Wins continue to elude Manchester United. Here they drew 1-1 against Leeds United at Elland Road. Michael Carrick’s side are now winless in five Premier League games and have just one league victory from their opening seven games.
United had hoped to use the trip to Yorkshire to build some momentum, but another lacklustre performance denied Carrick the chance to ease the pressure on his position. Bryan Mbeumo gave the visitors the lead in the first half, only for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to equalise soon after the break.
Leeds were also short of quality in the final third, but Daniel Farke’s side showed greater urgency after the interval and came close to finding a winner. The draw extended their wait for a home league victory over United to 24 years.
Carrick opted for a 3-4-3 formation in Amorim’s image, with Bruno Fernandes chosen as a false nine. Leeds began with plenty of aggression in front of a noisy home crowd. The early exchanges were scrappy, with both sides struggling to establish control and several challenges drawing the referee’s attention.
Fernandes was booked for a late tackle on Tarik Muharemovic, Gabriel Gudmundsson also receiving a yellow card for a foul on Andrey Santos.
The hosts came closest to scoring first when Nico Elvedi met Anton Stach’s free-kick with a header that Senne Lammens saved. United responded when Youri Tielemans delivered a cross towards Mbeumo, but the forward failed to make proper contact with his header from close range.
Mbeumo made amends in the 35th minute. Tielemans combined with Amad Diallo down the right before receiving the ball back and sending a low cross into the penalty area. Mbeumo got ahead of his marker and finished to give United the lead.
The goal was a welcome moment for Carrick’s side, who had not led at half-time in the league this season. Leeds, however, remained within reach and looked for a response before the break.
United’s advantage lasted only six minutes into the second half. Leeds won a corner and Muharemovic flicked the delivery towards the far side of the six-yard box, where Calvert-Lewin held off Mbeumo before driving the ball into the net.
The equaliser lifted the home crowd and shifted the balance of the contest. Leeds pushed forward with greater purpose, forcing United to defend deeper and leaving Carrick’s players struggling to regain control.
Ao Tanaka sent a volley over the crossbar before Noah Okafor also failed to hit the target. Leeds continued to apply pressure, but their finishing let them down at key moments.
United offered little in response. Fernandes briefly threatened when he turned and shot from inside the area, only for his effort to drift narrowly wide. His next attempt lacked the power to trouble James Trafford, who collected comfortably.
Carrick introduced Mason Mount for Carlos Baleba in an effort to change the course of the game. Farke also brought on Lukas Nmecha for Okafor, but neither manager found a substitute capable of producing a decisive moment.
Leeds came closest to snatching all three points in the closing stages when Stach fired over from the edge of the area after a scramble in the United penalty box, before another effort from the midfielder was gathered safely by Lammens.
