Chelsea made it seven unbeaten, in all competitions, with a stellar effort against league-leaders Arsenal on Sunday, battling to a 1-1 draw despite playing over an hour with just ten, so surely a game against one of the worst teams in the league will pose less of a challenge.
Of course, that’s not how it works, certainly not in today’s Premier League and certainly not against Leeds United, for whom this will be one of the biggest games of the season. Real history between these two may be nearly ancient at this point — over half a century has passed since the 1970 FA Cup final — but Elland Road will be rocking … so we better come a-knocking!
Date / Time: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 20.15 GMT; 3:15pm EST; 1:45am IST (next day)
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
Referee: Darren England (on pitch); Paul Howard (VAR)
Forecast: Cold but probably no rain yet
On TV: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); none (USA); none (India); Canal+ Sport 4 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: Sky Go (UK); Peacock (USA); JioHotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
LEEDS, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 17: New mural featuring Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka, Daniel James, Joel Piroe, and Pascal Struijk on a wall nearby Elland Road Stadium, Leeds on November 17, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Malcolm Bryce/Leeds United via Getty Images)
LEEDS, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 17: New mural featuring Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka, Daniel James, Joel Piroe, and Pascal Struijk on a wall nearby Elland Road Stadium, Leeds on November 17, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Malcolm Bryce/Leeds United via Getty Images)
Leeds United via Getty Images
Leeds United team news: Leeds scored a rather impressive 95 goals on their way to winning the Championship last season, but unsurprisingly have found the going a bit more difficult back in the top division (despite only adding talent to the team in the summer). They enter the round with the second fewest goals scored of any team: only Wolves have fewer, and they have (still!) yet to win a league game in thirteen tries this season.
The Whites actually began the season pretty well, winning two of their first five. But they have just one win in their last eight since and find themselves in the relegation zone, alongside fellow newcomers Burnley, and the aforementioned Wolves. Eight of their eleven points have been won at home however, where they’ve also played some decent defense, conceding just seven in six games. They’ve conceded eighteen in their seven away games.
All that to say, we cannot, must not take this game for granted. Leeds are not Barcelona, they are not Arsenal, but they are more than capable of taking points away from us if we don’t pay attention. Former Manchester City prospect, Lukas Nmecha, a summer signing, leads the team with four goals, and has scored in three straight starts after being used largely as a substitute initially.
Manager Daniel Farke will be without midfielder Sean Longstaff and winger Dan James. Defensive midfielder Anton Stach has been in concussion protocol and is facing a late fitness test; his status could have a large impact on the game.
COBHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 2: Trevoh Chalobah and Head Coach Enzo Maresca of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on December 2, 2025 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
COBHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 2: Trevoh Chalobah and Head Coach Enzo Maresca of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on December 2, 2025 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea team news: Chelsea’s injury issues remain mostly under control, though Dário Essugo apparently suffered a minor setback and will be out for a bit longer. He had just started his comeback from a long-term hamstring injury. Thankfully, Cole Palmer seems to be on track still, and he could make his return (probably off the bench) in this game.
One player who might not feature is Reece James, who put in an absolutely almighty shift on Sunday against Arsenal, and is due a rest after starting three games in the span of eight days. We’ve managed Reecey’s minutes very carefully all season, and that’s paid dividends in his availability and ability to make an impact. Roméo Lavia and Levi Colwill remain out.
And of course we’ll be without Moisés Caicedo, for this game and then two more, after his sending-off for what was deemed serious foul-play against Arsenal’s Mikel Merino. Andrey Santos is expected to deputize, hopefully as brilliantly as he had against Burnley the other day, when Caicedo was rested post-international break.
Previously: We lost on our last visit to Elland Road, 3-0 in what was perhaps the lowest point of Thomas Tuchel’s tenure, at the start of the 2022-23 season. Tuchel would be sacked a couple weeks later by the new BlueCo ownership; Leeds would be relegated at the end of that season. Tuchel wasn’t the only Blues manager to struggle at Elland Road: we’ve won just 6 of our 48 league games there. Over to you, Mister Enzo. November’s been good; let’s start December right!