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2 key battles to look out for as Manchester United welcome Leeds United

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Leeds United begin life after Jesse Marsch tonight, when they make the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

The Whites go into this game winless in their last seven in the league, leaving them 17th in the table, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

By contrast, Manchester United are enjoying a resurgence under Erik Ten Hag this season, and will be looking to go level on points with second placed Manchester City with victory here.

It seems therefore, that this will not be a tricky task for Leeds, ahead of the reverse fixture between the two at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon.

So with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at two potentially key battles we could see play out when these two sides go head to head tonight.

Adams vs Sabitzer

One positive for Leeds going into this match, is Manchester United’s selection issues in midfield, where Casemiro is suspended, and Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay are injured.

That means Ten Hag will be unable to call upon his two most reliable central midfield options, and could be set to hand a full debut to Marcel Sabitzer, who joined on loan from Bayern Munich on deadline day, and could be the one who the Red Devils look to for influence in the centre of the park here.

Adams meanwhile, has been a standout figure for Leeds so far this season, with his performances in controlling the area in the centre of the park something of a standout.

He therefore, may be the one charged with keeping Sabitzer quiet, and if he makes it a difficult Premier League debut for the Austrian, then the hosts could struggle to enjoy the better of the game in the way they usually do with Casemiro and Eriksen in there, which could be decisive in how this one plays out.

Koch vs Rashford

There is no denying that Marcus Rashford looks to be in the form of his life for Manchester United right now.

The England international has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, including 11 in 13 appearances since the World Cup.

He therefore, is the player Leeds will surely have to keep quiet in attack tonight if they are to have a chance of getting something out of this game, and you feel Koch may be the best man for that particular job.

Across the course of the campaign so far, the 26-year-old has arguably been Whites’ best centre back, while he also has the height and physicality required to go up against the confidence fueled Rashford, meaning Koch will surely be the man Leeds look to for what may well be the decisive role tonight, if they are to get anything from this.

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UCLan Sports Journalism graduate. Have been working for Leeds All Over since summer 2020, and can only be found writing on Football League World.