Leeds v Manchester United: result, reaction as Ralf Rangnick's side win thriller

Jeorge Bird

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Leeds v Manchester United: result, reaction as Ralf Rangnick's side win thriller image

Manchester United boosted its hopes of securing a top four finish as the Red Devils topped Leeds 4-2 away in an enthralling encounter.

In extremely wet conditions, the visitors went two goals ahead after Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes scored before the break. However, Leeds responded just after halftime, with Rodrigo and substitute Raphinha both finding the net.

Unlike many times this season, the Red Devils had a response after squandering a lead. Two Manchester United substitutes, Fred and Anthony Elanga, went on to score, sealing victory.

Ralf Rangnick's side remains fourth in the Premier League table and is now four points clear of fifth-placed West Ham. 

MORE: Champions League round-of-16 power rankings

Leeds vs. Man United result

  1H 2H Final
Leeds 0 2 2
Man United 2 2 4

Goals:
34th min — MUN — Harry Maguire
45th min (+5) — MUN — Bruno Fernandes
53rd min — LEE — Rodrigo
54th min — LEE — Raphinha
70th min — MUN — Fred
88th min — MUN — Anthony Elanga

Full time - Leeds 2 Manchester United 4

Manchester United win what was a hugely entertaining clash. Goals from Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes put the visitors ahead, with Rodrigo and Raphinha's strikes pulling Leeds level early in the second half. Substitutes Fred and Anthony Elanga then scored for Ralf Rangnick's side.

Manchester United stays in fourth place, with Leeds in 15th. 

90 +2 mins: Yet another yellow card, this time for Klich. 

90 +1 mins: Shaw and Firpo are both booked. There will be five added minutes.

90th min: Firpo fouls Elanga, which sparks a clash between the two sets of players.

88th min: GOAL! Manchester United! It's over now, as Manchester United gets its fourth goal of the game. It's a fantastic flick from Fernandes and then Anthony Elanga scores.

84th min: United bring on Varane for Ronaldo. The Portuguese attacker has no issues with being substituted off this time, as he trots off enthusiastically and gives Varane a high five on the sideline.

83rd min: Rodrigo shoots over when he should have played in James.

81st min: Klich's effort is tipped over the crossbar by De Gea.

77th min: McTominay is the latest player to be booked following a rash challenge.

75th min: Forshaw is booked for stopping Fred from playing on. 

74th min: Klich's effort is saved by De Gea.

71st min: Sancho plays in Elanga, but the latter shoots straight at Meslier. 

70th min: Anthony Elanga appeared to be struck by an object from the crowd during the celebrations. The youngster is playing on. 

70th min: GOAL! Man United! Finally, a response from United after squandering a lead, which has not been a common occurrence this season. The visitors are back in front, with Fred scoring shortly after his introduction. Ronaldo, Fernandes and Sancho were involved in the build-up before Fred finishes with a powerful effort. 

67th min: Luke Ayling is booked for a foul. 

66th min: Manchester United take off Pogba and Lingard, with Fred and Elanga coming on. It's a bit surprising Pogba is coming off given that he has performed well.

64th min: Another good run from Lindelof, who pushes forward and finds Ronaldo, with the latter playing in Sancho, whose effort is deflected for a corner.

61st min: Struijk is booked for fouling Fernandes.

60th min: Forshaw plays in Gelhardt, whose shot is saved by De Gea.

59th min: Ronaldo was booked for dissent following Leeds' second goal. You know the match is testy when he's this heated.

The goal has been given. 2-2. Two goals in 24 seconds for Leeds. 

53rd min: GOAL! Leeds United! Incredible. Leeds are level, with Dan James crossing for Raphinha, who gets ahead of Shaw at the far post. VAR is checking a challenge from Forshaw on Fernandes.

52nd min: GOAL! Leeds United! - Rodrigo sends in a cross but it ends up catching out David de Gea and goes into the back of the net. The home side is back in it and the atmosphere has intensified.

51st min: Gelhardt knocks the ball down for Klich, who isn't able to cause any problems for Manchester United. Then Ronaldo is played in but his shot is saved and the flag is raised for offside anyway.

50th min: The rain is really affecting the rhythm of the game, with both teams finding it difficult to play slick passes. 

46th min: The second half is underway. Leeds makes a double change, with the aforementioned Raphinha and Joe Gelhardt coming on for Harrison and Llorente.

Leeds starts the second half well, with Gelhardt looking lively. 

HALF TIME — Leeds 0, Manchester United 2

The rain has made it difficult for both teams, but Manchester United have a 2-0 lead at the break. Harry Maguire put the visitors in front with his side's first goal from a corner in the Premier League this season before Bruno Fernandes added a second. There's a lot of work for Leeds to do now.

It will be difficult for Leeds, but if they are to come back then Raphinha could have a significant part to play off the bench. 

45 mins + 5: GOAL! Manchester United! That man Bruno Fernandes scores as Manchester United make it 2-0. Lindelof did very well to push forward through midfield and exchange passes with Sancho. The Swede then finds Sancho again, who sends in a precise cross, which Fernandes heads down into the net.

45 + 2 mins: Klich shoots way over for Leeds.

45th min: We are into six minutes of added time at the end of the first half. 

40th min: Leeds looks to respond to the deficit, but Forshaw's effort lacks conviction. 

38th min: Sancho goes for goal but ends up shooting over. 

35th min: Shaw hurt himself making a challenge on James but should be okay to carry on.

34th min: GOAL! Manchester United! - The visitors take the lead, with Harry Maguire scoring with a header following a corner from Shaw. It's the first United goal off a corner this season, in 140 attempts.

33rd min: Pogba finds Fernandes, whose effort is palmed away by Meslier. 

30th min: Koch, who suffered a blow to the head earlier, has to go off, with Junior Firpo set to replace him.

25th min: It's great play from Pogba, who finds Ronaldo in front of goal, but Meslier makes an outstanding save right on the doorstep of the net with Ronaldo right there for a tap-in. 

24th min: Meslier gives the ball straight to Sancho, but the Leeds goalkeeper manages to avoid punishment as the United attack lacks conviction. 

22nd min: Luke Shaw gives away a foul for a hand in the face of Dan James. 

21st min: David de Gea is called into action to push away Forshaw's effort. 

18th min: Manchester United is still searching for greater rhythm in their play. Sancho looks for Ronaldo, but his cross is too high. 

11th min: Robin Koch has blood on his face after being caught by McTominay. Replay shows a barge by McTominay that saw his leading shoulder clatter Koch in the head. Hard to imagine Paul Tierney has not shown a yellow card for a brutal aerial challenge.

After significant treatment, Koch is up and on the sidelines ready to continue. He will have to wear a bandage, with a change of shirt and shorts also required.

9th min: Pogba does well to push forward but his subsequent shot is saved by Meslier. 

6th min: Bruno Fernandes needs treatment after a challenge from Struijk. The Manchester United player should be okay to continue. 

4th min: It's been a frantic start, with Leeds having given a good account of themselves so far. Harrison shoots over for Leeds from the first real opening. Manchester United felt there was a foul on Wan-Bissaka in the build-up.

2nd min: Dan James is starting out wide for Leeds, with Rodrygo up front. 

1st min: The game is underway. The home fans are out in full force.

8:56am: The atmosphere is already impressive at Elland Road as the players enter the pitch. 

8:40am: There has been a lot of speculation about the lack of unity in the Manchester United dressing room. This game is important for the Red Devils to start building momentum, especially with their Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid coming up. 

8:20am: Manchester United won 2-0 against Brighton in their last game, but it will take much more than that for Ralf Rangnick's side to silence their doubters. Despite Leeds' difficulties this season, this could be another tough test.

8:02am: The big team news for Leeds is that Raphinha is on the bench after he was taken off at half time against Everton last weekend.

Manchester United, meanwhile, give a rare start to Jesse Lingard, with Paul Pogba and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also coming into the side.

8:00am: Manchester United team news

8:00am: Leeds team news

7:40am: It will be a significant occasion for Leeds' Dan James if he features against his former club. James scored nine goals in 74 games for Manchester United and struggled to make a significant impact at Old Trafford.

7:20am: Interestingly, this is the first time that these two sides have met in a Premier League game at Elland Road with fans in attendance since 2003, which should add some extra spice to proceedings.

7:00am: Welcome to our live coverage of Leeds v Manchester United as both sides go in search of what could prove to be a crucial victory. An entertaining game is expected in the latest instalment of this rivalry. 

All times Eastern

MORE: How the key Premier League races are shaping up

 

Leeds vs. Man United projected lineups

Leeds have been decimated by injury issues in recent times, contributing to the stop-start nature of their season so far. Star players Kalvin Phillips and captain Liam Cooper remain on the sidelines until next month, whilst talisman striker Patrick Bamford will not participate, after running into a fresh problem with his foot. He has spent most of the campaign unable to take part due to injury (only six Premier League appearances). 

Left back Junior Firpo should slot back into the starting eleven, following his recovery from a hamstring issue that has kept him out in recent weeks. Unfortunately for Leeds, Stuart Dallas and Leo Hjelde also became injury casualties following their defeat away to Everton last weekend. Daniel James will likely play the role of center forward, providing a pacy threat against his former club. 

Leeds projected starting line up (3-3-3-1/4-1-4-1): Meslier, Llorente, Koch, Struijk, Ayling, Klich, Forshaw, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison, James.

As for Manchester United, they will hope that Raphael Varane has recovered from illness after he had to pull out of their previous clash against the Seagulls despite being originally in the starting lineup. Eric Bailly could make a comeback from an ankle knock sustained at the African Cup of Nations final. 

The Red Devils will also wait to see if Edinson Cavani and Nemanja Matic can play a part, with both suffering from groin and shin issues, respectively. Cristiano Ronaldo is almost certain to start, owing to his fabulous strike against Graham Potter's men on Tuesday. 

Man United projected starting line-up: (4-2-3-1): De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Pogba, Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho, Ronaldo.

Leeds vs. Man United betting odds, pick & prediction

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

If previous meetings are anything to go by, this match should produce an entertaining attacking spectacle with goals in abundance. On the opening day of the season, Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick and put in a man of the match performance as Manchester United thrashed Leeds 5-1 at Old Trafford. The Portuguese midfielder also scored a terrific goal in the 2-0 win over Graham Potter's men, while managing to record an expected goals total (xG) of 1.04 in the process. 

Ronaldo is also looking more like himself, scoring for the first time in five Premier League games earlier this week. In comparison, Leeds United have also been finding goals lately, with Jack Harrison and Daniel James registering three and two in their last four,  respectively. 

MORE: How Liverpool is trying to one-up Man United this season

Counterattacking play is likely to decide this encounter, with both teams capable of using this power to devastating effect should the right opportunities present themselves. Factoring in the presence of Ronaldo as a focal point, combined with both teams' ability to counter at pace, backing the following seems like a sensible pick.

Pick: Over 3.5 goals (+140)

  • Moneyline: Leeds +320 / Draw +310 / Man United -130
  • Spread: Leeds +0.5 (+110) / Man United -0.5 (-125)
  • O/U 2.5 total goals: Over -170 / Under +140
  • Both Teams To Score: Yes -180 / No -140

Jeorge Bird