Sportsupdated 2h ago3 min read
Chris Sutton Says Leeds Are More Rounded As Manchester United Face Pressure
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Leeds are considered the more rounded team ahead of the Elland Road clash. Manchester United’s start has put Carrick under mounting pressure.
5 outlets told this the same way.
Derby Pressure Builds
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick faced mounting pressure after the club’s poor start, as BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton said, "I cannot remember the last time Leeds were seen as favourites going into this fixture but I don't fancy Manchester United's chances at all."
Leeds were set to host Manchester United at Elland Road on Sunday, October 18, with Football365 describing a 2-0 away loss to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday and a 1-1 home draw with 10-man Tottenham as part of the build-up.
Sutton also framed Leeds as the more complete side, telling BBC Sport, "Leeds are just a much more rounded team. Their fans must be relishing this game."
Leeds were waiting on the fitness of Dan James after he returned from Wales duty with a back problem, while Joe Rodon remained out with a hamstring injury picked up against Brentford in the second game of the season.
Michael Carrick was sweating on Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo for the trip after both picked up knocks or strains in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham.
Predictions and Odds
Leeds went into the match as favourites for the first time in Premier League history, listing odds of 7/5 for Leeds to bank all three points, 7/4 for Manchester United, and 5/2 for the draw. Sutton’s BBC Sport segment also placed the fixture inside a wider predictions push, noting that he was making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season. Leeds had the resources to win the midfield battle, and it pointed to a run in which Leeds had gone 20 Premier League games without a win in games kicking off before 3pm.
Leeds United were in seventh place in the Premier League after six matches played, and the two sides met back in April when Leeds took a two-goal lead at Old Trafford through a brace from Noah Okafor. Squawka said Leeds had 9 points from 6 games, while Manchester United had 6 points from 6 games, and it described the matchup as likely to be "a tense, low-scoring contest" at Elland Road.
Lineups, Injuries, Stakes
Goal’s preview said Leeds United and Manchester United would kick-off on 18 October 2026 at 13:00 GMT, and it framed the match as Matchweek 7 of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign. Leeds would be without Mateo Joseph, Joe Rodon, and Daniel James through injury, while Manchester United traveled with Patrick Dorgu, Benjamin Sesko, Tom Heaton, and Manuel Ugarte sidelined, with Luke Shaw also a doubt after being seen limping following last weekend’s draw with Tottenham. Dominic Calvert-Lewin looked certain to lead the line for Leeds, and attacking midfielder Anton Stach and midfielder Jayden Bogle would support from deeper midfield.
Manchester United would again turn to Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo, and it added that Matheus Cunha had created 9 chances to go with a goal of his own. BBC Sport’s Chris Sutton also set the tone for the rivalry by predicting the fixture in the context of his wider season-long slate, while Football365 said Leeds had not suffered a league defeat at Elland Road since March against Sunderland and had won five of their eight league home games since then.