 45 were Cody Drameh and Leo Hjelde, both of whom have just played in the Championship last season, Drameh with Hull City and the latter at Sunderland, as Hjelde could meet Leeds again next season after promotion.
READ MORE: Arsenal legend has given Leeds United the green light to sign £17m target, ‘that transfer must happen’…
Central midfield – Jamie Shackleton, Darko Gyabi
The midfield two were made up of two players who were expected to achieve great things at Leeds, but Jamie Shackleton only featured 15 times under Farke that season.
Since then, Shackleton hasn’t quite kicked on for Sheffield United, and the 25-year-old may regret his exit.
As for Darko Gyabi, he still remains at Leeds, but it’s become clear that Gyabi will be sold this summer, which Farke could regret if Michael Skubala’s prediction of Gyabi comes true.
Leeds United v Shrewsbury Town - Carabao Cup First Round First Round
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Wingers – Ian Poveda, Luis Sinisterra
Moving up into the attack now, and it was a dangerous front four from Farke for the encounter against Man United.
Luis Sinisterra came off the left, as the Colombian endured his second and final pre-season for the Whites as he ventured over to Bournemouth on loan, where he now plays permanently.
As for the right-hand side, Sunderland’s Ian Poveda, who at the time was trying to break through into Farke’s plans and showed promise in that year’s pre-season.
But it wasn’t to be, and after a dismal loan at Sheffield Wednesday, Poveda was released on a free and snapped up by Sunderland, and injuries have affected Poveda badly.
Strikers – Sam Greenwood, Georginio Rutter
An exciting front two, as Georginio Rutter was gearing up to have the season of his life at Leeds.
The Frenchman would go on to contribute 23 goals in that same season, and the Red Devils seemingly got their first glimpse of the attacker during the friendly, before Rutter embarrassed Man United last season for Brighton.
As for Sam Greenwood, who started alongside the Brighton star, he endured a solid loan spell at Middlesbrough, and like Gyabi, Greenwood will be sold this summer.
A starting XI that includes no current Leeds players, which really shows the vast difference, but the substitutes who played the second half of the game featured five current squad members, and some names fans will miss.
Leeds’ second half XI that faced Man United in 2023: Dani van den Heuvel; Luke Ayling, Pascal Struijk, Kris Moore, Cody Drameh; Dan James, Lewis Bate, Archie Gray, Joe Gelhardt; Mateo Joseph, Patrick Bamford.