On Sunday, Elland Road will host one of English football's most iconic rivalries as Leeds United take on Manchester United. The Yorkshire side has started the season as one of the biggest surprises in the league, while the Mancunians find themselves under immense pressure and performing well below expectations.
Former England striker Alan Shearer is confident that Daniel Farke's team will clinch all three points. The pundit highlighted Leeds' impressive performance against Arsenal in the recent game and expressed a complete lack of faith in the visitors.
The atmosphere at Elland Road will be electric. Manchester United are in a real pickle, and this Leeds United side will create massive problems for them, Shearer commented for The Metro.
Yorkshire looked fantastic against Arsenal last week. I have neither faith nor confidence in Manchester United, so I’m backing the home side to win.
Leeds took the lead against Arsenal and had a couple of chances before that, and they were wholly deserving of it. The Londoners only turned the match around thanks to some quality substitutions. The hosts will enter the pitch brimming with confidence, understanding the weight of expectation crushing their opponents. I see that the Manchester United players are still fighting for Michael Carrick—his reaction in Madrid and Martinez's comments confirm that the squad is behind the coach. However, they desperately need a result right now, for a defeat would turn the pressure up to unbearable levels. Unfortunately for Michael, I think Leeds United will win.
Paul Merson echoes similar sentiments. Speaking on Sky Sports, the pundit pointed out how dramatically the balance of power has shifted in this historic showdown:
This is a colossal football match steeped in rivalry. If you're a die-hard Leeds United fan, you'd be genuinely shocked and disappointed if the team fails to take points at home against this Manchester United. It’s an incredible shift in perception between the teams. How many times in history could we say something like this before this clash? It’s a telling reflection of how things stand at Manchester United right now.
Countering the general consensus among analysts is Manchester United legend Gary Neville. Appearing on The Overlap, he boldly predicted a 2-1 victory for the Mancunians. According to Neville, the attacking options of Cunha, Mbeumo, Amad, and Rashford give Carrick's side a strong chance of success, even in such a hostile environment.
