It’s 54 years since Leeds last beat Man United in back to back encounters, since 1972. So the war of the roses will have to wait until next time. In January 2026 Amorim’s scalp was claimed but this time a spirited performance saved Carrick’s job – although he still winless this year so far. Leeds, seventh in the table, learned to improve their slick passing in the second half and keep growing as a hard to beat team.
It was a frustrating display from Leeds today with the players at first caught out by a Man United team that decided to play football for the first time this season and then in the second half a conveyor belt of crosses and shots going skywards that characterised how much this was a derby: feisty and blunt in effort.
Leeds were not at their best today when it most needed one player to shine. Stach and Okafor were unable to get behind the Man United defence. Calvert- Lewin was kept in check by Maguire. Whilst they were better side dominating possession and creating more opportunities they lacked quality in front of goal.
Unlike last year when the home game against never really took off this was a derby before it started. Marching on Together was sung at a raucous level and, apart from when the Man United goal went it, never really dropped. Every tackle and every attack was roared on.
From the off Leeds were the stronger team, controlling possession and launching in the crosses. But Man United were quick to counter attack which proved fruitful. This was a testament to how for Leeds have progressed from last year, deserved of their seventh place in the table.
But the first half was a test for Leeds. A lack of purpose saw passes quickly snapped by Man United, with Muharemovic and Justin both culpable for Mbeumo’s goal. Man United soaked up the onslaught by Leeds in the first half and then showed they were not the poor performing team we had seen so far this season – maybe because Carrick knew his head was on the line here.
A second half performance showed that Farke can change the game without having to change the players (although we still wait to see Harry Wilson be a game changer). The slick passing and some sublime crosses from Muharemovic, with Bogle running till he dropped on the right, showed this is a team intent on turning up to win.
DCL’s goal came from a set piece. With DCL and Muharemovic still devising their cunning plan when the corner was taken, Muharemovic headed down to DCL to score. Whilst it felt like the game was turning, Leeds didn’t really challenge until Elvedi had a clear chance. The game was wide open at the end with a few tasty challenges, but Leeds simply didn’t do enough in front of goal.
Okafor, Tanaka and Gudmundsson all tried to get a grip of the game but Man United matched them for energy. Leeds will need to play more clinical in front of goal to win games like this.
Man of the match: DCL’s leadership and holding up the ball shows why he is worth an England place.
