Chelsea will make another attempt to kick-start their season on Saturday afternoon when they play host to Leeds United in the Premier League. The Blues have failed to record a win in any competition since January 15, with their latest setback coming at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as they went down by a 2-0 scoreline. Graham Potter’s side now head into their showdown with a fierce rival sitting in 10th position in the standings, 14 points adrift of the Champions League places. Having not played since August, N’Golo Kante has recently made his return to training after hamstring surgery. With Potter keen to have Kante available for Tuesday night’s showdown with Borussia Dortmund, the French midfielder may be named on the substitutes’ bench for this contest.
Christian Pulisic has been absent since the first week of the year after sustaining a knee injury against Manchester City, but the winger has recently made his return to training ahead of a scheduled mid-March return. Armando Broja sustained an ACL injury during a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa during the World Cup break and the striker is ruled out for the rest of the season. Edouard Mendy has not played in any competitive match since representing Senegal at the World Cup in December due to a fractured finger, and the goalkeeper is not expected to return in the short term. During the defeat to Southampton on February 18, Cesar Azpilicueta was kicked in the face by Sekou Mara, who was attempting an overhead kick. The defender spent time in hospital before being discharged to serve concussion protocols. Although that criteria will be met come kickoff on Saturday, it is unlikely that the Spaniard will be considered for selection.
Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday that Thiago Silva would spend time on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury sustained during the defeat to Spurs. While the Blues did not provide a potential return date, the veteran is expected to be absent until the middle of April. Chelsea will be looking to make it three Premier League victories in a row when they travel to Elland Road on Saturday afternoon to face Leeds United. The Blues, who beat Everton 2-0 on Monday evening, are currently fourth in the table, two points clear of fifth-placed West Ham United, while Leeds occupy 11th spot in England’s top flight. Leeds have largely impressed in their first season back at this level of football, picking up 35 points from 27 matches to occupy 11th position in the table, nine points clear of the relegation zone.
The Whites have won 11 Premier League games this term, which is the same as Arsenal and just one fewer than the champions Liverpool, but they have suffered 14 losses, which is more than 18th-placed Fulham. Marcelo Bielsa’s side are also on a disappointing run of form, having lost four of their last five in England’s top flight, including their last two against Aston Villa and West Ham without scoring. Leeds do not have any relegation fears as they sit nine points clear of the bottom three, while they are only three points behind 10th-placed Arsenal and will still be eyeing a top-half finish. The former Championship club have won five, drawn two and lost six of their 13 home league games this term, which is an indication of their inconsistency, but they did hold Chelsea to a 1-1 draw when the two teams last locked horns in the Premier League at Elland Road in December 2003.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will enter Saturday’s contest off the back of a comfortable 2-0 win over Everton on Monday; an own goal from Ben Godfrey had sent the Blues ahead in the 31st minute of the contest before Jorginho doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the second period. The capital giants are still unbeaten under the leadership of Thomas Tuchel, with the former Paris Saint-Germain manager winning eight and drawing three of his 11 matches at the helm. The Blues have won their last two in the Premier League against Liverpool and Everton, and a total of 50 points from 28 matches has left them in fourth position in the table, just three points behind third-placed Leicester City but only two points clear of fifth-placed West Ham, who have a game in hand.
Chelsea are very much locked in a top-four battle, but they will also have their eyes elsewhere, facing Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League clash next week before taking on Sheffield United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on March 21. Tuchel’s team have only won half of their 14 away matches in the Premier League this season, meanwhile, and have not been victorious at Elland Road in England’s top flight since April 2000.
