United drop below Villa and Newcastle after sixth straight winless game at Leeds

Manchester United’s winless streak stretched to six matches after they were held 1-1 by Leeds United at Elland Road, a result that dropped them below both Aston Villa and Newcastle United in the Premier League standings.

Bryan Mbeumo gave Michael Carrick’s side the lead ten minutes before half-time, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised early in the second half to deny United all three points. It is the latest in a damaging sequence of dropped leads: United also scored first against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur — leading twice against the former — and squandered a two-goal advantage against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup.

Aston Villa capitalised immediately, with Unai Emery’s side claiming a 1-0 victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park to move a point ahead of United in the table. Villa now face a demanding run of their own, hosting Manchester City three days after a Champions League tie against Viking, before travelling to Camp Nou to face Barcelona in early November and then heading to Old Trafford — a ground where they have lost six consecutive visits.

United’s schedule over the next three weeks is equally congested. They travel to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday before hosting Bournemouth the following Sunday. A trip to Stamford Bridge on Halloween then pits them against a free-scoring Chelsea side, with November opening at home against Roma before the crunch Premier League meeting with Villa.

Newcastle, who are not involved in European competition this season after finishing 12th last term, have a lighter schedule of four matches before the international break. They visit Crystal Palace, play Everton twice in five days — including a Carabao Cup fifth-round tie — and then host Fulham, a side against whom they have lost their last two away fixtures at Craven Cottage.