Leeds United hosts Manchester United at Elland Road on Sunday, Jan. 4, for Matchday 20 of the Premier League. The Red Devils need to make a statement and start the year in the best possible way.

Both teams need the victory: Leeds to escape the lower zone of the standings and Manchester United to recover ground in the fight for European Cup qualification.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, a former Everton goal scorer, has recovered his best form with the Leeds jersey and already has eight goals in the Premier League.

At Manchester United, Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez has begun to find his rhythm and is important for Ruben Amorim's team. Furthermore, Uruguayan Manuel Ugarte and Brazilian Casemiro share the midfield in the absence of the injured Bruno Fernandes, and Matheus Cunha is the creative piece of a team that has not taken off.

Leeds drew 0-0 away against Liverpool at the start of the year, extending its streak to six matches without defeat, after a slump of four consecutive losses.

Manchester United drew 1-1 against a weak Wolverhampton in a disappointing end to 2025.

The last official encounter was on Feb. 12, 2023, in which Manchester United won 2-0 away with goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

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After the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton at Old Trafford on Tuesday, Dec. 30, Lisandro Martinez was blunt in his declaration and self-criticism: "I'm very disappointed. We cannot do this at home. At home, we have to win, and our rivals have to suffer." And he added a phrase with a very descriptive word: "It's very frustrating."

Along the same lines, always aiming to firmly establish his concern heading into the new year, in conversation with several media outlets in the corridors of the 'Theatre of Dreams', the former Newell's and Defensa y Justicia player expressed: "We cannot be at our stadium drawing and losing points. We have to win. We have to win now."

And to close, he warned that they must now focus on the next Premier League commitment, which will be on Sunday, Jan. 4, against Leeds at Elland Road: "We have two paths. Hide behind excuses or take great responsibility, show who we are in the next match, and take the three points."

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