Leeds vs Man Utd Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 English Premier League

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The Yorkshire and Lancashire rivalry will be on full show on Sunday, when Daniel Farke's Leeds host Michael Carrick's struggling Man Utd.

Kick-off date/time: 18 October 2026 at 2:00 pm

How to watch on TV & online: UK – Sky Sports & Sky Go / USA – USA Network, Fubo & Peacock Premium

Leeds preview: No panic

Leeds' first Premier League defeat of the season came against Arsenal last weekend, although they were leading in that match through James Justin before the Gunners hit back with two goals of their own.

Daniel Farke's men remain unbeaten at Elland Road this season though, and the atmosphere is sure to be fervent ahead of the visit of historical rivals Man Utd.

Man Utd preview: Carrick holding on

Michael Carrick will be feeling the heat right now with Man Utd delivering disjointed performances and currently on a run of five games without a win in all competitions.

Failing to hold on to a lead against ten-man Tottenham last weekend was a particularly bitter pill to swallow for Utd fans, and their mood was not improved midweek with the Red Devils losing 2-0 at Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

Leeds team news: James touch and go

Daniel James could be available to face his former club after making good progress in his recovery from a back issue.

Joe Rodon is coming towards the end of his own recovery but this fixture will come a little too soon, while Mateo Joseph (ACL) is the only long-term absentee in the Leeds camp.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemovic; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Stach, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin

Unavailable: Rodon (Injured), Joseph (Injured)

Questionable: James (Injured)

Man Utd team news: Uncertainty over Shaw & Mainoo

Carrick was vague in his comments regarding the condition of Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo, while Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte and Benjamin Sesko will definitely miss out.

The Utd boss has stated that Lisandro Martinez will be part of the matchday squad despite making comments criticising the club's owners in the aftermath of the Atletico Madrid defeat.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Tielemans, Baleba; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo

Unavailable: Mazraoui (Injured), Dorgu (Injured), Ugarte (Injured), Sesko (Injured)

Questionable: Heaton (Injured), Shaw (Injured), Mainoo (Injured)

Key stats

• Man Utd have won 17 of 32 Premier League meetings with Leeds (D10 L5).
• Leeds' 2-1 win at Old Trafford in April 2026 was their first Premier League win at Old Trafford and their first against Man Utd since September 2002.
• Leeds are winless in their last five home Premier League games against Man Utd (D2 L3). Their last home win in the fixture was 1-0 in September 2002.
• On this day in 2003 (18 October), Man Utd won 1-0 at Elland Road in front of 40,153.
• Man Utd's 6 points from six games is their lowest total at this stage of any Premier League season.
• Man Utd are winless in four (D3 L1) and, coming into Matchweek 7, are one of four teams without a clean sheet. Their last clean sheet was 3-0 at Brighton on 24 May 2026.
• Leeds are unbeaten in seven home Premier League games (W4 D3) and have kept four clean sheets in that run.
• Leeds' matches have averaged 2.17 goals this season, joint-second lowest coming into Matchweek 7; Man Utd's have averaged 3.00.
• The most common scoreline in the fixture is 1-0 (six times, either way), followed by 1-1 (five).
• Kick-off quirk: since 2014/15, Leeds have won only six of their 27 Premier League games kicking off at 14:00 on a Sunday (D10 L11). Man Utd have won 14 of 36 (D11 L11).
• Man Utd have won 54.0% of their Premier League games in October (67 of 124), Leeds 30.5% (18 of 59).

Leeds vs Man Utd prediction

This is not a fixture that Carrick needs right now, with the Elland Road crowd likely to be in full voice for the 'Roses Rivalry'. To make matters worse for the visitors, Leeds have made a promising start to the season and sit three points above Man Utd ahead of this fixture.

Carrick badly needs a result here but there is clear discontent in his squad, which became starkly apparent during Martinez's post-Champions League interview on Tuesday night.

By contrast, all seems well in the Leeds camp at the moment and they will smell blood here. A home win is firmly on the cards.

Leeds vs Man Utd tip: Leeds to win