Manchester United vs. Leeds United Preview: The War of the Roses returns

A fierce rivalry will be resumed at Old Trafford this Sunday, as Leeds lock horns with Manchester United, writes @jonnychick__.

The 16-year wait for this league fixture is over as the biggest game of the season for the Whites has finally come around.

Even though no fans will be in the stadium, the passion from the thousands watching at home will flood onto the pitch. The desire to win this grudge match will definitely be seen in Leeds-born Kalvin Phillips.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Phillips said: "I know what it means to everyone. I've been walking around the changing rooms telling everyone to make sure you are ready.

"Get ready because this is the biggest game of the season."

Leeds go into the clash after arguably their best performance of the season at Elland Road on Wednesday night. The 5-2 demolition of Newcastle United was just the result they needed before the trip to Old Trafford.

Leeds players celebrate during their 5-2 victory over Newcastle (gettyimages/Pool)

The Whites dominated the game on Wednesday, with five different goalscorers taking their goals very well, the pick of the bunch coming from Jack Harrison in the dying embers of the game. His long-range strike and assist for Rodrigo's goal capped off a stunning performance from the Leeds United winger.

Wednesday night also saw 35-year-old Pablo Hernandez make his first appearance since the start of November. The Spanish midfielder was an 82nd-minute substitute and made an instant impact, registering two assists in just eight minutes, giving Leeds fans the reassurance that if the game on Sunday needs a creative spark, he will be there to make it.

After such a convincing victory, that surely means that Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa will name an unchanged line up on Sunday. He said in his pre-match press conference that there are no new injury concerns, but he spoke at length about the rivalry between the two clubs: "Football is the identification and you can identify yourself when you face these type of opponents.

"This process in history, especially in English football, in any rivalry you will see this, it will reinforce everything that I am saying and it puts into manifest that we are getting away from this romanticism", Bielsa added.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are in good form domestically heading into this weekend's big game, losing just one of their last nine league games. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side has only won once at Old Trafford in the league this season - a 1-0 win over West Brom.

The Red Devils will have one eye on a Champions League place as they currently sit in 7th on 23 points, just one point behind the top-four.

United will be boosted by the return of 33-year-old Edinson Cavani from injury, as he completed training on Friday. The experienced forward was the driving force in a comeback from 2-0 down away at Southampton last month. Meanwhile, Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea is expected to replace Dean Henderson and return to the starting line-up.

In their most recent result, Manchester United beat struggling Sheffield United 2-3 at Bramall Lane on Thursday night, increasing their unbeaten run in the league to six.

Manchester United secure maximum points in South Yorkshire (gettyimages/Laurence Griffiths)

Following their win in midweek, Solskjaer said: "I don’t think we lost anyone (to injury) during the win over Sheffield United. When you win games, the boys never feel the little knocks and bruises too badly.”

Previous meetings

The last time these two clubs met was quite recent, a pre-season friendly at the Optus Stadium in Perth in July 2019, with Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side winning 4-0 down under.

The last time the two sides met in a competitive game though was back in the 2011/12 season. Manchester United ran out three-nil winners at Elland Road thanks to a brace from Michael Owen and a goal from Ryan Giggs, knocking Leeds United out of the League Cup.

Leeds United fans still reminisce about their last visit to Old Trafford on January 3rd 2010, where Simon Grayson's Leeds side picked up a famous FA Cup third-round win. Striker Jermaine Beckford scored the only goal of the game in front of the Stretford End, which sent the 9,000 traveling supporters into pandemonium.

However, you'll have to go all the way back to the 28th of February 1981 to find the last time Leeds United last won a league game at Old Trafford. Welsh midfielder Brian Flynn scored the only goal in that game.

Match information

Manchester United vs. Leeds United

English Premier League

16:30 Sunday 20th December 2020

Old Trafford