Rúben Amorim has chosen to bench Joshua Zirkzee as Manchester United travel to face Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United will be determined to leave 2025 behind as Rúben Amorim prepares for his first game of the new year, travelling to Elland Road to take on Leeds United on Sunday afternoon.
The previous year proved a challenging one for United, with key setbacks along the way, including a Europa League final loss to Tottenham and a 15th-place finish in the 2024/25 Premier League.
This season has brought renewed optimism. Amorim’s side sit sixth at the halfway mark, level on points with Chelsea in fifth, while Leeds come into the fixture on the back of an impressive run.
After a difficult start that saw them drawn into the relegation battle, Daniel Farke’s side have turned their fortunes around and are now unbeaten in six matches.
That sequence includes two draws against Liverpool and another with Sunderland, as well as home victories over Chelsea and Crystal Palace, building momentum ahead of The Roses Derby.
The XIs have been confirmed below, with Amorim starting Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu as part of the front line amid continuing injuries and AFCON absences, as Joshua Zirkzee drops to the bench.
Manchester United’s line-up
Starting XI: Lammens; Martinez (c), Yoro, Heaven, Shaw; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu, Cunha, Sesko.
Subs: Bayindir, Fredricson, Kukonki, Malacia, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato, Zirkzee.
Read More: Former Arsenal star hails Rúben Amorim as “great coach” as time for change is now
Leeds’ line-up
Starting XI: Perri, Justin, Gudmundsson, Bornauw, Struijk, Gruev, Stach, Aaronson, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Darlow, Byram, Longstaff, Tanaka, Chambers, Harrison, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha.
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