Kerry Mayodi
Leeds United kick off the 2021-22 Premier League season with a trip to Old Trafford.
The fixture will see Leeds play in a Premier League game in a full stadium for the first time since 2004, with the 3,000 away tickets selling out almost instantly.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men will be hoping for something a lot more like the famous game of January 3rd, 2010 where a solo goal from forward Jermain Beckford saw Leeds United through to the latter stages of the FA cup rather than the 6-2 loss the side endured last season.
Leeds have only managed to secure the services of 24-year-old Junior Firpo from Barcelona while The Red Devils have added the long-coveted Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane to their first team ranks this summer.
It is difficult to predict team sheets for the opening fixture but with fitness questions around all of these new signings who will certainly be key players for their sides, it is perhaps more so.
Here is a look at how the two sides could line up on Saturday.
Manchester United
United boss Solksjaer confirmed that his new signings will not start the match but will hopefully be on the bench ready to come on any time so that rules out Varane and Sancho in the starting eleven.
Rashford is ruled out after undergoing a shoulder surgery recently.
Full-back Alex Telles is also out of contention for the time being as he suffered an ankle issue at the recent training camp in Surrey.
Jesse Lingard and Dean Henderson are out after contracting Covid-19.
Forward Edinson Cavani has not yet reported back to training and it is therefore unlikely that he will start in the game.
Leeds
A good portion of the Leeds eleven is going to depend on whether Marcelo Bielsa deems Kalvin Phillips to be fit to start after his summer exploits with England, subsequent holiday and shortened pre-season at Thorp Arch.
