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Joe Cole has tole JOE’s All To Play For podcast that he believes Leeds United will beat Manchester United on Sunday afternoon – as he reckons Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will have one eye on the Europa League semi-finals next week.
The Whites come into the match having gone unbeaten in their last five Premier League games – despite three of those coming against the top-six sides in the form of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, the latter a 2-1 win.
Now, they will look to avoid defeat against their bitter rivals and stretch that run to six matches at Elland Road – the fourth top-six side they take on in that run of six matches. United are basically confirmed in second place.
Some way off Man City, United are seven points above Leicester. With six games to play it is unlikely they will be displaced, and Cole reckons that United could field a weakened side with a Europa League semi-final next Thursday.
“I’m going to go with Leeds. I just think Manchester United might have other things on their mind, they have the semi-finals of the Europa League. Leeds are that sort of team – if you’re on it, you’ll beat them,” Cole said.
TBR’s view – Cole has a very good point
With the semi-final taking place against Roma next Thursday, the Europa League promises the only chance that United have of achieving silverware this season. So, Solskjaer would be foolish to play a full-strength side.
If he is to rest three or four players, surely the likes of Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes will be taken out of the starting line-up and put on the bench. It might give Leeds an excellent chance of going six unbeaten.
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