A false sense of security may have crept in for Manchester United and the Old Trafford faithful on December 30, when the Red Devils welcomed a struggling Wolves side they had beaten 4–1 away weeks earlier.
However, Ruben Amorim’s men slumped back to their worst form in a demoralising 1–1 draw as Wolves cancelled out Joshua Zirkzee’s opener through Ladislav Krejci just before half-time.
Manchester United were held at Old Trafford as Wolves earned a hard-fought 1–1 draw, a result that once again raised questions about consistency, Softfootball reported.
Despite the setback, United remain sixth in the Premier League and just three points off the Champions League places. They travel to Elland Road carrying a 25-game unbeaten run against newly promoted sides and have scored in seven straight away league matches. Still, defensive concerns persist, with the Red Devils conceding in 14 consecutive Premier League away games and already dropping more points from winning positions than they did across the whole of last season.
Fans’ reactions to Manchester United ending their home drought with a gritty win over Newcastle remain one of the few recent positives. Manchester United posted on their official X handle updating their fans ahead of their game against Leeds United.
Manchester united stated;
Our first assignment of 2026: An away trip to Leeds
Leeds United, meanwhile, head into the fixture full of belief after holding Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield. Daniel Farke’s side showed resilience and organisation, earning a deserved point that stretched their unbeaten league run to six matches. That result kept the Whites seven points clear of the relegation zone, collecting 10 points from their last six games and underlining their steady improvement.
Elland Road has been a major factor in Leeds’ revival, with the Whites scoring 10 goals in their last three home matches. While they have not kept a home clean sheet since August, their attacking confidence has grown, and they will be encouraged by the fact that Manchester United have struggled defensively on their travels. Leeds have not beaten United in the Premier League since 2002, but current form suggests they are well placed to challenge that record.
Team News
Manchester United remain stretched by injuries and absences, with Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo still sidelined. Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire also miss out, while Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are away on AFCON duty. Amorim may consider reverting to a back four after recent struggles with a wing-back system.
Leeds will be without Ethan Ampadu, who is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card. Sean Longstaff, Joe Rodon and Daniel James are also unavailable, while Sebastiaan Bornauw is a doubt. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to return to the starting XI after being rested against Liverpool.
Possible Lineups
Leeds United: Perri; Bogle, Bijol, Struijk; Justin, Stach, Aaronson, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Dorgu, Zirkzee, Cunha; Sesko
Softfootball Prediction
Leeds United 2-1 Manchester United. Leeds’ momentum at home and Manchester United’s ongoing defensive issues suggest both sides will score, but the hosts appear better placed to edge this contest. With confidence growing at Elland Road and United still searching for stability, another frustrating afternoon could await Amorim’s side, as Softfootball reported.
