Manchester United 0
Leeds United 0
19th July, 2025
45,345
Leeds United: Starting XI: Darlow, Bogle, Ampadu (Capt), Rodon, Nmecha, Bijol, Tanaka, Byram, Gnonto, Harrison, Gruev.Second half: Meslier, Bogle (Chambers 77), Bornauw, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Longstaff, Tanaka (Gray 77), Gruev (Crew 86), James, Piroe (Chadwick 89), Ramazani.Subs not used: Cairns, Mahady.
Manchester United: Starting XI: Bayindir; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Collyer, Leon; Fernandes (Capt), Cunha; Obi.Second half: Heaton; Yoro, Maguire (Fredricson 74), Heaven; Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dorgu; Mantato (J.Fletcher 80), Mount; Hojlund. Subs not used: Mee, Kukonki, Munro, Kone, Williams.
New signings Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol started and Seb Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Sean Longstaff would all get minutes in the second half. There was no Patrick Bamford of course – Farke had already made it plain that Bamford has no place in his plans for the new season – and no Mateo Joseph who was being given additional time off following his late return from the Euro U-21 tournament but who has subsequently put in a transfer request. The Reds had both of their new summer signings on show; Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon. It’s a sign of the relative wealth of both sides that Cunha alone cost more than our first six signings in total, including the £17m Anton Stach announced since we returned from Sweden.
Before kick-off, both teams lined up around the centre circle and paid tribute to Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. A photo of Jota was beamed up onto the huge four sided screen that hung above the centre of the pitch and the crowd fell silent for a moment of reflection. Thankfully for us, the retractable roof of this impressive stadium was fully open but that meant the Manchester United fans filling the East Stand would be slowly roasted throughout the game, their faces turning the same colour as their shirts.
Leeds looked lively in the early stages despite the heat and created the first decent chance, Willy Gnonto playing a lovely little ball into the path of Jayden Bogle who was away behind the Manchester defence on the right wing. He probably delayed his cross a fraction too late as he got almost to the byline before lofting the ball across where it went inches behind the head of Nmecha before being headed away. It was a classy looking move though.
It was fully ten minutes before we saw any attacking threat from the Reds (playing in all-white while Leeds wore the striking new all blue affair) and that was header that looped well wide from a Fernandes free kick. Willy Gnonto looked to be enjoying himself, at one point spinning and back-healing the ball for a one-two with Ao Tanaka. In fact several Leeds players seemed to be in holiday mood still as flicks and tricks continued – Jayden Bogle performing a few that were every bit as clever as Gnonto’s. A clever one-two from Bogle and he almost fed the ball into the path of Nmecha. It was impressive stuff for a first pre-season outing.
The Reds took longer to grow into the game but as the first half neared its end they started to probe our defence – one smart interchange of passes eventually finding the youngster Chido Obi who shot wide. Arguably the classiest player on the pitch for the first half was Matheus Cunha but, at £62.5 million, I’m guessing the Reds were hoping he would be.
Ten minutes into the new half and Leeds should probably have gone ahead. Some fabulous footwork by Joel Piroe on the edge of the box was followed by an inch perfect ball through into the path of Bogle to the right of goal. He took a split second too long to get a shot away through and Tom Heaton blocked the shot away for a corner. Ao Tanaka hit a half-volley into the ground and against the side netting at the back post from the resulting corner when he also should probably have done better.
Joel Piroe was playing in that ‘number 10’ role we saw him often occupy last season and he was looking really good with several top class through balls and neat touches. One cut right through the centre of the Reds defence onto the boot of Largie Ramazani but he was inches offside and Heaton saved his close range effort anyway. Minutes later and Piroe did it again, once more putting Ramazani through behind the back line only for Ramazani to fluff his shot this time and Heaton saved again. It did float into my mind that our finishing was looking very much like it did last season when we scored boatloads of goals but missed so many more! Ramazani then sort of confirmed my worries as he cut inside to find space but tamely hit another shot all along the turf that again Heaton dealt with easily. Leeds were definitely on top though as we moved into the final half hour before Man United came back strongly towards the end.
Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu initially claimed a penalty when he fell to ground after contact from Sam Chambers but then sprang to his feet and lashed a shot towards Meslier’s near post. Illan blocked that one away for a corner but then looked uncertain moments later as a left wing corner floated across. He was in no man’s land as the ball was headed back across to where Mainoo rose above Pascal Struik to head powerfully against the crossbar. The ball ricocheted around for a couple of seconds before a boot sent it at goal again and this time Illan did well to block it near the line and then Bornauw got in the way of another Mainoo follow-up shot before the danger was cleared.
And that was that. The game ended as it began, goalless. It had been a decent watch though with Leeds looking no better nor worse than their expensively put-together opposition. Of course you can't read much into these pre-season games but there was nothing I saw that caused any alarm and it looked like a good first work-out. All the new signings aquitted themselves well and the likes of Jayden Bogle, Willy Gnonto, Joel Piroe and Ao Tanaka all looked sharp.
Next up for the fans will be the home encounter with Villarreal on August 9th; we’re getting close now folks, the excitement is building!
