Manchester United play host to managerless Leeds United this Wednesday in the first of two clashes between the sides over four days, with the Red Devils looking to move to within five points of Arsenal with a win over their old rivals.
A scrappy win over Crystal Palace, combined with defeats for the Gunners and fellow rivals Manchester City has left United with the possibility to move level with their ‘noisy neighbours’ on points, although they would have to win by a 29 goal margin to move ahead of them, such is their poor goal difference.
It also means that, with United playing again on Sunday afternoon, they could even move ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side by taking six points from Leeds, who sacked Jesse Marsch on Monday afternoon, though they would have played two games more than the Cityzens.
With that in mind, here’s how we expect the Red Devils to line up on Wednesday night.
Predicted XI
Team news
Erik ten Hag is down to bare bones in midfield, with Christian Eriksen out until May, Donny Van De Beek out until the end of the season and Casemiro’s contentious red card against Crystal Palace leaving him suspended for three games and sitting out both clashes with Leeds as a result.
He is also set to be without Scott McTominay, who was absent over the weekend and whose return, the London Evening Standard report, “is not thought to be imminent”.
Also missing is Anthony Martial, who remains sidelined for an unspecified reason and is likely to miss the tie. Meanwhile, Antony has joined the absentee list too, leaving options scarce for the United boss.
In better news, both Diogo Dalot and Jadon Sancho returned to the fold over the weekend, with the pair being named among the substitutes, and the duo could play some part in the affair from the substitutes bench on Wednesday.
With so many injury issues, there are likely to be very few changes for Ten Hag, with Casemiro’s replacement the only one we expect to see.
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