4-2-3-1: This livewire United side will be way too strong for Leeds, it could be carnage

After a three-week hiatus that has felt like a close season, Michael Carrick’s Manchester United side return to action on Monday night against Leeds United at Old Trafford. If Manchester City beat Chelsea on Sunday, a win for United would pull them 10 points clear of sixth place with just six games to go. If the Blues were to win, victory for Carrick’s men would bring them just three points behind their noisy neighbours and in with a real shout of grabbing a second-place finish. Defence With Matthijs de Ligt still injured and Harry Maguire suspended, centre-back is the main problem area for the boss. Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are expected to deputise, although Lisandro Martinez is back in full training and could be thrown straight back into the firing line. Noussair Mazraoui is another option. Diogo Dalot will likely start ahead of the Moroccan at right-back, with Luke Shaw at left-back. Senne Lammens will be in goal. Patrick Dorgu is back in light individual training but is not ready to return. Midfield The midfield trio will almost certainly be unchanged, with Casemiro holding, Kobbie Mainoo carrying the ball from defence to attack, and Bruno Fernandes playing in the number 10 position. Manuel Ugarte is another option, as is Mason Mount, who has looked sharp in training. Attack Both Bryan Mbeumo and Ben Sesko have pulled out of international duty with slight knocks, but both are expected to be fit to play. Mbeumo was withdrawn as a precaution, while Sesko’s reason was to “’fully recover’ from a persistent problem that the club have monitored closely,” according to EPL Index. Carrick has been leaning toward a front three of Amad, Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha of late, but Sesko’s form has been superb and it will be tempting to start him. We have predicted he’ll come off the bench again but it could go either way. Josh Zirkzee is also available but highly unlikely to start unless both the Cameroonian and the Slovenian don’t make it. Shea Lacey is also back from injury and could grab himself a spot on the bench. Final thoughts Yoro and Heaven centre-back pairing in Maguire and De Ligt’s absence; Midfield unchanged; Forward line dependent on Sesko and Mbeumo’s fitness. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Red Billy Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and two magazines and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy first saw United live in 1971, watching George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, before becoming a League Match ticket book holder from 1975/76 and a writer since 1995. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.