Get ready for an exciting football showdown as Leeds and Manchester United face off in a highly anticipated match!
A Battle of Legends: Leeds vs. Man Utd
In a thrilling start to 2026, Manchester United will travel to Elland Road to take on Leeds United on Sunday afternoon. It's been a while since these two teams last met competitively, with United claiming a 2-0 victory in February 2023, thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Ruben Amorim's Leeds side will be eager to bounce back from a recent draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers and kick off the year with a bang. Here's everything you need to know to stay in the loop for this highly anticipated fixture.
Part 1: Press Conference Preview
In the press conference, Ruben Amorim provided an update on his squad and addressed questions about potential January transfers. Stay tuned for the latest insights and predictions.
How to Watch and Follow the Match
Kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 GMT on Sunday, January 4th, and the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK. As always, you can stay connected through MUTV, the United app, and ManUtd.com for all the latest news and live updates. Liam Bradford and Danny Webber will be on commentary, joined by Ben Thornley at Elland Road and Phil Bardsley and Quinton Fortune in the Old Trafford studio.
For those unable to catch the live broadcast, highlights will be available from midnight, and MUTV subscribers can enjoy the full match replay.
Team News: Injuries and Absences
United will be without captain Bruno Fernandes, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against Aston Villa. Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, and Mason Mount have also missed recent games due to injuries, and Amorim has indicated that their return is unlikely for this match.
Leeds will be without captain Ethan Ampadu, serving a one-match suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season for a handball against Liverpool. Fellow defender Joe Rodon is also out due to an ankle injury sustained in the Sunderland draw.
Daniel James, still recovering from his injury, is unlikely to feature against his former team.
For Leeds, manager Daniel Farke hopes Sebastiaan Bornauw and Ilia Gruev will be fit to start after being withdrawn from the Anfield game due to cramps.
Form Guide: Recent Results
This match marks the first of five January fixtures for United, including an FA Cup third-round match against Brighton & Hove Albion next Sunday. In their last outing, Joshua Zirkzee's goal against Wolves was canceled out by Ladislav Krejci's header just before halftime.
Prior to that, United impressed with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford, with Patrick Dorgu scoring his first goal for the club.
Leeds, on the other hand, are on a six-match unbeaten run, with their last defeat coming against Manchester City on November 29th. They've since stunned Chelsea with a 3-1 victory at Elland Road and drawn with Liverpool and Brentford.
An impressive 4-1 win against Crystal Palace was followed by draws against Sunderland and Liverpool. Leeds managed a draw in their last visit to Old Trafford in February 2023, despite a two-goal comeback from United.
Did You Know?
United have an impressive record against newly promoted sides, remaining unbeaten in their last 25 Premier League games. However, they've never beaten Leeds in their first league game of a calendar year, with a history of draws and a loss in previous encounters.
United will aim to stop Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has scored in his last three Premier League home games. The last Leeds player to score in four consecutive matches was Mark Viduka in April 2004.
Keep an Eye on the Rivals
Here's a look at some other key fixtures this weekend:
- Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest (12:30 GMT)
- Brighton vs. Burnley
- Wolves vs. West Ham
- Bournemouth vs. Arsenal (17:30 GMT)
Sunday, January 4th:
- Leeds vs. UNITED (12:30 GMT)
- Everton vs. Brentford
- Fulham vs. Liverpool
- Newcastle vs. Crystal Palace
- Tottenham vs. Sunderland
- Manchester City vs. Chelsea (17:30 GMT)
All kick-offs are scheduled for 15:00 GMT, unless otherwise stated.
Get ready for an action-packed weekend of football! Who do you think will come out on top in this Leeds vs. Man Utd clash? Share your predictions and join the discussion in the comments!
