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- Match stats
- Talking points and analysis
- Reaction from Daniel Farke and Ruben Amorim
- Team news and lineups
- Up next
Leeds United and Manchester United played out a fiercely but fairly contested 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Daniel Farke's hosts took the lead just past the hour mark when Brenden Aaronson stole in behind the otherwise excellent Ayden Heaven to slot home a composed finish.
Yet Leeds' advantage lasted only three minutes, Joshua Zirkzee coming off the bench to play in Matheus Cunha, who prodded the ball first time past goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
Each side had opportunities to snatch victory in the closing stages, but a frenetic game ended in a deserved share of the spoils. Leeds are now seven games unbeaten, while Man United are two points outside the top four but could drop to seventh in the standings depending on other results today.
Leeds United vs. Man United score
| Fulltime | Goal scorers | |
| Leeds | 1 | Aaronson 62' |
| Man United | 1 | Cunha 65' |
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds (UK)
Referee: Jarred Gillet
Keep track of every game and every goal via SN's live Premier League scoreboard
Leeds United vs. Man United match stats
| Leeds | Stat | Man United |
| 9 | Shots | 13 |
| 3 | Shots on target | 2 |
| 0.32 | Expected goals | 0.59 |
| 44% | Possession | 56% |
| 352 | Passes | 449 |
| 6 | Corners | 4 |
| 9 | Fouls | 8 |
| 0 | Yellow cards | 1 |
| 1 | Offsides | 4 |
Leeds United 1-1 Man United talking points, analysis
Man United show they will fight for Amorim
Much of the criticism of Manchester United's worst performances and results still veers too often into "passion, desire, commitment" diatribes from ex-pros, Roy Keane chief among them.
Those may be qualities lacking from certain teams in the past decade, but to suggest Ruben Amorim's players are not giving their utmost on the pitch is not just simplistic analysis. It's plain wrong.
Take recent home games, all different results, against Everton (1-0 loss against 10 men), Newcastle United (1-0 win), Wolves (1-1 draw). At the end of each, United players were out on their feet, some actually unable to stand.
𝐅𝐓: 𝐋𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝟏-𝟏 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐭𝐝
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) January 4, 2026
Leeds denied a first league win over Man Utd since September 2002.
Matheus Cunha salvaged a point that moves Man Utd up to fifth for at least a few hours.
Get all the key stats and our recap here: https://t.co/3NjeZAFYFx pic.twitter.com/C2tMy5V2XX
The same was true of today's draw. They could easily have wilted once Leeds went ahead and the crowd became boisterous, but they quickly responded and went toe to toe for the remainder.
It's entirely fair to question whether Amorim's approach and in-game decisions are correct, but the players are trying very, very hard. Whether they have the consistent quality to match is a more prudent debate.
Aaronson starts World Cup year impressively
Aaronson stayed on the bench for the 3-1 win over Chelsea, arguably Leeds' best game of the season, and it would've been easy to argue he should stay as a back-up. Instead, the USMNT winger has looked one of Farke's most effective players during this unbeaten run.
The 25-year-old got assists in the draws with Liverpool and Sunderland and, in the 0-0 at Anfield, he showed plenty of industry in runs forward with the ball to ease some of the pressure on his defence. He was a little quieter against Man United, but he still produced Leeds' best moment, racing onto a loose ball to the surprise of Heaven and finishing stylishly past Senne Lammens.
Aaronson's form is a boon for Leeds and a positive sign for Mauricio Pochettino. With the Leeds man and Christian Pulisic looking this good early in 2026, it bodes well for the World Cup.
Sesko and Ugarte show positive signs
Amorim mentioned Benjamin Sesko and Manuel Ugarte for their performances, and rightly so.
Sesko has sometimes looked more like an imitation of Rasmus Hojlund, rather than an improvement. His meagre goal output — two in 16 Premier League games — and the fact he often looks isolated in attack have highlighted the reality that United's difficulty in finding the net is not just because of who plays as the No. 9.
He may have missed a good chance for United's second, but Sesko's all-round contribution at Elland Road was largely impressive. He held up play well, laid the ball off quickly when necessary, and showed some excellent close control against what was sometimes a Leeds back five with two covering midfielders. This was a performance to build on, for sure.
Similar could be said of Ugarte. Challenged by his coach to improve his level, the Uruguay put in one of his best United displays at a febrile Elland Road. Ugarte was combative but not to excess, making six tackles, seven recoveries and two interceptions, and only conceding a foul once. His distribution was also far better, the midfielder misplacing only nine of 49 attempted passes in a packed centre of the pitch.
Leeds United vs. Man United lineups, team news
Leeds were without captain Ethan Ampadu, who was serving a suspension. In-form striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin returned to the starting lineup, with Noah Okafor in and Lukas Nmecha dropping to the bench.
Leeds United starting XI (3-5-2, right to left): Perri (GK) — Bornauw (Gnonto), Bijol, Struijk — Justin, Aaronson (Piroe), Gruev (Tanaka), Stach, Gudmundsson — Calvert-Lewin, Okafor (Nmecha)
Leeds United subs: Darlow, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Harrison, Tanaka, Byram, Gnonto, Chambers
Leny Yoro for Joshua Zirkzee was Man United's change from the Wolves draw. Chido Obi was not included in the squad, despite the Red Devils' depleted attacking options.
Man United starting XI (3-4-2-1, right to left): Lammens (GK) — Yoro (Zirkzee), Heaven, Martinez — Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Shaw — Dorgu, Cunha — Sesko
Man United subs: Bayindir, Zirkzee, Malacia, Fredricson, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato, Kukonki
Manager reaction from Leeds United 1-1 Man United
Daniel Farke
To TNT Sports:
"If you play Man United as a newly promoted side, it's always a good point. It was not our best game, a little bit scruffy at times. I have to say it's probably a fair result.
"It's a good point, when the dust has settled, one more for our tally and to extend the gap a little bit [to the relegation zone]. We needed to play today with fire in the heart, and cool in the head. You come away from a clean sheet at Liverpool, and everyone tells you [this next game] is the most important game in three years."
Ruben Amorim
To TNT Sports:
"I think we played well. I think we had more control in this game than we showed against Wolverhampton, and that is important as well when you prepare for next week.
"I think we controlled quite well a team that is strong on second balls, set-pieces. We had our opportunities to win the game. We are losing games on details: the goal of Leeds, we are in control, and one kick, one transition... But we are in control of games more often than last year. But we're a little bit frustrated not to win.
"Ayden and Leny [Yoro] are really young, but it's not because of that [that they make mistakes]. If you play so well for 90 minutes but you make one mistake... It can happen. We had chances to score a second and win the game, and nobody would be talking about the goal of Leeds.
"Josh played well, Ben [Sesko] connected really well the game today, I think [Manuel] Ugarte is playing better and I'm really pleased. If these guys play well, we have a chance to win the game."
On Zirkzee possibly leaving: "Everyone needs to focus on United. This is one of the best clubs in the world. If you are here and focusing on something else, there is something wrong."
Next games for Leeds United, Man United
Leeds face another difficult away game next up, this time at Newcastle United on January 7.
Man United are away at Burnley on the same day.