The key talking points as Cole Palmer came off the bench to inspire an incredible comeback for Chelsea against Leeds
Xabi Alonso following Chelsea's win over Leeds United,
Xabi Alonso following Chelsea's win over Leeds United.(Image: Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Cole Palmer came off the bench to inspire an incredible comeback against Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, booking Chelsea a place in the Carabao Cup fourth round. The Blues talisman was one of four desperate changes made by Xabi Alonso at half-time, and he didn’t disappoint.
Tarik Muharemovic broke the deadlock shortly before the half-hour mark, leaping above Malo Gusto at the back post to nod the ball past Mike Penders. Holding on for dear life, Chelsea weathered the storm until half-time.
Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Reece James, and Pedro Neto were thrown on to save the day, but Brenden Aaronsen piled on the misery, doubling the visitors’ lead. The Blues leapt out of the gates at the second time of asking, scoring twice in two minutes.
The Chelsea talisman halved the deficit from 12 yards before levelling proceedings with a delightful curled effort from just outside the box. In the 10 minutes that followed, Pedro Neto and Danny Welbeck also etched their names in the scoresheet.
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Leeds didn’t go down without a fight, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin coming off the bench to score the sixth goal of the half. Valentin Barco chipped in a few moments later before Welbeck completed the nine-goal thriller in stoppage time.
So, with that being said, football.london has looked at five things you may have missed during the nine-goal thriller.
Colwill relishes leadership role
Levi Colwill certainly relished the leadership role. Particularly during the first-half, when Leeds launched waves of attacks down the left-hand side, the Chelsea skipper had to give Pep Chavarria a hand with the overloads.
At times, Harry Wilson, Dan James, and James Justin were picking up positions on the left. With Jamie Gittens on the frontline and Barco stepping up, the Blues were outnumbered when Leeds played through the press.
The Blues were almost caught out a few times; it could’ve been a few more had Colwill not ripped into Chavarria when he first found himself in no-man’s land.
Alonso trials new position for Gusto
Many, including me, expected Gusto to play as a touchline-hugging wing-back, but more often than not, he found himself alongside Barco and Reggie Watson in the middle of the park. The 23-year-old defender appeared to have a license to roam, creating overloads all over the pitch when in possession.
Interestingly, it allowed the Blues to quickly switch between a back four and a back three. It looked rather impressive at times, but there’s still a lot of work to be done on the grass at Cobham to perfect the system.
Malo Gusto of Chelsea is challenged by Brenden Aaronson of Leeds United during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on September 09, 2026 in London, England
Malo Gusto during Chelsea's clash against Leeds United.
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Barco steps up to the plate
Barco wasn’t afraid to get stuck in. The 22-year-old midfielder, whom Chelsea signed from Strasbourg in the summer, was fearless in possession, always looking to get on the ball and keep it ticking.
A little like Marc Cucurella, Barco was like a terrier in the middle of the park, intercepting passes and throwing himself into every tackle. He could be a huge player for Alonso this season, at least up until the transfer window opens again in January!
Palmer and Rogers… or Batman and Robin?
With the help of Morgan Rogers, Palmer saved the day. The Chelsea duo were relentlessly superb in that second half, leaving every ounce of quality on the field. Alonso has two absolute diamonds on his hands...
Alonso gives Estevao wake-up call
Estevao Willian was one of four changes at the break, and deservedly so. The 19-year-old winger was supposed to fill the talismanic role of Palmer in the right inside-forward role, but he struggled to shoulder the creative workload.
It wasn't until the end of the first half, when he skipped past a couple of defenders and into the Leeds box to create a great chance for Welbeck, that he first showed a glimpse of magic. If Estevao wants to be one of the first names on the teamsheet, he needs to prove that he can consistently perform at the incredibly high levels which he prides himself on.
There's no need to panic, though. It was just his second start of the new season, and there are a lot of games to be played. It's also worth noting that Estevao suffered a few muscle injuries last term, notably that worrying hamstring problem back in April, so he and Alonso just need to be patient.
His time will come!