Leeds United held Manchester United to a 1-1 Premier League draw at Elland Road, denying Michael Carrick a much-needed victory and stretching United’s run without a win in all competitions to six matches.

The game came at the end of a turbulent week for United, during which defender Lisandro Martinez was fined for criticising the club’s hierarchy. Martinez started as the visitors faced a hostile atmosphere against their long-standing rivals.

The opening period was intense but produced more bookings than attempts at goal early on, with Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel Gudmundsson both yellow-carded for mistimed challenges. The contest came to life before the half-hour mark: Senne Lammens made a full-stretch save to deny Nico Elvedi, and Bryan Mbeumo then headed a free opportunity off target at the other end.

Mbeumo made amends 10 minutes before halftime, holding off James Justin to meet Youri Tieleman’s excellent pass into the box and give United the lead.

Leeds hit back shortly after the interval when Dominic Calvert-Lewin beat Mbeumo to a loose ball after Tarik Muharemovic was first to a corner, equalising and reigniting the home crowd.

United captain Fernandes pulled a shot wide, while Anton Stach failed to keep a first-time strike down as neither side managed to force a winner.

The draw leaves United 13th in the table and without a victory in six games across all competitions for the first time since the end of the 2018-19 campaign. Leeds remain unbeaten at home in all competitions since March and sit seventh, three points above Carrick’s side.

Carrick is not yet in must-win territory, but pressure for positive results is building. United have won only one league game this season — their fewest victories after seven top-flight matches in 40 years. Carrick took charge after Ruben Amorim was sacked and was rewarded with a two-year deal five months ago following an impressive interim spell. Amorim’s dismissal followed an explosive post-match news conference at Leeds in January in which he criticised senior club figures, and internal tensions resurfaced this week with Martinez’s public comments on Tuesday.

A trip to a volatile Elland Road after a painful Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid threatened to expose unresolved issues. Instead, Carrick’s side showed unity and produced a largely solid collective defensive display, only to be undone by a lapse at a set-piece. United also looked more robust in midfield, with summer signing Carlos Baleba providing composure during an encouraging first league start.

Leeds had ended a 10-match Premier League winless run against United with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford in April, but they could not find a winner at Elland Road this time.