Amorim Wary Of Leeds Threat As Man Utd Eye Crucial Derby Points

Leeds United and Manchester United meet at Elland Road in a key Premier League clash, with Ruben Amorim’s side aiming to close the gap on the top four and Daniel Farke’s promoted team looking to extend an unbeaten league run that has eased early relegation concerns.

Manchester United sit three points behind fourth-place Liverpool after drawing 1-1 with Wolves at Old Trafford before the new year, while Leeds have moved seven points clear of the relegation zone by going six league matches without defeat, winning twice and drawing four in that sequence.

Farke’s team collect more than 20 points already at this stage, which Farke views as positive progress for a promoted side, especially as Leeds stay competitive in almost every game and recently held

Liverpool to a 0-0 draw on New Years Day despite resting several key players for that match.

Leeds have failed to score in only one of their last 17 Premier League home fixtures, that goalless draw against Newcastle in August, and Leeds have hit at least three goals in each of the last three league matches at Elland Road, their best top-flight home scoring streak since late 1993.

Amorim expects a demanding occasion and underlines how much focus Manchester United need amid the Elland Road intensity, saying: "I heard it is a big derby and a great environment. A big rival, said Amorim. Every game in the Premier League is tough for us. I know that it means so much to the fans but we need to go there and try to win. "

Amorim also highlights Leeds’ speed and tactical flexibility, admitting Manchester United have sometimes struggled against pace, adding: "They have a lot of pace and, sometimes, we struggle with pace. They are confident, but we have proved we can win any game in any situation, in every context. So we will try to do that again. We know that they change the system. Let's just focus on the game that is 11 guys against 11 in the beginning and we will try to win. "

Leeds vs Manchester United team news, absences and key players

Manchester United’s build-up is affected by absences, as Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Bruno Fernandes is expected to miss out again through injury, continuing a run in which Amorim’s side have claimed only one win in three league games without that group available.

Joshua Zirkzee becomes even more central for Manchester United with Fernandes, Mbeumo, Diallo and Mason Mount still unavailable, and Zirkzee has struck two goals in his last three Premier League starts, equalling the total managed across the forward’s first 15 league starts for the club.

For Leeds, Dominic Calvert-Lewin carries a major attacking threat at Elland Road, as Calvert-Lewin has scored in each of the last three Premier League home games and in each of the previous five starts, while Calvert-Lewin has never netted in four straight home league matches before.

The last Leeds player to score in four successive Premier League home fixtures was Mark Viduka in April 2004, so Calvert-Lewin has the chance to match a long-standing club achievement in front of home supporters who already see strong signs that this squad can stay away from the relegation battle.

Leeds vs Manchester United history, statistics and match prediction

Historically, Leeds struggle against Manchester United in league meetings, taking only one win from the last 19 Premier League encounters, with six draws and 12 losses, and Leeds are without a victory in nine such matches since a 1-0 home success in September 2002.

However, Manchester United have their own awkward trend in this fixture, as they have never beaten Leeds when facing them in the first league game of a calendar year, drawing 0-0 in 1931, 0-0 in 1994 and 1-1 in 1958, and losing 2-1 in 1969.

Manchester United have drawn six Premier League matches this season, opening the scoring in each of those games, dropping 12 points from winning positions, already more than the 11 points surrendered from ahead across the whole of last season, while Amorim’s side have allowed more equalisers than any other team in the division, with opponents drawing level 12 times.

Leeds’ attacking record at Elland Road contrasts with that, as Leeds have scored in 16 of the last 17 league home fixtures, and Leeds now seek a longer run of home matches with three or more Premier League goals for the first time since a sequence of five between October and December 1993.

OPTA’s model still leans slightly towards an away success despite Leeds’ form and Manchester United’s habit of dropping leads, and lists a draw as the least likely outcome, though historical patterns and current trends both point towards tight margins and the realistic prospect of another shared result between the clubs.

Team / Result	Win probability
Leeds United	33.5%
Draw	25.7%
Manchester United	40.8%

Farke stresses how much the fixture means within the club’s journey back to this level, saying: "Form and momentum is really good and we know also how much it means for our supporters this game, said Farke. We had a good start so to be there with more than 20 points already at this stage of the season as a promoted side, this is a really good sign. Especially more encouraging the performances and that we are competitive in each of the games more or lessthis is quite good. We have fought so hard over the last two years to be back on Premier League level to have these types of games and especially also, of course, this fixture. We want to show our strength and our skills again and if we do so, then together with our supporters, then we also will have a chance. "

Our first assignment of 2026: An away trip to Leeds pic.twitter.com/oW0VM5DTWOManchester United (@ManUtd) January 2, 2026

𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝘃𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹@HisenseUK Player of the Match pic.twitter.com/UHbCq4r7uPLeeds United (@LUFC) January 2, 2026

With Leeds buoyed by home form and renewed Premier League status, and Manchester United balancing injuries, Africa Cup of Nations absences and a pattern of surrendered leads, the derby at Elland Road presents a contest shaped by momentum versus pedigree, where both sides see clear opportunity but statistical signs point towards a closely fought match.