Chelsea have announced their starting lineup for Tuesday night’s game against Leeds United at Stamford Bridge. Liam Rosenior has set up his team to win their fifth straight Premier League game and solidify their place in the top five.
Robert Sanchez is the goalkeeper, and he is protected by a back four made up of Malo Gusto, 19-year-old Josh Acheampong, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella. Acheampong, who came through Chelsea’s famous Cobham academy, has been one of the quiet stars of Chelsea’s recent rise. He scored his first senior goal for the club in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in October and has kept his spot here ahead of more experienced players on the bench.
Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos make up the double pivot. Santos is back after hurting his ankle in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez (the captain), and Estevao, the Blues’ teenage prodigy, make up the attacking trio behind striker Joao Pedro. Palmer’s inclusion is as expected as it is fitting after his hat-trick at Molineux raised his season total to eight Premier League goals and two assists in 17 games.
Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Badiashile, Fofana, Sarr, Hato, Garnacho, Neto, Delap, Guiu
Chelsea Prepare to Face Leeds
Chelsea are in fifth place in the Premier League with 43 points, while Leeds are in 15th place with 29 points, which is only six points above the relegation zone. The last time these two teams played, in December, Farke’s team won 3-1 at Elland Road, with goals from Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Chelsea haven’t lost to Leeds at home in seven straight games, but Leeds haven’t won an away Premier League game in nine straight games.
Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, and Marc Guiu are all good options for Rosenior to use if the game needs to change direction in the last few minutes. If Chelsea win tonight, Rosenior will be the first Chelsea manager to win his first three home games in charge since Maurizio Sarri did it in 2018.