Leeds v Man Utd predictions: Red Devils should edge a high-scoring contest

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Leeds v Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 2pm Sunday

Best bet

Manchester United to win & over 2.5 goals
2pts 13-8 bet365

Team news

Leeds
Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford and Leo Hjelde are out. Stuart Dallas is a major doubt.

Man Utd
Raphael Varane, Eric Bailly and Nemanja Matic should be fine. Edinson Cavani is out while Mason Greenwood remains suspended.

Match preview

Ralf Rangnick could stick the captain's armband on one of his physios for Sunday afternoon's trip to Elland Road and it shouldn't make any difference, because Manchester United ought to still make light work of Premier League opponents Leeds.

An apparent dispute between Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo over who should be skipper has worked its way into the media, just the latest tale of alleged dressing room unease swirling around Old Trafford.

It makes for an interesting read but will have no bearing on what unfolds at Elland Road where a decent enough United with top-four aspirations can take care of an erratic United with relegation concerns.

Rangnick's men at odds-on looks an acceptable enough bet, although if they are going to win the chances are it will be in a goal-feast, just as it was when these two met in Manchester on the opening weekend. United and over 2.5 goals at 13-8 is a riskier way in for greater reward, but has much to commend it.

United won 5-1 when Leeds went to Old Trafford in August, a ludicrously open game which yielded 26 shots in total.

Granted that wasn't Rangnick's side – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge that day – but the German will be aware that it was the fluidity of the home front four which caused Marcelo Bielsa's men such a headache.

Paul Pogba and current Leeds employee Danny James were in that quick-footed quad, with Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, in particular, dragging the visitors out of position at every turn.

Bielsa preaches a dogged man-marking approach which United utterly nullified with the way they attacked and consequently created loads of chances.

Leeds are just as vulnerable now – they've not kept a clean sheet in almost three months, have shipped 28 goals in their last ten matches, exactly three in each of their last two and continue to offer up chances to opponents.

And Manchester United's away record, for all the iffy performances of late, is still exemplary – just two defeats in their last 38 Premier League awaydays.

They snapped a three-game drawing streak with a welcome 2-0 win over Brighton on Tuesday; they weren't great against a team who had ten men for much of the second half, but they were worthy winners.

Leeds are missing Kalvin Phillips terribly and the England midfielder won't be available this weekend. The Whites were desperate in midfield at Everton last week, when they lost 3-0, so don't expect Bielsa to team up Rodrigo and Mateusz Klich any time soon.

Key stat

Leeds have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last nine Premier League games.

Inside info

Leeds

Penalty taker Raphinha
Free-kick wizard Raphinha
Set-piece aerial threat Diego Llorente/Robin Koch
Card magnet Diego Llorente/Rodrigo

Man Utd

Penalty taker Cristiano Ronaldo
Free-kick wizard Cristiano Ronaldo/Bruno Fernandes
Set-piece aerial threat Harry Maguire
Card magnet Harry Maguire

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