Leeds United
Alan Shearer. Credit: Imago
Leeds United are back in action later today as they head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in a standout Premier League fixture.
The Whites haven’t won any of their last six league games, but they’ve still managed to keep a bit of distance from the relegation zone.
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Nottingham Forest and West Ham United, both sitting below Leeds, picked up points in the last round, but it doesn’t change anything for Leeds tonight, as they’re set to stay 15th regardless of the result.
Meanwhile, Tottenhamslipped into the bottom three after their loss to Sunderland on Sunday. It means if Leeds avoid a defeat tonight, they will increase their buffer over the bottom three, but Alan Shearer is unsure.
Alan Shearer identifies one key advantage for Leeds over Manchester United
Manchester United are marching towards Champions League qualification and have looked a different team since Michael Carrick took charge in Janaury.
Alan Shearer also believes they are massive favourites to beat Leeds tonight and feels Carrick has done a great job to revive the Red Devils this season.
However, the former striker indicated that Leeds could have one advantage as Manchester United could be rusty after not playing a game in over three weeks.
Shearer said in his column for The Metro: “This is a big game and a big rivalry. Michael Carrick is doing a brilliant job, and I’m pleased for him.
“If it were away, then it might be different, but because it’s at Old Trafford, then I think Man United will have enough to win.
“It’s not always a good thing not playing for a long period of time because you can come into it a bit rusty, and depending on what they’ve had off and where they’ve been and all of those things.
“But in the main, I think they’ve had such a relatively easy season anyway because of no European football. So, it should work in their favour.”
A win at Old Trafford will be huge for the Whites
Daniel Farke’s side have stayed organised and difficult to break down, but their six-game winless run has edged them closer to the relegation battle.
Tottenham’sdownturn has helped Leeds keep their heads above water, though the cushion is slim at just three points.
They now face a tough test against Manchester United, who have lost only once since Michael Carrick took charge and are sitting comfortably in third.
Leeds know they need to come away from Old Trafford with something, but it will take a standout performance from Farke’s men to beat United.
At this stage of the season, a win could go a long way towards securing safety, especially with Spurs still without a victory since the turn of the year.