Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez will be available for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Leeds United after apologising for criticising the club’s transfer policy, manager Michael Carrick said.
United travel to Elland Road for a 2pm kick-off in a fixture that has long been one of English football’s fiercest rivalries. Leeds, who have made a strong start to the season, will be seeking to strengthen their push towards the top four, while United have managed only one league win.
Martinez available for Leeds v Manchester United
Martinez met Carrick and senior club officials on Thursday, two days after suggesting United needed greater investment to compete at the highest level following their 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid.
The centre-back later apologised, and Carrick said the matter had been resolved.
“We’ve moved on from that. It was one of those things. It’s really not a drama for the group,” Carrick said.
“The squad have trained really well and they are in good spirits. There is a freshness about the group.”
He added: “He’s part of the squad [for Sunday].”
United’s difficult campaign began with a 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Hull City. They recovered from falling behind against Ipswich Town to win 5-2, but that remains their only league victory.
A contentious 1-0 home defeat by Manchester City was followed by disappointing draws against Everton, Fulham and Tottenham. United have also been eliminated from the League Cup by Brighton, despite taking a 2-0 first-half lead at Old Trafford.
Leeds’ strong start
Leeds have lost just once in their opening six league matches, a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in which the reigning champions had to come from behind.
That result followed two wins and two draws in Leeds’ first five matches, including a 4-1 home victory over Newcastle United. A draw with Crystal Palace came between those results.
Leeds’ League Cup campaign ended with a 6-3 defeat at Chelsea, although the home side needed two goals in the final 10 minutes to pull clear.
Joe Rodon and Mateo Joseph will miss the match through injury. Daniel James, the former Manchester United winger, is a doubt with a back problem.
Leeds are expected to start with Illan Meslier in goal, although the predicted line-up supplied for the match is: Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemovic; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Stach, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin.
United remain without Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte and Benjamin Sesko because of injury. Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo face late fitness tests, while Matthijs de Ligt is nearing a return from a long-term back injury.
The predicted Manchester United line-up is: Lammens; Dalot, Martinez, Maguire, Shaw; Baleba, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Diallo; Cunha.
Recent meetings and match prediction
Leeds won 2-1 at Old Trafford when the sides last met in the Premier League in April. Noah Okafor scored both goals, while Casemiro replied for United after Martinez had been sent off early in the second half.
The corresponding fixture at Elland Road last season finished 1-1. Brenden Aaronson put Leeds ahead in the 62nd minute before Matheus Cunha equalised three minutes later.
United’s last victory at Elland Road came in the 2022-23 season, when Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho scored in a 2-0 win. Leeds have not beaten United at home since Harry Kewell scored the only goal in 2002; United have won five of the seven meetings there since.
Sunday’s game will be the 116th meeting between the clubs. United have won 50, Leeds 27 and 38 have ended in draws.
The Opta supercomputer gives Leeds a 42 per cent chance of victory, compared with 32 per cent for Manchester United.
