Not only would three points move the Red Devils up the Premier League table, but it should take some of the focus away from Lisandro Martinez's midweek outburst, which threatens to overshadow any good work that Michael Carrick and his backroom staff are doing.
Martinez's outburst has opened up wounds
“We expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete,” the Argentinian said in a post-match interview that was heard around the world. “I expect more from our technical director.”
Whether such a strongly worded statement was designed to help him in his quest to potentially leave the club is unclear at this point. What is clear is that it exposed the cracks in the United dressing room.
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They won't find it easy against Daniel Farke's all whites either, given that the hosts have lost just once this season (to champions Arsenal) and are unbeaten at home in 2026/27. In fact, they've not lost at Elland Road in any competition since March.
However, they will be facing a United side that has had the most shots (125) and the most touches in the opposition box (205) in the English top flight this season.
Man Utd's complete loss of form
The more immediate issue for Carrick is his team's loss of form, given that their defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League was their fifth match without a win in all competitions.
For a team of such stature, many of the players looked utterly devoid of any confidence whatsoever.
That this appears to be a recurring theme for yet another United manager to have to deal with indicates that the problems at the club run deep.
To give further context to the Red Devils' malaise, their six points are the lowest they've managed at this stage of a season since the four they earned under Ron Atkinson in 1986/87.
Defensively, they've been poor and haven't yet kept a clean sheet, mirroring their start to the 2025/26 campaign. Not since 1930/31 and 1931/32 had United gone successive campaigns without a clean sheet in their opening half dozen matches.
Bruno Fernandes not delivering
If Carrick wants to try and pinpoint where things are going wrong, the relative lack of influence from captain Bruno Fernandes could be a good starting point.
Though the Portuguese has been involved in nine goals in his seven Premier League games against Leeds (6G, 3A), he's not managed any goal involvements in his last four club appearances, coinciding with United's poor run.
If Leeds were to extend his and their pain and get a victory, it would mean that the Yorkshire-based side would be six points ahead of United after seven matches for only the second time in Premier League history, and the first since December 2001.
As it is, the hosts go into the game well ahead of their visitors in the table, for the first time since September 2002.
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Injury concerns for Carrick
With a Champions League fixture away at Como to come just a few days after this game, Carrick's team selection could also be interesting, to say the least.
For a start, there'll be much debate on whether Martinez will retain his place given the strength of his criticism.
Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are both only rated as 25% likely to be fit for this game, though a late fitness test will determine if Noussair Mazraoui joins them on the sidelines or plays some part.
Benjamin Sesko looked on course for a return, but an evident relapse will see him ruled out until late November.
Leeds seeking back-to-back wins over United for first time since 1971/72
Leeds will be without Mateo Joseph and Joe Rodon, with Farke unlikely to risk Daniel James either, despite the fact that the Welshman's pace would cause United's back line untold problems.
In terms of the head-to-head record in this fixture, Leeds' victory at the Theatre of Dreams in April ended a run of 10 winless Premier League games against United.
Were they to get another three points, it would represent the first time since the 1971/72 season that Leeds have won consecutive matches against the Red Devils.
Depending on results elsewhere, such an outcome could see the all whites as high as fourth in the table, with Carrick again clutching at straws to explain the result.
On the flip side, a big win for the visitors will actually see them leapfrog Leeds and potentially end the weekend in the top 10.
Such fine margins...