FA Premier League

Manchester United 6:2 Leeds United

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Sun, 20 December 2020 @ 4:30pm GMT
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    I take comfort in statistics: We're BOUND to score the first goal eventually. The odds increase for every game. So I'm feeling confident that we'll get the first goal in this one. And this team does not lose if they score first.
     
    I would play 442 for this, alternating among the diamond, 4312 and 4222. I wouldn't start McT though, I like his tenacity and hard work, but this will be a game where technical errors in touch and passing in the middle would be suicidal, especially given our slow defence. Imagine a errant pass early on, deep in our own half, leading to Maguire/Lindelof/DDG needing to track a swarm of Leeds players, the stuff of nightmares.

    DDG
    AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
    Pogba Fred VdB
    Bruno
    Rashford Martial​
     
    dcrompton said:
    Spurs say hi
    Click to expand...

    Yes but we don't talk about Lord Voldemort.

    But besides the classical outlier match that all teams have (Aston Villa - Liverpool 7-2, Mancester City - Leicester 2 - 5 etc) - This team has a good history of winning or at minimum drawing games they score first in that spans nearly 10 years.

    In fact, The last time Manchester United lost a game after scoring first in the Premier League was back in Sir Alex' days. As far back as 01. March 2011 in a 2-1 loss against Chelsea at Old Trafford.
     
    I’d go with McT and Fred in CM. Leeds throw bodies forward and I could well see us getting caught out on the break, early on.

    Especially based on our recent approach of conceding before we start playing, would be nice to keep it solid.
     
    M Bison said:
    I’d go with McT and Fred in CM. Leeds throw bodies forward and I could well see us getting caught out on the break, early on.

    Especially based on our recent approach of conceding before we start playing, would be nice to keep it solid.
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    Why not play one of them & partner him with someone who can actually play football like Donny or Pogba? Why do we need 2 DMs at home to a promoted team?
     
    UnofficialDevil said:
    Same reason we needed two DM's against a team about to be relegated. Thats all he knows.
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    It’s just excessive, both Scott & Fred to a lesser extent offer nothing on the ball. Play one of them sure, but both? I can’t understand why any fan would want that. It’s basically surrendering the initiative from the kickoff whistle. We shouldn’t need to stop Leeds, we have more than enough to impose ourselves on them. They should be worried about stopping us. Starting McT & Fred would tell me that our primary concern is to stop Leeds, rather than play our own game.
     
    Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
    Why not play one of them & partner him with someone who can actually play football like Donny or Pogba? Why do we need 2 DMs at home to a promoted team?
    Click to expand...

    Saying newly promoted team would suggest that Leeds are a poor side, which they’re not, and surely if there’s one thing that COVID impacted football has taught us is that there isn’t a home advantage.

    My concern is that Leeds are gung-ho and throw bodies forward, given our recent run of games and track record of conceding first, we may need that extra protection.
     
    Liverpool put down a huge marker today. COME ON UNITED, let's win this one and keep the pressure up on them. They've won 9 out of 14, we need to win our next 2 to be at 9 out of 14 as well.
    The team that wins most games wins the league.

    It may be that they get their 20th title this year, equalling our record but let's not go down without a fight. Forget the rest, this season is about us and them.
     
    Tom Cato said:
    Yes but we don't talk about Lord Voldemort.

    But besides the classical outlier match that all teams have (Aston Villa - Liverpool 7-2, Mancester City - Leicester 2 - 5 etc) - This team has a good history of winning or at minimum drawing games they score first in that spans nearly 10 years.

    In fact, The last time Manchester United lost a game after scoring first in the Premier League was back in Sir Alex' days. As far back as 01. March 2011 in a 2-1 loss against Chelsea at Old Trafford.
    Click to expand...

    We lost that game at the Bridge, not at Old Trafford.

    We beat them 2-1 at Old Trafford in the title decider.
     
    cptkeane1993 said:
    Liverpool put down a huge marker today. COME ON UNITED, let's win this one and keep the pressure up on them. They've won 9 out of 14, we need to win our next 2 to be at 9 out of 14 as well.
    The team that wins most games wins the league.

    It may be that they get their 20th title this year, equalling our record but let's not go down without a fight. Forget the rest, this season is about us and them.
    Click to expand...
    More like Crystal Palace pulled down their pants.

    I agree with though, this season is all about Liverpool and us.
     
    cptkeane1993 said:
    Liverpool put down a huge marker today. COME ON UNITED, let's win this one and keep the pressure up on them. They've won 9 out of 14, we need to win our next 2 to be at 9 out of 14 as well.
    The team that wins most games wins the league.

    It may be that they get their 20th title this year, equalling our record but let's not go down without a fight. Forget the rest, this season is about us and them.
    Click to expand...

    Think it's important we don't get too carried away. Contrary to the Ole out brigade we have made progress under this manager and the future looks much brighter than a few years ago.

    However I think finishing above Liverpool is incredibly unlikely. They are a superb well oiled machine who are basically at their peak now. It would be a minor miracle to finish within a few pts of them if we are honest.

    Second place should be within our grasp though. I don't think likes of Spurs, Chelsea or City are much if any better than us.
     
    Tom Cato said:
    In fact, The last time Manchester United lost a game after scoring first in the Premier League was back in Sir Alex' days. As far back as 01. March 2011 in a 2-1 loss against Chelsea at Old Trafford.
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    Simply not true. We lost to Swansea twice in 5 months after going a goal up in both games. 2015.

    As recently as last year we lost to Wolves away after going 1-0 up. It may be rare but the Spurs game wasn’t a complete freak.
     
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    Offside said:
    Simply not true. We lost to Swansea twice in 5 months after going a goal up in both games. 2015.

    As recently as last year we lost to Wolves away after going 1-0 up. It may be rare but the Spurs game wasn’t a complete freak.
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    Welp I guess I should have been a bit more cautious after scrolling through 10 years of gamestats. I stand corrected. Still, it's not a common occurence
     
    DDG
    AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
    McTominay Fred
    Rashford Bruno Pogba
    Martial

    Options from the bench: Cavani, Greenwood, VdB​
     
    M Bison said:
    Saying newly promoted team would suggest that Leeds are a poor side, which they’re not, and surely if there’s one thing that COVID impacted football has taught us is that there isn’t a home advantage.

    My concern is that Leeds are gung-ho and throw bodies forward, given our recent run of games and track record of conceding first, we may need that extra protection.
    Click to expand...
    They are a poor side. They absolutely leak goals. We should be proactive not reactive. Who cares what Leeds are going to do? We have better players then them.
     
    Tom Cato said:
    Welp I guess I should have been a bit more cautious after scrolling through 10 years of gamestats. I stand corrected. Still, it's not a common occurence
    Click to expand...
    Yeah you’re right. We’ve lost 60 league games since Ferguson retired and only 5 of them were we 1-0 up:

    Leicester 5-3 United 2014/15 (2-0 up)
    Swansea 2-1 United 2014/15 (1-0 up)
    Swansea 2-1 United 2015/16 (1-0 up)
    Wolves 2-1 United 2018/19 (1-0 up)
    United 1-6 Spurs 2020/21 (1-0 up)
     
    Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
    It’s just excessive, both Scott & Fred to a lesser extent offer nothing on the ball. Play one of them sure, but both? I can’t understand why any fan would want that. It’s basically surrendering the initiative from the kickoff whistle. We shouldn’t need to stop Leeds, we have more than enough to impose ourselves on them. They should be worried about stopping us. Starting McT & Fred would tell me that our primary concern is to stop Leeds, rather than play our own game.
    Click to expand...
    The reasons why he would play both of them would be that

    1) They need to match the Leeds energy. Imagine Pogba has one of those games and loses the ball all the time in deep positions.
    2) Having 2 DMs covering our backline would give our wide forwards and Bruno to stay up more/a bit higher to play counter attacks more effectively which we should against team like Leeds.

    Well, at least that would be something I would consider doing it if I was Ole.
     
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    Frankly, I think we can play 2 DMs here if we want. We need to win the ball when Leeds pour forward. If we do that well enough, our front 4 are more than enough to wreak havoc given how Leeds leave themselves horribly exposed. This is a game we could absolutely trash them without even dominating. Just by executing clinically. I hope they lose their heads gloriously like they love to and have a right good go!
     
    We generally don't do well against sides that know their roles and quick pass and move ect. Expect us to give them a head start and then catch up with them and get the winner before game ends.
     
    Squad for this Leeds match

    De Gea, Henderson, Grant, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw, Telles, Fred, McTominay, Matic, Fernandes, Van De Beek, Pogba, Mata, James, Greenwood, Rashford, Cavani, Martial
     
    Confirmed squad members (MEN)

    David de Gea, Dean Henderson, Lee Grant, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Alex Telles, Fred, Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic, Bruno Fernandes, Donny van de Beek, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Daniel James, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial
     
    De Gea
    Wan Bissaka -- Lindelof -- Maguire -- Shaw
    McT -- Fred
    Rashford -- Bruno -- Pogba
    Martial

    Subs: Cavani, Greenwood, James, VDB, Telles, Bailly, Dean
    ​
    That front 4 is enough to slash and hack them each time they press high.
    Bruno and Pogba are in good form, while Rash and Martial scored last game so beaming with confidence.

    This is also a game where James pace is useful, 3rd option after Cavani and Greenwood. Cavani's movements and Mason are enough if we have to bring more scoring threats. Bring VDB in if we need greater services and better possession play.
     
    That's basically everyone fit now then that you'd want to be picking from barring Tuanzabe.

    I reckon we'll stick with the 4231 and just bring in DDG, Shaw and Fred for Henderson, Telles and Matic.
     
    Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
    I swear to god I better not see mctominay or Fred in for Pogba here. The man has been saucing for the last few weeks, I don’t care if he’s leaving, he can help us win a title because on his day he’s the best midfielder in the world.
    Click to expand...

    is that you, Mino?

    but yep - play the fecker in the hope he won’t piss about and lose the ball just outside our box 20 times and actually does something constructive. After all, he has to show Zidane that he hasn’t totally evolved into the Djemba twins
     
    Denis' cuff said:
    is that you, Mino?

    but yep - play the fecker in the hope he won’t piss about and lose the ball just outside our box 20 times and actually does something constructive. After all, he has to show Zidane that he hasn’t totally evolved into the Djemba twins
    Click to expand...
    When was his last bad game?
     
    Same team as vs City, but we replace Greenwood with Martial.
    However, since Cavani is back, we might go for a Martial/Cavani/Rashford front with Bruno behind. Then the question is: do we go for Pogba and Fred? Or Fred and Scott?

    Shaw for this game to settle the defense.
     
    Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
    They are a poor side. They absolutely leak goals. We should be proactive not reactive. Who cares what Leeds are going to do? We have better players then them.
    Click to expand...
    If they foul us, and there is a high chance they go for this route, we need to come up with solutions.
     
    We should go with one DM and if it is `Fred so be it. Leeds will attack us no matter what and we need to attack them much more than they do. If we keep fannying around at the back they will score.
     
    Apparently we can now put 9 players on the bench.
    This is making football more and more boring as it's easier. Choosing subs well pre-game is no longer part of the challenge, as does lowering down the value of having utility player. No more John O'Shea then.

    At least people bitching on which players picked on the bench will be less common so less toxic...?
     
    Web of Bissaka said:
    Apparently we can now put 9 players on the bench.
    This is making football more and more boring as it's easier. Choosing subs well pre-game is no longer part of the challenge, as does lowering down the value of having utility player. No more John O'Shea then.

    At least people bitching on which players picked on the bench will be less common so less toxic...?
    Click to expand...
    It's similar to the CL, no? That itself is not the end of the world.
     
    Web of Bissaka said:
    Apparently we can now put 9 players on the bench.
    This is making football more and more boring as it's easier. Choosing subs well pre-game is no longer part of the challenge, as does lowering down the value of having utility player. No more John O'Shea then.

    At least people bitching on which players picked on the bench will be less common so less toxic...?
    Click to expand...

    Due to concussion subs no?
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Scott McTominay image Scott McTominay 92% of 398 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

7.1 Total Average Rating

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Score Predictions

172,28,26
  • Man Utd win
  • Leeds United win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 20% Man Utd 3:1 Leeds United
  • 17% Man Utd 2:1 Leeds United
  • 14% Man Utd 3:2 Leeds United
  • 7% Man Utd 4:2 Leeds United
  • 7% Man Utd 2:2 Leeds United
  • 5% Man Utd 4:1 Leeds United
  • 4% Man Utd 2:0 Leeds United
  • 3% Man Utd 3:0 Leeds United
  • 3% Man Utd 1:1 Leeds United
  • 2% Man Utd 0:1 Leeds United
  • 2% Man Utd 2:4 Leeds United
  • 2% Man Utd 0:2 Leeds United
  • 2% Man Utd 3:3 Leeds United
  • 2% Man Utd 5:2 Leeds United
  • 1% Man Utd 1:3 Leeds United
  • 1% Man Utd 0:5 Leeds United
  • 1% Man Utd 2:3 Leeds United
  • 1% Man Utd 1:2 Leeds United
  • 1% Man Utd 4:0 Leeds United
  • 1% Man Utd 1:4 Leeds United
  • 1% Man Utd 4:3 Leeds United
  • 1% Man Utd 1:0 Leeds United
  • 0% Man Utd 5:3 Leeds United
  • 0% Man Utd 5:4 Leeds United
  • 0% Man Utd 0:3 Leeds United
  • 0% Man Utd 5:0 Leeds United
  • 0% Man Utd 5:1 Leeds United
  • 0% Man Utd 3:4 Leeds United
Compiled from 226 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. Leeds United
Possession
41% 59%
Shots
17 12
Shots on Target
7 2
Corners
8 9
Fouls
5 5

Referee

Anthony Taylor

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

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