United chase Champions League glory while Leeds fight for Premier League survival the War of the Roses is back Monday night, and Michael Carrick’s resurgent Red Devils host a desperate Yorkshire side that still has plenty of bite.
There are soccer rivalries, and then there’s Manchester United versus Leeds United a fixture so soaked in history, so genuinely venomous, that even a Matchday 32 Premier League clash in the middle of April feels like a cup final. Monday night at Old Trafford, both clubs arrived with everything to play for, and not a single neutral fan could be indifferent.
United come in third on the table with 55 points, locked in a tight race with Aston Villa for the final Champions League qualification spot. Manager Michael Carrick the former United midfielder who has engineered a remarkable turnaround at the club has his side on a nine-match unbeaten home run. Three wins in their last four league outings, including victories over Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Everton, have given Old Trafford an energy it hadn’t felt in years.
The lineup Carrick sent out reflected his restored options: Senne Lammens in goal, Lisandro Martinez making his return from a calf injury at center-back alongside Leny Yoro, Bruno Fernandes orchestrating from attacking midfield, and Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko leading the line. Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo add pace and unpredictability on the wings. It is, by any measure, a team that believes in itself again.
After an incredible turnaround, Michael Carrick’s Man United are in the top four and looking good for UEFA Champions League qualification under their interim boss.” — NBC Sports, previewing the match
Leeds arrived in a very different state of mind but not a hopeless one. Daniel Farke’s side sit 15th on 33 points, just four points above the relegation zone, and have gone six Premier League games without a win. Their attacking production has dried up almost completely, failing to score in four of those six outings.
And yet. Leeds knocked out West Ham in the FA Cup quarterfinal on penalties to reach the last four for the first time since 1987. That result — against a struggling but still physically difficult West Ham side — injected something real back into the dressing room. Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads the line, with U.S. men’s national team midfielder Brenden Aaronson who has a complicated, layered history with both clubs buzzing behind him. American soccer fans will have more than one reason to watch this one.
The head-to-head record doesn’t flatter Leeds: United have not lost to them since 2011 and are unbeaten in eight straight meetings. The earlier league clash this season at Elland Road ended 1-1, which means Leeds have shown they can at least make United uncomfortable.
Farke is missing several key pieces Joe Rodon and Anton Stach were injured in the cup run, Daniel James is out and the defensive injury list puts even more weight on Karl Darlow between the posts. Leeds will sit in a compact shape and look to nick something on the counter. They have done it before in this stadium.
For the roughly 75,000 people inside Old Trafford Monday evening and for the sizable American audience watching on USA Network at 3 p.m. ET this is the kind of match the Premier League was designed to produce. European qualification versus survival. Red versus White. Manchester versus Yorkshire. Carrick versus Farke. Old Trafford, the old cathedral, humming again.
Man United vs. Leeds — Your Questions
How can Americans watch this match?
The match kicked off Monday, April 13 at 3 p.m. ET and is available on the USA Network and Universo, with streaming on Peacock. Highlights and full replays are available on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.
What’s at stake for each team?
Manchester United need the win to stay ahead of Aston Villa in the Champions League race they’re 3rd with 55 points and can’t afford to slip. Leeds, at 15th with 33 points and four points above the drop zone, need results to stay in the Premier League next season.
What is the “War of the Roses” and why does it matter?
The nickname comes from the medieval Wars of the Roses between the House of Lancaster (represented by the red rose and Manchester) and the House of York (white rose Yorkshire, Leeds). It’s one of the oldest and most geographically grounded rivalries in English football, with genuine cultural hostility between the regions that goes back centuries.
Who is Brenden Aaronson and why are American fans watching him?
Aaronson, from Medford, New Jersey, is one of the most prominent American players in the Premier League. His performances for the USMNT and his club career including a stint at Leeds earlier in his career have made him a cult figure among American soccer fans tracking their players abroad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
