Given the Reds' opening match of the new PL2 season - Monday's narrow 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace - was played away, the clash with Leeds will be our Under-21s' first home fixture.
The likes of Joe Hugill, Noam Emeran and Marc Jurado - who all played for the first team in pre-season friendlies - all started against the Eagles and could feature at Old Trafford on Friday.
The new league format with 26 teams in one division has provided Travis Binnion's players with a chance to test themselves against new opponents, including Leeds, with the aim of maximising development.