Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images
Chelsea failed to hold on to a 2-0 lead at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night as Leeds United came from two down to draw, halting Liam Rosenior’s perfect record.
Chelsea gaffer Rosenior had won his first four Premier League games as a manager. A fifth victory would have seen the Blues solidify their place in the race for the top four places in the Premier League table.
It looked as if Chelsea were going to secure all three points after Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer had put the Blues 2-0 up. Pedro scored a superb goal before Palmer scored a fourth penalty since Rosenior joined.
But Leeds came roaring back. Having looked like they were not going to put up any kind of a fight, the Whites scored when Moises Caicedo fouled Jayden Bogle, and Lukas Nmecha scored a penalty.
Chelsea player ratings vs Leeds United
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
Then, out of nowhere, Noah Okafor made it 2-2. For once, Chelsea’s best players struggled, Caicedo conceded a penalty and late on Palmer missed a sitter. Perhaps Farke got into Rosenior’s head pre-match.
What the Leeds United goalkeepers did pre-match vs Chelsea
We’ve all seen Rosenior’s rant at Arsenal’s coaching staff. Before the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, the Gunners’ staff encroached on Chelsea’s half, and it annoyed Rosenior, which angered the manager.
Chelsea v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Well, before Tuesday night’s clash, Leeds’ third-choice goalkeeper Alex Cairns was catching goal kicks from Karl Darlow in Chelsea’s half. Chelsea’s staff complained, but it’s too much of a coincidence.
The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth posted on X that Cairns was attempting to diffuse the situation, but the tactic had done its job: “Alex Cairns is stationed in the Chelsea half of the pitch
“[He is] catching Karl Darlow’s kicks. One of Chelsea’s staff members has gone and complained to Cairns, who is doing his best to diffuse. We can probably expect a statement from Liam Rosenior,” he said.
Liam Rosenior misses out on Premier League record
Rosenior has starred as Chelsea manager. Going into the game, he had won seven of nine matches and only failed to beat Arsenal, both of which came in the form of the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Chelsea v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
On Tuesday night, Rosenior had the chance to become the second English manager to win five Premier League games in a row. Indeed, Chelsea have not lost at Stamford Bridge on a Tuesday since 2002.
While Rosenior is hardly to blame, Chelsea’s players failed to get the job done against the recently promoted side. There are issues that Chelsea need to sort out, perhaps more, than Rosenior thought.