Jesse Marsch’s relegation-threatened Leeds take on Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea in the Premier League’s mid-week match-day. Leeds gave a resilient fight with 10-men in their last game against Arsenal. However, Leeds couldn’t snatch anything as went down 2-1 to the Gunners, leaving them in 18th place. Meanwhile, Chelsea are back in the top-four race as they sit just a point above fourth-placed Arsenal and five above fifth-placed Tottenham.
Leeds started the last match-day outside of the relegation zone and ended inside it. They now sit 18th, level on points with 19th-placed Burnley. As only three games remain in the season, Leeds need to pick up maximum points if they are to stay in the English top flight. Moreover, their next opponents Chelsea have a brilliant record on road over the last couple of months in the league.
Leeds Premier League Form: D W D L L
Chelsea are enduring a torrid period in the league, winning just one out of their last five games. However, they will be quite optimistic about this away game as they look to move four points away from Arsenal who are just a point within their third place. Moreover, the Chelsea boss will be hoping that Romelu Lukaku will continue his newly-found form against Leeds.
Chelsea Premier League form: L W D L D
Leeds vs Chelsea: Team News
Leeds United team news
Going into the crucial final run of the league, Jesse Marsch has a long list of players unavailable. Leeds could be without as many as half-a-dozen players for this game against Chelsea. Crysencio Summerville (ankle), Adam Forshaw (calf), Patrick Bamford (knee), Tyler Roberts (tendon), and Stuart Dallas (knee) are all out for the season.
Furthermore, Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas are doubtful about this game. Captain Luke Ayling was sent-off against Arsenal in what seemed a complete foolish challenge on Martinelli. Therefore he will miss this clash as well. In the attack, Rodrigo may replace Joe Gelhardt from the last game.
Leeds possible starting line-up:
Meslier; Shackleton, Koch, Llorente, Firpo; Klich, Philipps; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison; James
The Blues’ team news
Thomas Tuchel will be sweating over the availability of his first-choice midfielders Jorginho and N’Golo Kante. Both missed the last game due to minor knocks. However, whether the duo will recover in time to travel with Chelsea for the Leeds game is a doubt.
Hudson-Odoi is yet to recover and misses this game as well. There are speculations that Marcos Alonso and Tuchel had a bust-up during the last game. As a result, it’s uncertain whether Alonso plays this game, or any of Chelsea’s remaining games this season.
Chelsea’s possible starting line-up:
Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; James, Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Niguez; Mount, Lukaku, Werner
Our Prediction
Leeds 1-3 Chelsea
Though struggling at home, the Blues have an excellent record while on road. They have lost just once in their last seven away games in the league and since are the favourites here. Moreover, Lukaku’s brace in the last game would have given him much-needed confidence as he will look to get on the scoresheet for the second successive game. Leeds’ half of the squad is in the hospital and Ayling just made it more difficult for them by getting a sent-off. Chelsea would be already smelling a victory against Leeds here.
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