Manchester United predicted XI vs Leeds (Premier League): Sancho to start

Manchester United face rivals Leeds United this weekend in the second of back-to-back Premier League clashes, with the last being a 2-2 draw which saw both sides disappointed.

The next fixture in one of the busiest months of the season for Erik Ten Hag and his men is against the familiar foe of Leeds United, and one that promises to be just as exciting as the previous meeting on Wednesday night.

Very little change from the team that started the reverse fixture midweek is expected as the players will want to prove themselves and avenge a result and a performance which they will no doubt be disappointed by.

David de Gea is expected to start between the posts, as he does for almost all league games. Despite conceding 2 goals midweek, both were nigh impossible to save, and therefore the score cannot reflect too badly on United’s No.1 goalkeeper.

The centre-backs in front of De Gea should also remain the same as the previous fixture with the formidable pairing of Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane starting this match.

Again, for someone looking at the scoresheet from the previous meeting you may think Varane had a bad game since he scored the OG that put Leeds 0-2 up, but it was an unlucky deflection from a cross and not much should be made of it. At the other end, Varane actually nearly scored a header to win the game so it would be highly surprising to see him dropped for this match.

Read More: Manchester United have up to five injured players for Leeds clash

As for Martínez, not much needs to be said as he has been one of United’s best and most reliable players this season and is one of the first names on the team sheet.

After both recently returning to the side, both Dalot and Shaw had mostly disappointing performances midweek, however were both vital in Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho’s goals, respectively. Therefore, they are both expected to start in the full-back positions.

With a lack of options in midfield due to injuries to Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek and Casemiro still suspended following his red card against Crystal Palace, there is the expectation of an unchanged midfield this weekend. Despite some great appearances off the bench this season, Fred had a really tough game midweek but should start on the right of the midfield in place of Casemiro.

Alongside him should be Marcel Sabitzer, who had quite a decent game midweek considering it was his first start for the club. In front of them will be the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes who, despite having a mixed performance in the previous game, loves a fixture versus Leeds and could put in a defining performance at the weekend.

Up front is where we will see the only change in the XI from the one that started the reverse fixture midweek, with Jadon Sancho making his long-awaited full return to the Manchester United team and earning his first start since October.

Sancho made his first appearance for the club since his extended spell away from the team last week and followed that up with another cameo on Wednesday, coming off the bench and putting in a sharp performance culminating in United’s equalising goal. Given this performance, Sancho could well start on the left for this game.

Therefore, Rashford would then be pushed into the centre of the attack as his continues his undroppable form following another goal midweek. Finally, on the right side of the attack, Garnacho is expected to start as Ten Hag revealed that it remains unlikely that Antony will be fit for the game this weekend.

Full predicted XI

De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Sabitzer, Fred, Fernandes; Garnacho, Rashford, Sancho.