Matheus Cunha, who also saw a first-half strike disallowed for offside, salvaged a point for Ruben Amorim’s side at Elland Road.

Brenden Aaronson netted the opener for Leeds, coolly capitalising on a defensive lapse to put the hosts in front just after the hour.

Noah Okafor and Joel Piroe had the best chances in the closing stages for Daniel Farke’s side, who extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches, while Cunha hit the woodwork at the other end.

Fifth-place Man Utd sit two points behind Liverpool ahead of the rest of Sunday’s action. Leeds extend their unbeaten run to seven matches to remain 16th and are now eight points above the relegation zone.

How the match unfolded

The visitors had the ball in the back of the net just eight minutes in when Casemiro nodded down Senne Lammens’ long pass to Cunha, who volleyed in from the edge of the box, but the offside flag was already up.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half as his diving header clipped the left post, though moments later, Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri made a fine save to deny Leny Yoro.

Perri’s save to deny Yoro

Leeds’ strong start to the second half was rewarded in the 62nd minute. Pascal Struijk’s pass was misjudged by Ayden Heaven, and Aaronson slotted a composed finish into the bottom-right corner.

But the hosts’ lead lasted under three minutes as substitute Joshua Zirkzee picked out Cunha, who slid in to prod beyond Perri, who had strayed off his line.

Lammens brilliantly kept out Okafor’s improvised overhead kick, while Cunha’s drilled curler struck the foot of the post. Piroe then curled just over at the other end as both sides had to settle for a point.

Leeds march on in unbeaten run

A confidence-boosting draw with Liverpool set Leeds up well for this meeting with their fierce rivals, who they have not often had a lot of joy against in the Premier League.

Farke opted to reintroduce Calvert-Lewin to the starting line-up, having started him on the bench against the reigning champions despite a run of seven goals in six games.

But Leeds had to be patient before the break, with Aaronson’s low drive wide of the post the best the hosts produced until Calvert-Lewin hit the woodwork.

That all changed in the second half, however, as Leeds held retained possession and stretched Man Utd’s back three in open play and on set-pieces.

Gabriel Gudmundsson gave the visitors a warning as his tight-angled shot on the right forced a smart stop out of Lammens.

Aaronson’s goal was the least that Leeds deserved just after the hour, but when Amorim changed his formation, Farke’s team initially struggled to come up with answers.

Once they found their footing again, though, Leeds had the better chances to find a late winner.

But there were plenty of positives for Farke ahead of a trip to Newcastle United on Wednesday, and to be so far clear of the bottom three at this stage of the season is a testament to his work.

Zirkzee flips the script

Despite losing just one of their last seven games heading into this match, Man Utd were in need of a response after a 1-1 draw with bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday.

They started brightly, and it was only a matter of inches that denied them an opener as Benjamin Sesko had just strayed beyond the last defender when he got on the end of Lammens’ pass.

With captain Bruno Fernandes still out injured, Man Utd had to look elsewhere for their creativity, with both Lisandro Martinez and Manuel Ugarte seeing shots blocked, while Casemiro showed some promise in a more advanced role.

But it was the introduction of Zirkzee that was the turning point for Amorim’s side.

Straight after Leeds’ goal, he took off Yoro, switching to a back four, and brought on Zirkzee, who had an immediate impact with his perfectly weighted through-ball into Cunha.

And the Dutchman almost provided a second assist as he drifted out to the left soon after and squared for Sesko, who fired just wide.

Zirkzee was involved again as he played in Patrick Dorgu in the build-up for Cunha’s effort against the post, but Man Utd had to settle for a second consecutive draw, with a trip to struggling Burnley next up.

What the managers said

Daniel Farke: “It wasn’t our best game today football-wise, it was a bit scruffy, nevertheless we found a way. We forced an opener and would have taken all three points, so for that I’m a bit disappointed, but if I calm down I have to say it’s a fair point.

“We always give everything, and also physically we go over the line. Today that was necessary. We are on a good path.”

Ruben Amorim: “I think we played well. We had our opportunities to win the game.

“We are losing games on the details – the Leeds goal, we are controlling the game and then one kick of the ball in transition but we managed to get back into the game. Last year it would be completely different. This year we are more in control of the games than we were last year but we are frustrated not to win.”

Leeds are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games (W2 D5), earning as many points over that period (11) as their opening 13 matches of the 2025/26 campaign (W3 D2 L8).

Leeds’ seven-game unbeaten run is their longest in the Premier League since between May/November 2001 under David O’Leary (13 games – W8 D5).

There was just 174 seconds between Aaronson opening the scoring for Leeds (61:36) and Cunha’s equaliser for Man Utd (64:30).

19 of Cunha’s 31 Premier League goals since the start of 2023/24 have come away from home; only Erling Haaland (31), Mohamed Salah (23), Ollie Watkins (22), and Alexander Isak (20) have more in that time. (premierleague.com)

Update news