📰 Table Of Contents
Recommended bets
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Match preview
The crisis at Chelsea continues.
Last Sunday, Graham Potter’s team put in another abject, lifeless performance, this time beaten 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Blues have therefore won just two of their last 15 Premier League matches, also losing in all three knockout competitions during this period too.
So, having only beaten Crystal Palace and Bournemouth since 16 October, Chelsea remain tenth, closer to Southampton in 20th than Spurs in fourth.
Amazingly, since Bonfire night, no professional football club in England has scored less than Chelsea’s six league goals, the same number as Everton and two fewer than Accrington Stanley and Cambridge United.
In fact, the Blues have scored multiple goals in just one of their last 15 matches, which is truly flabbergasting.
The same could be said of Leeds United, who leapt out of the relegation zone by beating Southampton last weekend.
Junior Firpo, an unlikely source if there’s ever been one, the match-winner at Elland Road, as Leeds claimed victory for the first time since 5 November
In mid-week, Javi Gracia’s team were beaten in the FA Cup by Fulham, going down 2-0 at Craven Cottage, despite creating by far the lion share of the chances.
This though does mean the Whites can be 100% focussed on the Premier League, and they’ll need to be, kicking off just a point above both Everton and Bournemouth.
Leeds have lost their last five visits to Stamford Bridge, with their most-recent victory there coming in December 1999, courtesy of Stephen McPhail’s brace.
If they’re ever going to change that fact, surely it’ll be at the expense of this iteration of Chelsea.
Chelsea team news
Thiago Silva suffered a knee injury in defeat at Spurs, so is set to be out for around two months.
As a result, Wesley Fofana, who’s only just back after a long-term injury of his own, could start, with Benoît Badiashile also coming in for Kalidou Koulibaly alongside.
Ben Chilwell and Reece James both started at full-back last Sunday, only the fifth time that’s happened under Graham Potter.
Fit again Raheem Sterling will keep his place, chosen over Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Meanwhile Hakim Ziyech, who would be a PSG player if they hadn’t messed up the paperwork three times, has since become a key player, which is indicative of the lack of planning.
Kai Havertz is set to continue to lead the line, desperate to add to his six goals this season.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; James, Fofana, Badiashile, Chilwell; Fernández, Loftus-Cheek, João Félix; Ziyech, Sterling; Havertz.
Leeds United team news
Club record signing Georginio Rutter has now started twice for Leeds, both in the FA Cup, squandering a couple of glorious chances at Craven Cottage on Tuesday.
Here though, Patrick Bamford could be back up top.
In midfield against Fulham, Javi Graica brought in Marc Roca, alongside Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, in an attempt to make them more solid
Brendan Aaronson, Rodrigo (currently injured) and Jack Harrison all scored when Leeds smashed Chelsea 3-0 in August, but that game feels a long time ago now.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Wöber, Firpo; Adams, McKennie, Roce; Summerville, Gnonto, Bamford.
Chelsea vs Leeds United: Head to head statistics
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Premier League table
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