Michael Carrick is set to face a make-or-break moment as Manchester United boss when the Red Devils take on Leeds United in a Premier League clash on Sunday, October 18th.
The Red Devils are winless in five games and have all but descended into crisis mode, judging by Lisandro Martinez's comments in the aftermath of their UEFA Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Last week in the Premier League, they were held to a draw by 10-man Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, further fuelling discontent within the club's ranks.
Leeds United, on the other hand, put up a good fight against reigning champions Arsenal last week, eventually losing 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
They are in seventh place, six places above Manchester United, who have picked up six points from as many games this term.
It will be a meeting of old foes Daniel Farke and Carrick, who have met on five occasions, with the Leeds boss triumphing in all five previous meetings.
The meetings between the sides last season ended in a win for the Whites at Old Trafford and a draw at Elland Road.
With so much at stake in the encounter, the officiating will be scrutinised by both sides, and the Premier League has assigned one of England's quality officials, Darren England, to take charge of the game.
Meet Leeds United vs Manchester United Referee Darren England
A Premier League referee since 2020, 40-year-old England has officiated 103 official games in the English top-flight in the six years since.
He has handed out 417 bookings in total, and has refereed games involving both teams in the past. This season alone, he has already shown yellow cards to 15 players in only four games.
Darren England has been in charge of Leeds United's Premier League games on six occasions, with the Whites winning once and drawing four times.
He has refereed seven Manchester United league games in the past, including their opening day defeat to Hull City this season. The Red Devils have won four of these games and drawn once.
England was the official on VAR duty when controversy struck in the September 2023 meeting between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
He failed to intervene decisively, allowing the referee to disallow a perfectly legal goal from Luis Diaz and costing the Reds the win.
Who is Assisting Darren England?
England will be joined from the touchline by assistants Scott Ledger and Matthew Wilkes for the encounter at Elland Road.
Andrew Kitchen will be the game's fourth official, while Peter Bankes will be at Stockley Park as the VAR, and he will be assisted by Josh Smith.
