Leeds entertain Chelsea at Elland Road today with a 2 pm Kick Off, and Leeds coach Jesse Marsch will be hoping to keep Leeds’ unbeaten run going in what has been a good start to the season for The Whites.
Fans will be disappointed to not be on six points from two games after letting a 2-0 lead slip last week against Southampton, but ultimately have a decent return in gaining four points so far. The same feat took the Yorkshiremen 7 games to achieve last campaign. Leeds looked strong in the 2-1 win over Wolves in the season opener. Chelsea in comparison, have also taken four points from 2 games, having played Spurs and Everton so far. Both teams have been guilty of surrendering leads in the last round of fixtures with Chelsea conceding a late equaliser against Tottenham last Sunday.
Leeds are slowly starting to welcome back players from injury with Luis Sinisterra and Joe Gelhardt both in contention for a place in the matchday squad. Long-term absentees Luke Ayling, Stuart Dallas, Liam Cooper and Junior Firpo are all progressing nicely. Dan James who was sent off when the sides last met is set to return to the starting line-up with Patrick Bamford facing a late fitness test.
Chelsea are set to miss N’Golo Kante (hamstring), Mateo Kovacic (knee) and Armando Broja with a minor fitness issue. Cezar Azpilicueta could return to a back three to allow Reece James to return to wing-back and Kai Havertz is set to retain his place up front.
Likely lineups: Leeds – Meslier, Kristensen, Koch, Llorente, Struijk, Roca, Adams, Aaronson, Rodrigo, Harrison, James.
Chelsea – Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Koulibaly, James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Cucurella, Mount, Sterling, Havertz.
Thomas Tuchel said “I expect a high intensity game, a high pressing team from Leeds and a very emotional stadium. This is what we expect, repetitive intensity, high pressing and a team that loves the chaos, a team Leeds that has a high acceptance for mistakes”
“They don’t get frustrated by mistakes, they accept mistakes as chances to do counter-pressing and so on”
On Tuchel, Marsch said “I will be disappointed if they allow him to be on the bench. There is a simple rule in football, whether it’s soccer or football, if you get a red card you can’t play the next match”
Kick-off 2 pm, Elland Road. Referee: Stuart Atwell, Fourth Official: Michael Salisbury, VAR and Assistant: Paul Tierney, Scott Ledger.
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