YEP Leeds United Fans’ Jury - Opportunity knocks to launch new era of long-lasting memories at the Theatre of Dreams

While harping back to the Whites’ 1-0 FA Cup win over Manchester United back in 2010 - courtesy of a Jermaine Beckford goal - they are also well aware that it was almost 11 years ago.

They’re also taking into account the Red Devils’ form and consider Leeds the undoubted underdogs.

That said, our jurors haven’t ignored the fact that Manchester United haven’t been that hot at home this season and - set-pieces aside - Wednesday’s win over Newcastle United should have given United the confidence to make the trip across the Pennines undaunted.

ANDY RHODES

When the fixtures were released, this was one that fans on both sides of the Pennines looked for.

It’s been nearly 11 years since we last visited Old Trafford, and we all know what happened that day. Times have changed since then but a Leeds win here would be just as eye-catching.

After a rocky start to the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has steadied the ship and his side currently sit top of the form table, but their frailties still stand, particularly at home where they have had just one win all season.

Leeds will be in confident mood after putting five past Newcastle.

Five different scorers shared United’s goals and, although the defence looked shaky at times, it was a dominant display throughout.

This fixture has delivered some memorable results in the past, and all eyes will be on the Premier League’s great entertainers to catch the eye again.

The Whites’ number nine was the hero in Manchester in 2010. Can Patrick Bamford step up here?

Prediction: Manchester United 3 Leeds United 1.

MATTHEW EVANS

A midweek win is always heartwarming, even better if it’s 5-2 against an old foe like Newcastle.

It’s provided the perfect preparation for a visit to the biggest of old foes on Sunday afternoon.

We’ve not played this lot for nearly a decade and our last away trip is one of my fondest memories as a United (there’s only one) supporter. Clearly, we’re not allowed to form an away end this time around but, if we were, I’m sure we’d be travelling in anticipation of another upset.

On paper, they are the favourites. Eye-watering amounts have been spent on that squad but what they’ve largely ended up with is a bunch of half-interested wasters who turn it on only when they fancy it. It’s the exact opposite of our squad of players who make up for lack of reputation with flawless levels of effort and teamwork.

Where we do have the advantage is in the dugout. Like Chelsea last month, this is a tie of a real football manager with limited resources versus yet another boyish ex-pro’ who’s been given an expensive toy to play with.

These factors could well cancel each other out and I’m going for the draw.

Prediction: Manchester United 1 Leeds United 1.

DAVID WATKINS

Wednesday evening’s 5-2 win was timely.

Even the most positive Leeds fan was starting to reflect on a run of six games that brought just four points, not to mention that our two most expensive defenders were sidelined and we’d started conceding goals from set-pieces again. Okay, the Newcastle game did little to ease worries about our set-piece defending, but our domination at least meant the opportunities to expose that weakness were few and far between.

It’s a blueprint we now need to recreate against the old enemy from over the hills. Wear them out, impose our game on them to limit their opportunities to use their qualities against us, and then set Pablo on them late in the game; see if they can cope with the sheer mercurial talent he imposes on a game.

As always, to come away from Old Trafford with anything at all, we will need to be faultless, disciplined, lucky and at our very best; all the pieces of the jigsaw will need to be present and correct. If they are though, I don’t see why we shouldn’t get something.

Prediction: Manchester United 2 Leeds United 2.

MIKE GILL

The exhilarating demolition of Newcastle was exactly what Leeds needed to restore confidence ahead of Sunday’s long-awaited clash at Old Trafford.

Wednesday’s win was important for so many different reasons: Players like Harrison and Alioski must be bursting with confidence. In most regimes, they would not have had the opportunity after their recent form. Pablo Hernandez rolled back the years with two timely assists and energy returned to the entire side. The spectre of performance at set-pieces remains but you can’t have everything.

This is the Bielsa effect and we are so fortunate to have him. The icing on the cake was his comment about how comfortable he felt at Leeds. Although he is a complex character his need to be appreciated is obvious. He is appreciated at this club by everyone.

Manchester United are next and the Whites should not fear them. Leeds are capable of winning at Old Trafford. Am I getting carried away? Of course I am. That’s part of the fun.

Prediction: Manchester United 2 Leeds United 2.

KEITH INGHAM

Sunday brings a game that whets the appetite just as much as the first fixture of the season when we went to Anfield.

But this has extra ‘spice’ because it’s our first visit to Salford since that wonderful day in January 2010. We may have milked the life out of that 1-0 win over the old enemy in the FA Cup but it was a day those who were there and the others watching on TV won’t ever forget.

Ten years have passed since that game and both teams have changed greatly since. No Beckford or Hughes et al for Leeds and Rooney has found a home at the bottom end of the Championship while Gary Neville talks a lot on Sky.

Form wise, Manchester United have had a poor time in old farmyard and have won only once their this season, 1-0 over West Bromwich Albion.

They lost 6-1 to Spurs earlier in the season and have lost three out of their first four home games this term. And last Saturday they drew 0-0 with Manchester City in one of the worst Manchester derbies seen in a very long time.

Both teams seemed more concerned about not losing than actually trying to win the game.

Leeds will have played Newcastle United prior to there trip down the M62 and it is hoped they put a better performance than they did last Friday in the second half of the game with West Ham United. They were poor and the defending at set-pieces left a lot to be desired by a Premier League team, even though we were having to use a makeshift defence because of injuries to two costly summer signings who will be out for a while.

I said pre-Newcastle that Bielsa needs to drop a player or two and give a start to mercurial Spaniard Pablo Hernandez. It is hoped that stubbornness doesn’t stop the head coach picking a player who can change a game with a flick of his magical left or right leg.

I see no reason why Raphinha, Hernandez and Rodrigo cannot play in the same team, Jamie Shackleton also is an option in midfield as Mat Klich looked leg weary in the West Ham game.

One player who definitely needs to be in for simply his height is Pascal Struijk; Leeds are simply getting bullied in that area and teams know, if they stick a ball in the area, they have an great chance to get a goal.

Hopefully homegrown Kalvin Phillips will have told his teammates that this just isn’t another game, this has pride attached to it and many a workplace will have fans of both teams ready to ribb their workmates if the result goes their way. This is a proper rivalry!

It is another game that would have benefited from a full house with away supporters. Unfortunately, we seem a long way from that as both Manchester and West Yorkshire are in tier 3 and probably will be for a few more months whilst this horrible virus has the country in its grip.

I’m going for a narrow Leeds win; I don’t see either team keeping a clean sheet but, hopefully, it will be a cracker of a game and maybe one we, as Leeds fans, will long remember once again.

That would be the perfect start to the week before Santa drops down the chimney on the 25th.

Prediction: Manchester United 1 Leeds United 2.

JACOB STARR

Sunday is the day, the day we we all looked for in the calendar, the opportunity to take on ‘them lot’ in the Premier League for the first time in… too long.

First, Wednesday night must be mentioned. A dazzling 5-2 victory against Newcastle has eased the fan pressure that seemed to be building slightly, setting us up nicely going into the contest at Old Trafford.

A late counterattack finished off by Gjanni Alioski and a screamer from Jack Harrison at the end of a break certainly shut those up who were claiming a recent dip in form was down to the players flagging under Bielsaball. Bring on the critics if that’s how we respond. I am quietly confident we can get all three points, which will, in part, be down to our boys being more up for it than they will. I just don’t see the same desire in their more experienced players.

Patrick Bamford will be picturing a Jermaine Beckford-style moment, especially with his run of form, though we are much less of an underdog 10 years on from that iconic third-round FA Cup tie.

Prediction: Manchester United 1 Leeds United 3.

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