Manchester United emerged from Elland Road with a hard-earned point after a fiercely contested 1-1 draw against Leeds United, as the long-simmering rivalry between the two clubs was reignited in hostile surroundings. Pre-match confidence among the travelling support was limited, given United’s recent inconsistencies and a mounting injury list, but Ruben Amorim’s side produced a performance that carried resilience and structure.

Matheus Cunha proved decisive once again, scoring his fourth league goal of the campaign to cancel out Leeds’ opener and secure a share of the spoils. The result briefly lifted United into fifth place in the Premier League table, offering a measure of encouragement even if the opportunity to claim all three points ultimately slipped away.

Yoro And Heaven Struggle In Defence

Defensively, it was a mixed afternoon for United’s youthful centre-back pairing. While Ayden Heaven was not directly responsible for the goal conceded, there was a sense that more composure was required at a critical moment. Meanwhile, Leny Yoro endured another difficult outing in a season that has tested his confidence and decision-making.

Yoro was often too passive when faced with Leeds attackers, retreating instead of stepping out to engage. His numbers reflected a subdued display, with only two tackles, one aerial duel won and one occasion on which he was dribbled past before being withdrawn shortly after Leeds scored. Amorim’s decision to replace him with Joshua Zirkzee underlined the urgency of the situation.

Heaven, for his part, began the match well and continued the upward trajectory that earned him December’s Player of the Month award. However, he was caught out while tracking back, allowing Brenden Aaronson the space to open the scoring, despite coping impressively with Dominic Calvert-Lewin for much of the contest.

Cunha Steps Up For The Devils

United arrived in West Yorkshire severely depleted in attacking areas. With Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo away at the Africa Cup of Nations, and both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount sidelined through injury, creativity and goal threat were in short supply.

That burden fell squarely on Cunha, who operated as United’s primary attacking outlet with Benjamin Sesko again struggling to impose himself. The Brazilian was lively throughout, combining sharp movement with technical quality. He saw an early effort ruled out for offside before eventually finding the net, producing a composed finish that reflected his growing influence within the side.

Amorim Keeps His Favourite Formation

Speculation before kick-off suggested growing internal pressure on Amorim to abandon his 3-4-2-1 system, particularly after it was reinstated against Wolves. However, at Elland Road, the United head coach remained committed to his preferred structure.

By mirroring Leeds’ shape and pushing Patrick Dorgu into a more advanced role, Amorim allowed Luke Shaw to operate as a wing-back on the left. It was a calculated move that paid dividends in terms of balance and control, with Shaw linking effectively with Cunha and providing consistent width.

Zirkzee Cameo Unexpectedly Good

Once again, Joshua Zirkzee made a telling impact from the bench. For the second successive match, he outperformed Sesko, whose subdued display raised further questions about his role going forward.

Zirkzee provided the assist for Cunha’s equaliser, and while the pass itself was not spectacular, it was purposeful and decisive. The Brazilian still had work to do, but the contribution added to Zirkzee’s growing output, which now stands at two goals and one assist from just 465 Premier League minutes.

By comparison, Sesko has matched those numbers in almost double the playing time. With form and confidence increasingly on Zirkzee’s side, Amorim may soon be forced into a more significant rethink in attack.