Manchester United's top-four hopes boosted in high-scoring win vs. Leeds

Late goals from substitutes Fred and Anthony Elanga helped Manchester United avoid a stunning second-half collapse in a 4-2 victory over Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday.

United captain Harry Maguire headed home from a corner on 33 minutes to open the scoring at a rain-sodden Elland Road before Bruno Fernandes doubled his side's lead with a header of his own on the stroke of half-time.

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But Leeds hit back minutes into the second half when Rodrigo mishit a deep cross to the back post that looped over goalkeeper David De Gea into the far corner.

Marcelo Bielsa's side struck again just 58 seconds later as Daniel James rolled a cross to the back post where Raphinha slid in to bundle the ball home.

Fred replaced Paul Pogba shortly after and proved to be the difference, linking up with Jadon Sancho before lashing the ball past Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Teenage striker Elanga sealed United's victory when Fernandes set him up for a calm, slotted finish on 88 minutes.

Sunday's result means United remain in fourth place, four points clear of Champions League qualification rivals West Ham United and Arsenal.

Leeds remain just five points above the relegation zone in 15th place.

"We had to fight back and stick together, we knew it was a tough place to come but we knew we had qualities and could hurt them," Maguire told Sky Sports.

"We said at half-time we needed to score more in the second half and we managed to do that."

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

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United interim boss Ralf Rangnick named three changes from the side that beat Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday, with midfielder Jesse Lingard starting for the first time since being denied a move away from Old Trafford in the January transfer window.

Leeds had an early chance to take the lead through Jack Harrison, who fired a half-volley over the bar following a superb chip in behind from Mateusz Klich.

The game was briefly stopped on 12 minutes when Leeds defender Robin Koch suffered a cut above his eye following a clash with Scott McTominay. The German defender played on with a bandage around his head but was substituted later in the half.

Cristiano Ronaldo almost broke the deadlock on 26 minutes but was denied from six yards out by goalkeeper Meslier after Paul Pogba rolled a cross across the face of goal.

Rangnick's side did manage to take the lead through Maguire, whose header on 33 minutes marked the first time United scored from a corner in over a year.

Fernandes added a second when he met Sancho's floated cross with his head, sending United into the break with a comfortable lead.

But the second half looked to spurn a familiar tale for United, who have been dogged by sluggish second-half performances since Rangnick's arrival.

Leeds enjoyed some good fortune when Rodrigo's cross soared over goalkeeper De Gea to cut United's lead in half.

Less than a minute later, Raphinha completed his side's comeback by converting James' cross at the back post. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the goal for a potential foul in the build-up but awarded the goal.

Rangnick made a double substitution on 67 minutes, bringing on Fred and Elanga, and the move paid immediate dividends -- first, Fred put United back in front on 70 minutes before Elanga added a fourth put paid to any hopes of another Leeds comeback.