Manchester United returned to Old Trafford after 24 days and left with an unexpected 2-1 defeat to Leeds United. The scoreline masked a match in which defensive lapses and absences shaped the outcome. United started poorly, conceding early chances and ultimately two goals that stemmed from a lack of composure in the defensive third.

Leeds threatened inside three minutes when Gabriel Gudmundsson delivered a low cross that found the toe of a sliding Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Two minutes later Okafor opened the scoring with a shot that deflected off United center back Leny Yoro. Okafor added a second just over 20 minutes later with a first-time strike after a crossed ball ricocheted around the 18-yard box.

United’s backline were fortunate not to be further behind by halftime; Ao Tanaka broke through and forced a point-blank block from Lisandro Martínez. Martínez then committed a foul at the hour mark when he pulled the ponytail of Calvert-Lewin, an action that led to a red card in the 56th minute and left United to regroup with 10 men. The absence of Harry Maguire and his physical presence was noted repeatedly.

Kobbie Mainoo was missing through what reporter Rich Fay described as a “minor injury”. Mainoo had played 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on March 20 and featured for England as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay on March 27 and started in the 0-1 loss to Japan on March 31. Manuel Ugarte replaced Mainoo in the starting eleven but failed to provide control in midfield. Michael Carrick assessed the situation saying “it seems small,” about the injury.

Casemiro offered the clearest positive for United, heading home from a Bruno Fernandes cross in the 69th minute and driving better connections from deep to the wide players. The Brazilian veteran, who will leave Old Trafford after the season, has urged faith in Mainoo, saying he has the ability to be “one of the best eights” for more than a decade.

Across this match and the Bournemouth draw, United were expected to take six points and have collected one. The result leaves them third on 55 points, ahead of Aston Villa (55) and Liverpool (52), while Chelsea sit sixth on 48 after their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Manchester United will finish Premier League Gameweek 32 with a home match against Leeds United on Monday, but Kobbie Mainoo will not feature. The Englishman’s setback comes just hours after manager Michael Carrick confirmed that Mainoo is inching closer to signing a new contract at Old Trafford.

Manuel Ugarte has been handed the starting role in central midfield despite having fallen out of favor recently at Old Trafford. He will occupy the position vacated by Mainoo and line up alongside Casemiro in the middle of the park. Casemiro recently urged faith in Mainoo, saying the youngster has the ability to be “one of the best eights” for more than a decade.

Captain Bruno Fernandes will occupy his customary No. 10 role, providing the attacking centre-midfield presence behind the forwards. The selection leaves Manchester United with a three-man central unit of Ugarte, Casemiro and Fernandes for the rivalry fixture at Old Trafford.

The absence of Mainoo removes a developing option from the manager’s midfield choices for the match, while Carrick’s contract update earlier in the day suggested negotiations are progressing. The club’s announced lineup shifts the immediate midfield responsibility to Ugarte and Casemiro, with Fernandes set to maintain his attacking midfield duties.

All details in this report are drawn from the club’s statements and the manager’s confirmation earlier on the day of the game. The team will take to the pitch at Old Trafford in the closing match of Gameweek 32 with Ugarte starting in place of Mainoo and Fernandes at No. 10.