Leeds United have a huge chance of landing historic league win at Manchester United - David Prutton

LEEDS United go to Manchester United tomorrow with a ginormous rivalry between the Red Devils and the Whites.
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Several notable ex-pros have mentioned it already this season - Gary Neville even mentioned it towards the end of last season.

It felt like they were all hoping Leeds would get back into the Premier League because they knew how big this particular game was and what would be riding on it.

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The two clubs last met in the league in 2004 when Leeds were in decline.

WE'RE BACK: Leeds United and Manchester United observe a minute's silence in memory of John Charles at Old Trafford in the last league meeting between the two clubs back in February 2004. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.WE'RE BACK: Leeds United and Manchester United observe a minute's silence in memory of John Charles at Old Trafford in the last league meeting between the two clubs back in February 2004. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.
WE'RE BACK: Leeds United and Manchester United observe a minute's silence in memory of John Charles at Old Trafford in the last league meeting between the two clubs back in February 2004. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.

Prior to that, as Manchester United dominated under Sir Alex Ferguson, there had been a real youthful arrogance and energy to Leeds which I loved seeing.

The two clubs then met in the FA Cup in January 2010 but now they are back on level terms in the Premier League which is fantastic.

There will be no fans at Old Trafford which is a slight kick to the nether regions but the most important thing is that this game is now being played in the top flight - where it should be.

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I was on the Leeds bench for the victory at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round so I saw it at ground level and sat in the dugout taking it all in.

'WONDER GOAL': Jack Harrison lets fly for his sensational strike in Wednesday night's 5-2 blitz of Newcastle United and now David Prutton thinks the Whites can topple Manchester United at Old Trafford. Photo by Rui Vieira - Pool/Getty Images.'WONDER GOAL': Jack Harrison lets fly for his sensational strike in Wednesday night's 5-2 blitz of Newcastle United and now David Prutton thinks the Whites can topple Manchester United at Old Trafford. Photo by Rui Vieira - Pool/Getty Images.
'WONDER GOAL': Jack Harrison lets fly for his sensational strike in Wednesday night's 5-2 blitz of Newcastle United and now David Prutton thinks the Whites can topple Manchester United at Old Trafford. Photo by Rui Vieira - Pool/Getty Images.

It was a tremendous game of football for Leeds’ fans and Becks (Jermaine Beckford) and everyone that was involved. It was great to be a part of.

As ever with any footballer, you don’t feel as much of a part of it if you have not actually played but it was a famous victory in recent times.

You could feel the hostility between the two teams which was amazing.

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There was that real sense of a rivalry that you grow up watching, admiring, respecting and wanting to be a part of and it was exactly as I imagined it to be.

Leeds’ fans were as boisterous as ever with the sense of being there and very much chastened by where we were in the pyramid but no less proud of what they were watching and what happened.

There was a great atmosphere and I can remember Gary Neville giving Simon Grayson a bit of a mouthful and those two having a bit of a discussion, shall we say, as the game was wearing on.

It looked like Manchester United weren’t going to get anything from it even though they were very much laying siege to the Leeds goal.

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But given how masterful it was for Becks to finish that goal in the way that he did and then for the team to withstand pressure it was just a good team performance.

Ten years on, I think Leeds are just relishing the fact the game is being played back in the Premier League, something they can be rightly proud of.

Leeds haven’t won at Old Trafford in the league since 1982 but there is a huge chance of them getting that win this weekend, a massive chance.

If Leeds can convert the chances that we know they can create then that gives them a realistic chance.

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If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team are as Jekyll and Hyde as they have been this season that is another positive for the visitors.

And if Leeds are afforded chances like they were in the Newcastle game then they have got a great chance of winning.

Steve Bruce certainly wasn’t happy at how Newcastle had made it relatively straightforward to turn over his team in the latter stages of Wednesday’s 5-2 defeat at Elland Road.

You could look perhaps at the way Newcastle facilitated Leeds’ win but they still had to be clinical when those chances came and we had that wonder goal from Jack Harrison as well.

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In patches, Leeds showed why they can be so very competitive in the Premier League this season.

It was a much-needed win and an emphatic result which should see them heading to Old Trafford in confident mood.

When Leeds are at their best, they can cause anybody in this division problems.

Manchester United have got goals both on the pitch and on the bench and players that can change games. The obvious threats are all there.

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As a team, we have seen them play extremely well and if Leeds start brightly and United sluggishly then Marcelo Bielsa’s team will still have to be wary.

What United have done so well this season is stay in games and get something later on.

They have got some huge names that echo not only around British football but world football so there is plenty to be wary of but, at the same time, there is no need for Leeds to show any hint of timidness.

Leeds have just got to do what they have been very good at, playing with high energy and being slick and responsible in possession.

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Defensively, we have seen that they have got a lot of work to do at set pieces and that will be something Manchester United will be fully aware of.

But the fearless side of how Leeds play under Bielsa should really stand them in good stead.

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Thank you Laura Collins