Leeds vs Chelsea LIVE
Chelsea kick off a run of three consecutive away matches this evening as they visit Elland Road to face Leeds in the Premier League. The Blues have a good thing going at the moment after they beat Barcelona in the Champions League and overcame a man disadvantage to draw with Arsenal in their last two outings. So promising is the form that even Enzo Maresca has suggested his side deserve to be in the title conversation - but he will not commit to such statements until the new year.
This trip to Leeds is Chelsea’s first outing of what will likely prove to be a pivotal run of December fixtures, which will also see them face Bournemouth, Everton and Newcastle in the league as they look to catch the Gunners in the standings. The Blues can get the ball rolling on that mission tonight as they square up to their long-time rivals Leeds.
Tonight’s hosts are in the midst of a dismal run, with four losses on the spin leaving manager Daniel Farke under considerable pressure. Can they stop the rot in front of the home support here? Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith at Elland Road.
Chelsea early team news: Caicedo suspended but Palmer returns
Cole Palmer is pushing to make a return to Chelsea’s starting line-up after he was named to the matchday squad for the Arsenal draw but did not appear.
A midfield shuffle is likely in order for the Blues with Caicedo suspended. Andrey Santos is expected to slot in at the base of midfield, though Maresca has also suggested that natural centre-back Josh Acheampong could also deputise for the Ecuadorian.
Reece James is not expected to start after he played the full 90 minutes against Arsenal - Maresca is continuing to manage his minutes.
Romeo Lavia remains sidelined, as does Dario Essugo, who returned to training last week but has since suffered a setback. Levi Colwill is unavailable as he recovers from ACL surgery.
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How to watch Leeds vs Chelsea
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 6.30pm GMT ahead of an 8.15pm kick-off.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Dom Smith at the ground.
Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and YouTube channel will show highlights shortly after full-time, with Match of the Day broadcasting on BBC One at 10.40pm.
Good evening
Hello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Leeds vs Chelsea in the Premier League!
A fair bit on the line for both sides tonight. Chelsea are out to put the pressure on league leaders Arsenal, while Daniel Farke could have some awkward questions to answer if his Leeds lose for the fifth time in as many matches.
Follow along right here for all you need to know about tonight’s match, including team news as soon as we have it and expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith at Elland Road.
Kick-off tonight is at 8.15pm GMT.
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