Strugglers Chelsea will be looking to begin their comeback to winning ways when they host Leeds in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Blues are winless in their last five games and a loss here could lead to Graham Potter being sacked from his job.
Here’s our preview of this clash!
Match Details:
Location: London, England
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Date: Saturday, 4 March
Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR: Darren England
Team News:
Chelsea will be without their talisman Thiago Silva as the Brazilian is expected to be out of action for six weeks due to a knee injury he picked up against Tottenham, meaning Cesar Azpilicueta will lead the Blues. N’Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic are both back in training and could be on the bench for this one. Broja and Mendy remain out injured.
For Leeds, young midfielder Archie Gray has had a decent impact, but will be on the bench for this one. Stuart Dallas, Rodrigo and Adam Forshaw all remain out injured. Strujik and Sinisterra could be added last minute, however this has not been confirmed.
Head to Head record in last five games:
Chelsea wins: 3
Leeds win: 1
Draws: 1
Predicted Lineups:
Chelsea – Kepa; Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Badiashile; James, Fernandez, Zakaria, Chilwell; Felix, Sterling; Havertz.
Leeds – Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Wober, Firpo; Adams, McKennie; Harrison, Aaronson, Gnonto; Bamford.
Last 5 games in all competitions:
Chelsea – D D L L L
Leeds – D L L W L
Prediction:
Things could really turn ugly for Chelsea and their manager Graham Potter should Leeds United come with a result from the Bridge. The chances of that happening are not impossible as Leeds have shown they can score goals with the pace of Gnonto.
BestofBets think this one will be a 1-1 draw.
Players who you can bet on for a great performance:
Raheem Sterling:
Chelsea desperately need Raheem Sterling to start firing if they are to make any kind of return to form starting with this game against Leeds. On his day, Sterling could be virtually unplayable, but such days haven’t yet come in his stint at Chelsea. We think the pace of this game could suit Sterling to create a major impact over a crucial 90 minutes that could save Graham Potter’s job.
Illan Meslier:
There is no doubt Illan Meslier is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League at the moment. The Frenchman has been one of the biggest reasons why Leeds are not in the relegation zone at the moment. Against Chelsea, Meslier’s team will depend on him to keep out the threat possessed by Chelsea.
Wilfried Gnonto:
If there is one player who has been the shining light in Leeds United’s season, it is Wilfried Gnonto. The pacy winger has been in the form of his life and is sure to disrupt a Chelsea defence that is weak on confidence and self-belief. Expect him to get a goal or an assist in this game regardless of the result.
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