The result may have cut Arsenal's lead over United at the top of the table to five points, but this was not the performance of would-be champions.
United lacked imagination and drive against a Leeds team with even fewer ideas.
It spoke volumes for the game that United's goals came courtesy of a Lucas Radebe own goal and a late effort by defender Mikael Silvestre.
Newcastle's defeat at Middlesbrough put them three points behind United, but on this performance second spot is as high as the Reds will finish.
Smarting from their Worthington Cup Final defeat to Liverpool the expected United onslaught against struggling Leeds never happened.
After 20 minutes of near sterile play, United took the lead.
Paul Scholes and John O'Shea worked an opening for David Beckham on the right.
His cross to the near post was headed down by Nicky Butt and Leeds defender Radebe, in a desperate bid to clear from United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy turned the ball into his own net from close range.
Silvestre and Beckham both went close with headers, while Leeds' only chance of the first half was a snap 25-yard drive by Alan Smith on the half-hour which was well turned over by United keeper Fabien Barthez.
Ian Harte tested the Frenchman with a 30-yard drive early in the second half and Leeds equalised in the 63rd minute.
Phi Neville brought down Smith on the right corner of the United box. Harte curled the perfect left-foot free kick to the far post and Mark Viduka powered in to head home from six yards.
United eventually managed to drag themselves round and, with 11 minutes to go, Harte brought down Beckham on the right.
The England captain picked himself up to curl his free kick to the near post where Silvestre ghosted in to score with a diving header from eight yards.