Leeds United’s fans have had their say on Monday night’s return to Premier League action against Roses rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Leeds United will finally resume their quest for Premier League survival with Monday night’s clash against bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford - but what do the club’s fans think? Here is what our YEP Jury have had to say including disagreement on the predictions front.
KEITH INGHAM
After the weekend’s rollercoaster that saw Leeds reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1987, attention returns to the most important seven games of the season, starting on Monday with a visit to Salford to face Man United.
The Cup progression could have come with a cost. Anton Stach showed his disfigured ankle on Instagram and is out for a while along with Joe Rodon who turned his ankle in the same game.
Noah Okafor, who had a good game before coming off with cramp on Sunday, hopefully will be fit for the game. Ao Tanaka will hopefully keep his place.
He also impressed and scored at West Ham.
Other midfield options to replace Stach are Ilia Gruev and Sean Longstaff. I’d expect Dominic Calvert-Lewin to lead the line alongside Okafor (if fit).
By the time Leeds kick off they will know how the other clubs at the bottom will have fared.
The gap could be only one point if West Ham have beaten Wolves on Friday and other results involving Spurs and Forest have gone their way.
If they do, the term ‘squeaky bottom’ will really be there as not many expect Leeds to come away from Old Trafford with anything.
Prediction: Manchester United 2 Leeds United 0 (head), 1-1 (heart).
NEIL GREWER
On the back of the terrific FA Cup run and low expectation of winning, this game has, for me, become less significant than the more winnable games to follow. Perhaps a measure of Leeds’ progression!
However, United have a chance of a result as our old enemies certainly have weaknesses.
Against West Ham, Leeds looked like scoring and the return of Noah Okafor certainly added variety to our game, plus Dominic Calvert-Lewin is scoring again.
If Gabi Gudmundsson is fit he will give Leeds added threat on the break. The opposition have been guilty of conceding soft goals, partly due to personnel changing in defence.
Goal concessions at the Hammers could have been avoided and maybe with a full-strength defence would have been – I expect a full-strength defence on Monday.
Leeds will be less adventurous than against West Ham and I expect a tighter game with fewer opportunities.
Anton Stach and Joe Rodon will miss the game which is a blow, but Leeds have decent cover and this may prompt Daniel Farke to set up more defensively. A point would be a great result.
Prediction: Manchester United 2 Leeds United 1.
DAVID WATKINS
The big games keep coming thick and fast, and none is bigger than Old Trafford, especially when we’re in a relegation dog fight, and the Reds are striving for a lucrative Champions League spot.
It’s a big weekend all round at the bottom of the Premier League, with Spurs facing a Sunday afternoon trip to Sunderland, Forest hosting Aston Villa (with both sides also having played Europa League games), and West Ham hosting Wolves on Friday night.
By the time Leeds step out in Salford, we’ll know all the other results, and that might heap even more pressure on the Mighty Whites.
The one big positive that Leeds can latch onto is that they are unbeaten in their last seven away games in all competitions, all of which ended in draws, and that should have been eight had we been able to close out the game at St James’ Park.
It’s a recent record that makes a mockery of the full-season stats, in which Leeds have the worst away record in the division, apart from Wolves and Burnley. Worryingly, only Arsenal and Manchester City have better home records than the Reds!
There is no reason we can’t get a point on Monday, and it could be a vital one.
Prediction: Manchester United 1 Leeds United 1.
After the crazy but ultimately satisfying trip to east London, the Whites make the short hop across the Pennines to meet our good friends at Old Trafford.
Fun though it was, the West Ham game bears no relation to this fixture.
Except perhaps for the feel-good factor.
The Whites are in a good place at the moment and irrespective of the results of close rivals over the weekend, it would be very handy to come away from this match with at least a point.
Man United have improved over the second half of the season and currently sit in third place.
Although they are unlikely to overtake their local rivals in second place, they will be keeping a close eye on Aston Villa.
They have no European or domestic cup adventures to distract them and they should be more than capable of consolidating their position.
Everyone knows the history of this fixture but this Whites side will not be overawed by the opposition.
Having consulted the tea leaves and magic beans, I’m going for a draw.
Prediction: Manchester United 1 Leeds United 1.
ANDY RHODES
With a hard-fought and perhaps unexpected win in the FA Cup quarter-finals last week at West Ham United, Leeds United now return to league action with a tough trip across the Pennines.
Manchester United are revitalised under caretaker boss Michael Carrick, sitting third in the league table.
The 1-1 draw at Elland Road came towards the end of Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford when, unsurprisingly, the Reds looked considerably weaker.
Leeds will need to be at their very best to win this game and, if they are to go in front, they will need to find a way of coping better.
Sunday wasn’t the first time this season that the Whites have failed to hold onto a lead.
It’s also not the first time they’ve shipped two goals in second-half stoppage time.
Noah Okafor performed well, while Ao Tanaka showed that he is still the tidy midfielder we saw in the Championship.
With Leeds kicking off last this weekend, the pressure may well be on them. All eyes will be on our rivals earlier in the weekend.
Prediction: Manchester United 3 Leeds United 0.
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