**Leeds United have picked up a huge three points in seeing off Chelsea with a deserved 3-1 home win.**
Not many would have fancied Leeds in a three-game stretch against Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. But, a spirited second half at the Etihad teed up an intriguing match tonight against the Blues.
A widely popular starting lineup was confirmed. And instantly, Leeds saw the same output as they did in Saturday’s second half.
An aggressive start forced a sixth-minute corner for Anton Stach, and the restored Jaka Bijol powered home a thumping header to put United in front.
The high press continued as Chelsea gave the ball away in midfield, allowing Jayden Bogle to feed Ao Tanaka. The Leeds midfielder unleashed an unstoppable strike to double our lead.
_Ao Tanaka celebrates doubling Leeds United’s lead vs Chelsea (REUTERS/Chris Radburn)_
Second half nerves crept in as Enzo Maresca’s double sub paid off. Pedro Neto scrambled in at the back post to cut Leeds’ lead, before Cole Palmer’s first-time shot squirmed wide of Lucas Perri’s near post.
However, Leeds got the all-important third when Noah Okafor chased down Tosin’s short backpass, beating Robert Sanchez to the ball to force in a tap-in for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
For Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, there was literally nothing positive to take from their defeat.
They missed the chance to keep pressure on table-topping Arsenal, and Maresca believes his side were firmly second best in every department.
_“They were better than us in all aspects, they deserved to win the game,”_ Maresca told [Football.London](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/enzo-maresca-press-conference-live-32996084.amp).
_“There is nothing we can take from this game, the only thing we can do is to try and understand what we did and then reset. We perform so well against Arsenal and Barcelona, it doesn’t mean we are always going to perform in the same way because of the situation you have to manage, the players you have to rotate. The level isn’t always going to be the same.”_