Manchester United v Leeds United: Predicted Red Devils XI for visit of The Whites

Manchester United will be looking to move level on points with second-place Manchester City in the Premier League table when they welcome managerless Jesse Marsch to Old Trafford on Wednesday. 

The Red Devils currently sit third in the table after an impressive post-World Cup run of form, but they can move level with their Manchester rivals if they beat Leeds on Wednesday.

Manager Erik ten Hag will be without a number of key players for the game, which will be the first of two matches between the two sides in the space of just five days.

Here, we predict the XI that Ten Hag may select for the visit of Leeds…

Goalkeeper

Spaniard David de Gea has been an ever-present between the sticks for United this season and will start once again on Wednesday. The 32-year-old kept three consecutive clean sheets when club football returned following the World Cup, but he has since conceded in each of his last four league games and he will therefore be looking to end that run.

Defenders

On the right of United’s backline, Aaron Wan-Bissaka will likely start once again, continuing his recent resurgence. The Englishman’s United career looked to be over after he fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford last season, but the ex-Crystal Palace man has now started seven league games in a row and looks to have cemented his place as Ten Hag’s first choice right-back.

Wan-Bissaka has regained his starting spot recently

In the middle, Lisandro Martinez will likely once again partner Raphael Varane. The pair have been Ten Hag’s most used centre-back partnership this season, starting a combined 31 league matches. Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire will both likely have to once again settle for places on the bench.

On the left, Luke Shaw is expected to make his 15th consecutive Premier League start. The England international has been in good form so far this season, and has been deployed at centre-back as well as in his more natural left-back role. Tyrell Malacia is likely to be named among the substitutes.

Midfielders

As they were against Arsenal last week, United will be without instrumental midfielder Casemiro for the game on Wednesday evening. The Brazilian was sent off after an incident with Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes on Saturday, and his suspension could mean that Marcel Sabitzer makes his first start for the club just days after joining on loan from Bayern Munich.

Sabitzer could be in line for his first Manchester United start

Christian Eriksen remains sidelined through injury, meaning Fred will most likely start in midfield ahead of Scott McTominay. The Brazilian has only started six league games this season, but he may be used more often in the coming weeks with Eriksen out.

In the advanced midfield role, Bruno Fernandes is expected to be given the nod. The Portugal international has scored five goals and registered four assists in 20 Premier League games so far this term, including three of each in his last six appearances.

Forwards

In attack, Marcus Rashford will start and be hoping to continue his fine run of form. The England international has scored 19 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions so far this season, scoring 11 goals in his last 13 games.

Rashford has been in sensational form of late

Wout Weghorst is expected to start through the middle in the absence of Antony Martial, who has suffered yet another injury set back. The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford on loan from Burnley in a shock loan deal last month, and netted his first Red Devils goal against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup a fortnight ago.

Jadon Sancho is back in contention having returned to action against in the second leg Forest, but Antony appears more likely to start against Leeds. The Brazilian forward has scored five goals so far for United, and he will be hoping to add to that tally against a Leeds side that have conceded 34 times already in the league this season.

Predicted XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Sabitzer, Fernandes, Fred; Rashford, Weghorst, Antony