Preview: Chelsea vs. Leeds United - prediction, team news, lineups

Chelsea will aim to bounce back from a difficult week when they welcome Leeds United to Stamford Bridge for Saturday's Premier League fixture.

The Blues have now dropped to third in the table, while Marcelo Bielsa's side occupy 15th spot after drawing 2-2 with Brentford last time out.

Match preview

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Having been knocked off their perch both domestically and continentally in recent weeks, Chelsea's stellar start to the campaign has since plateaued with just one win from their last four games in all competitions, and even then Watford gave them a good run for their money.

Before throwing away the lead twice in a 3-3 thriller with Zenit St Petersburg - which saw them forced to settle for second in Champions League Group H - Chelsea conceded another trio of goals in the capital as West Ham United ran out 3-2 winners in a pulsating London derby.

Manchester City and Liverpool both took advantage of the Blues' slip-ups to usurp them in the table, with Chelsea now two points behind the table-topping Citizens and one behind Liverpool as they occupy third spot in the rankings.

The Zenit thriller marked the fifth game in six that Chelsea have managed to net at least two goals, but Tuchel pulled no punches at the final whistle, seemingly angered by his side's 'change in behaviour' when holding onto a slender lead.

Chelsea have also been held to draws by Burnley and Manchester United in their most recent Premier League home games, but not since the days of Guus Hiddink have they played out three consecutive top-flight stalemates on their own turf.

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Leeds may not be losing as many games in the Premier League now, but their affinity for stalemates continues to bedevil them, and they had to rely on the last-minute heroics of Patrick Bamford to rescue a point against Brentford at Elland Road.

After Shandon Baptiste and Sergi Canos had cancelled out Tyler Roberts's opener, Bamford - making his first top-flight appearance in nearly three months due to a serious ankle injury - was in the right place at the right time to prod home and send the home crowd into delirium.

That point has not done much good for Leeds' prospects of pulling themselves away from danger, though, as the Whites occupy 15th place in the table on 16 points - six clear of Burnley having played a game more than the 18th-placed outfit.

Bielsa's side have now lost just one of their last seven Premier League matches - although that did come away to a London club in Tottenham Hotspur - and not since 1980 have Leeds managed to get one over the side boasting the tag of European champions.

Leeds did manage to hold Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at Elland Road last season, but they lost 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in December 2020 and have only won one of their last 10 meetings with the Blues, which came back in the 2002-03 Premier League season.

Team News

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Chelsea remain without knee victims Ben Chilwell and N'Golo Kante, while Trevoh Chalobah is still nursing a thigh problem and Mateo Kovacic recently tested positive for coronavirus.

Tuchel's midfield options were also depleted by Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek's absences in the Zenit draw, but the former could make his return to the matchday squad here.

Timo Werner has likely done enough to hold his place alongside Romelu Lukaku after his midweek brace, while Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger both ought to return to the backline.

As for Leeds, Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips both suffered hamstring injuries in the draw with Brentford, while Bamford has now come down with a similar issue sustained in the same game.

Bielsa's attacking options have taken another hit with Rodrigo being ruled out for heel pain, while Robin Koch is ill, but Pascal Struijk should shake off hip pain to return to the fold.

Tyler Roberts - who is one booking away from a ban alongside Raphinha - can expect to hold his place up top with Bamford sidelined, while Phillips's spot in midfield will most likely be filled by Mateusz Klich.

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Saul, Alonso; Mount, Werner; Lukaku

Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Firpo; Raphinha, Klich, Forshaw, James; Roberts

We say: Chelsea 3-0 Leeds United

The last thing that Leeds needed before a trip to Stamford Bridge was a spate of fresh injury concerns, which Tuchel will expect his side to take advantage of in front of the home crowd.

Bielsa has steadied the Whites' ship slightly in recent weeks, but we do not expect Chelsea's misery to be prolonged any longer - this ought to be a routine return to winning ways for the Blues.

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