Match Preview - Leeds United v Manchester United

Competition: Carling League Cup
Kick-Off & Date: 7:45pm, Tuesday, 20th September 2011
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds (Away) 
Live TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 (HD), 7:30pm - 10pm

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire, England)


Form: Leeds United are suffering in the Championship ever so slightly, with 5 wins in 9 games in all competitions. In the league, they have picked up only 10 points from a possible 21 points. The Whites did win their last match at home to Bristol City, and before that also beat Crystal Palace. Leeds currently lie in 11th place in the Championship, and manager Simon Grayson is keen to improve on last season's 7th place top-half finish in the competition. 

United have made a flying start to the new season, with 6 wins out of a possible 7 in all competitions. The Red Devils are yet to lose a game, and before the weekend's 3-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford (Premier League), our lads dropped the first points of the campaign away in Portugal to SL Benfica (Champions League), however it was seen as a decent result considering it was mooted as the toughest test to last year's finalists United in Group C.

 
The Injury Front: Leeds United have little to worry about, with The Peacocks enjoying an injury-free beginning to the season. The last time they met The Reds in The FA Cup, they also had a decent squad to select from and this year's meeting is no different. Apart from a suspension in Patrick Kisnorbo, Simon Grayson has a full and healthy squad to choose from in the League Cup clash with Manchester United on Tuesday night at Elland Road. 

United have been boosted by the fact that Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez - who limped-off after a horrific Ashley Cole lunge in the 3-1 win over Chelsea - is fit again already, and will resume training midweek. In fact, Chicharito could probably face Leeds but there is no way manager Sir Alex Ferguson will risk the striker, who is expected back for Stoke City next week. Chris Smalling is out, as are Nemanja Vidic, Rafael Da Silva and Tom Cleverley. 

Squad: De Gea, Lindegaard Evans, Evra, Fabio, Jones, Ferdinand, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Nani, Park, Valencia, Young, Berbatov, Hernandez, Owen, Rooney, Welbeck, Pogba.

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The Gaffer: Simon Grayson has been in charge of Leeds United since late 2008, and has already got a win - at Old Trafford - under his belt as manager of our past rivals, as in 2010 his side managed a 1-0 victory over us in The FA Cup. Grayson led Leeds to the Championship in the 2009/2010 season, but is yet to claim silverware... 

Most-Feared: Luciano Becchio can be a handful at times, and the 27-year-old Argentinian striker has scored once in one game this campaign in the Championship. Last season, Becchio played 44 games for Leeds in which he netted an impressive 20 goals in all competitions. Since 2008, he has 57 goals to his name !

The Ref: Mike Jones keeps himself to himself usually, and avoids controversy at any cost. His last game involving United came at the start of the new Barclays Premier League term, where we beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at The Hawthorns. In 4 league fixtures so far this season, he has dished-out 19 cards in total...

United Latest's Prediction: Leeds United 0-3 United
- Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen on the double ?