Premier League: This is No Ordinary Rivalry!

Manchester United vs Leeds United

When I previewed a late-season Premier League encounter between these two clubs in April, I focused on the history of the fixture, the passion, and also the fact that the occasion would be diminished somewhat by a lack of supporters.

Not so this Saturday with more than 70,000 fans expected to return to Old Trafford for the first time in almost 18 months.

Add in the fact that the clash of two arch-rivals is on the opening day of a brand new season and the excitement and sense of occasion speaks for itself.

This will be the first time for almost a decade that the two sides have met, cheered on by their respective support. And following last season’s tasters, it’s fair to say I expect the Theatre of Dreams to be truly rocking this Saturday lunchtime for this is no ordinary rivalry.

This is an historic battle laced with footballing pedigree and, in the case of the Yorkshire club for a spell in the 1970s, some accusations of brutality as well.

But I’ll leave you to look that up elsewhere.

For now, it’s time to focus on the hopes for the class of 2021.

Talking Points

Lots of followers of Leeds are making bold predictions for the season ahead and based on their 2020/21 campaign, that seems justified.

After all, they ended last season strongly, concluding the club’s best top-flight campaign since David O’Leary led them to fifth place in 2002.

Along the way to the finishing line, they collected 23 points from a potential 30, conceding eight goals in their final 11 fixtures.

Now, with the return of some of the country’s most partisan fans to Elland Road set to boost players’ adrenaline levels, a push for European qualification does not seem entirely unrealistic.

The £13-M spent on Barcelona’s 24-year-old left-back Junior Firpo should ensure Ezgjan Alioski’s departure has not left a gaping hole.

Firpo, like Alioski, is pretty versatile and the former Spanish under-21 international able to play at centre-half and right-back.

With the talented Raphinha on the flanks and left-winger Jack Harrison turning his loan from Manchester City into a permanent transfer, the horizon looks bright.

And then there’s Kalvin Phillips who won a whole raft of admirers for breaking into and then keeping his place in the England midfield during Euro 2020.

England teammates Kalvin Phillips and Luke Shaw will play against each other in the Premier League this weekend — Manchester United’s Luke Shaw in action against Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips during a Premier League clash

Spearheaded by Patrick Bamford, intending to better last season’s haul of 17 Premier League goals, and it’s clear why optimism abounds in Yorkshire.

Leeds will go to Old Trafford to attack, although they should be wary of the start they made in the fixture last season.

With the philosophy of both managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Marcelo Bielsa to attack, this fixture could well throw up plenty of opening weekend Premier League 2021 highlights.

Pre-season wise, there has been limited time for Solskjaer to have his squad together.

Indeed, the players’ involvement at Euro 2020, the Copa America, Olympics, and along with reduced summer breaks, meant that his two summer signings in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane have yet to train together with the big kick-off just days away and the overall United squad does still appear short of top quality in central midfield.

That is far from ideal and could well be something Leeds can take advantage of in the opening weeks of the season with their second opponents Everton in a similar boat to the Red Devils.

It’s Manchester United versus Leeds – mark my words, there will be no bigger game anywhere in Europe this weekend.

History

When these sides first met in January 1923 in the then-Division Two, they produced a goalless draw and probably no one could imagine the rivalry which would develop half a century or so later.

That rivalry has seen 26 Leeds victories, 36 draws, and 47 United triumphs, including a 6-2 romp just before Christmas when Scott McTominay netted twice in the opening three minutes.

The last time they met at Elland Road in the top-flight with spectators was October 2003 when skipper Roy Keane scored a perfectly timed header to win the contest.

Of course, they did battle out a goalless draw in April.

Leeds have only won two of their last 18 meetings in all competitions.