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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
George Smith

The Premier League record Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo can break in Leeds fixture

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo will set a new Premier League record if he is named in Ralf Rangnick's starting line-up for Sunday's highly anticipated meeting with Leeds United at Elland Road.

The Reds, who got back to winning ways on Tuesday with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, will lock horns with their rivals in front of fans at Elland Road for the first time since a League Cup tie in September 2011.

However, you have to go all the way back to October 2003 for the last time United visited this particular corner of West Yorkshire for a Premier League fixture with all four sides of the ground packed to the rafters, given that last season's meeting was played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 regulations.

On that occasion, almost 20 years ago, United sealed a 1-0 win thanks to a late winner from former club captain Roy Keane.

Furthermore, Ronaldo also started for United that afternoon, meaning he if is to start on Sunday he will become the first player in Premier League history to have faced the same opponent with such a big gap in between.

Should interim boss Rangnick give the Portugal captain the nod to lead the line, it will have been 18 years and 125 days since the last time he faced Leeds, breaking a Premier League record in the process.

Of the starting line-up Sir Alex Ferguson named at Elland Road back in 2003, Ronaldo is the only player to still be playing, highlighting the terrific work he has done to keep himself in such excellent shape.

Furthermore, United was also be looking to extend their unbeaten run against Leeds away from home in all competitions to five matches, having won three of their last four visits.

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