Leeds United will arrive at Stamford Bridge unbeaten this season when they face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
Daniel Farke’s side have made a quietly impressive start to 2026/27, winning both of their competitive trips to Nottingham Forest before drawing their next two Premier League matches.
Leeds then came close to taking all three points at Brighton on Saturday, providing Xabi Alonso with another warning against taking the third-round tie lightly.
🤝 It finishes all square at the Amex pic.twitter.com/tiyHqp2xwG
— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 5, 2026
Leeds form before Chelsea
Leeds’ four competitive results this season are:
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Leeds — Premier League
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Leeds — Carabao Cup
Leeds 1-1 Brentford — Premier League
Brighton 1-1 Leeds — Premier League
The official Leeds results page confirms Farke’s team have collected two victories and two draws across those fixtures.
They have scored five goals and conceded only twice.
Perhaps even more significantly before Wednesday, Leeds have already won twice away from Elland Road this season.
Both victories came at the City Ground.
Leeds have already impressed in Carabao Cup
Leeds reached the third round with an impressive 2-0 victory away to Nottingham Forest.
The game remained goalless until the second half before Farke’s side eventually broke through twice.
That result followed a 1-0 Premier League victory at the same stadium only three days earlier.
It means Leeds have already demonstrated an ability to handle away knockout football this season.
Chelsea should still enter Wednesday as favourites, particularly at Stamford Bridge, but this is unlikely to resemble a straightforward early-round cup fixture.
Leeds are a Premier League opponent arriving with confidence.
Brighton draw could easily have been Leeds win
Saturday provided perhaps the clearest indication of their current threat.
Leeds led Brighton through Jayden Bogle and created several opportunities to extend their advantage before the hosts eventually recovered.
The Guardian’s report from the 1-1 draw details how Leeds dominated much of the opening half.
Ao Tanaka had a goal disallowed and also struck the crossbar, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed opportunities to give Farke’s team greater breathing room.
Brighton eventually equalised through Luka Vuskovic during a much stronger second-half performance.
Farke was left frustrated that Leeds had not made more of their earlier chances.
That should be noted by Chelsea.
The Whites have shown they can create opportunities away from home, while their defensive record suggests Alonso’s side may need patience if they rotate heavily.
Chelsea cannot afford another slow response
Chelsea head into Wednesday looking for an immediate response after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.
Morgan Rogers gave the Blues an early lead at the Emirates before Arsenal turned the game around through Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard.
Alonso is expected to make changes following the demanding Premier League fixture.
Estêvão Willian is among those pushing for an opportunity after his encouraging late cameo at Arsenal, with ReadChelsea already looking at the selection decision Alonso faces before Leeds.
Chelsea’s next-match guide against Leeds has the full kick-off and television details for Wednesday’s tie.
Rotation may be necessary.
Underestimating the opposition would be considerably more dangerous.
Leeds arrive at Stamford Bridge unbeaten, defensively organised and already with two away victories to their name.
Chelsea have been warned.
Chelsea hold remarkable unbeaten Leeds record before cup clash
Chelsea hold remarkable unbeaten Leeds record before cup clash
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