Overview
After a dizzying period at the end of 2025, Manchester United will aim for a second victory in the last 5 matches when playing away at Leeds United's home ground at Elland Road.
Closing a difficult December, the "Red Devils" were held to a 1-1 draw by Wolves - the team at the bottom of the table - after this opponent had lost 11 consecutive matches before. Although Joshua Zirkzee took the opportunity to start unexpectedly to score his second goal in three Premier League starts (equal to the total number of goals he had in the first 15 matches), Wolves still rose up strongly and deserved to regain a point.
Under Ruben Amorim, Man United has drawn 5 of their last 7 Premier League matches despite being the opening team (winning 2), and only won 52% of the matches when leading 1-0 (11/21). This result extends the disappointing streak at Old Trafford, including a defeat to Everton with only 10 men left, a defeat to West Ham who are racing to stay in the league and conceding 4 goals in a dramatic draw with Bournemouth.
Those statistics raise big questions about the "Red Devils"' ability to finish off opponents. They have conceded more equalizers than any other team in the Premier League this season (12 times). However, somehow, Man United still finished 2025 in sixth place, only behind the fifth-placed team in goal difference.
In the opposite direction, Leeds United has climbed to 16th place relatively safely thanks to a 6-match unbeaten streak since the beginning of December, thereby significantly reducing pressure on coach Daniel Farke. Continuing the revival momentum, Leeds drew 0-0 with defending champion Liverpool right at Anfield on New Year's Day.
According to Farke's assessment, keeping a clean sheet and winning points at Anfield shows clear progress, especially since Leeds switched to a 3-center-back system and a more direct playing style. Notably, Dominic Calvert-Lewin only came on in the second half and had a shot denied for offside, but he is still the key card in the German captain's plan.
After many consecutive seasons playing below xG, Calvert-Lewin is regaining his form with a scoring streak in his last 3 home matches. He has never scored in 4 consecutive Premier League matches. The last time a Leeds player did that was Mark Viduka in April 2004.
This season, Leeds has only been goalless once at home - the 0-0 draw with Newcastle in August - and has scored at least 3 goals in the last 3 matches at Elland Road. Therefore, Leeds fans have reason to expect that streak of form to continue against Man United.
The precedent also supports the home team, when Man United conceded at least one goal in 14 consecutive away games in the Premier League - their worst streak since the 1985-1986 period.
Head-to-head record
Man United have won their last two away games against Leeds, but they have never created a 3-game winning streak at Elland Road in the past.
In the opposite direction, Leeds has only won 3 points once in the last 19 encounters with Man United in the Premier League (6 draws, 12 losses). They have gone through 9 unbeaten matches since defeating the "Red Devils" 1-0 at home in September 2002.
Notably, Man United has also never defeated Leeds in the opening match of the new year in the national championship. History records that the first encounters of the year between the two teams did not bring joy to the "Red Devils": 0-0 draw (1931), 1-1 draw (1958), 0-0 draw (1994) and 1-2 defeat (1969).
Score prediction: Leeds United 1-2 Man United
The match between Leeds United and Man United takes place at 7:30 PM on January 4 (Vietnam time).
