Chelsea are on a roll in the Premier League and after beating Everton 2-0 last weekend, the Blues are now the favourites to finish in the top-four.
Chelsea are still unbeaten under new manager Thomas Tuchel in all competitions and they will be eager to keep this run going when they face Leeds United on Saturday.
The Blues are currently fourth on the league table and are playing some of the best football in the English top division but Leeds United are one of those sides who can cause a lot of headaches so there’s no way that the London side can be tipped as the outright favourites.
Thankfully, Thomas Tuchel has only one injury concern going into this match so the manager can opt to rest or rotate some of his regular starters since they face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next week.
Chelsea team news vs Leeds United:
Thiago Silva has finally returned from injury and was present on the bench vs Everton. The central defender is likely to feature in the first XI on Saturday, meaning either Azpilicueta or Christensen will move to the bench.
Jorginho scored from the penalty spot against Everton but the Italian should make way for N’Golo Kante while Mateo Kovacic will keep his place in the line-up.
Reece James will also make way for Callum Hudson-Odoi(who played in the final third last time around) but there’s also a chance that Tuchel might opt to use James as the right wing-back since Leeds United play a really attacking brand of football.
Marcos Alonso played as the left wing-back against Ancelotti’s side but the Spaniard will be replaced by summer signing Ben Chilwell.
Timo Werner has been linked with a summer exit from Chelsea but his recent performances have been pretty good and he will get another chance to prove his worth to the new boss.
Mason Mount has been one of the star players for Chelsea in the Tuchel regime and he will return to the starting XI to will play alongside Werner.
Kai Havertz was influential in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Everton and this performance should have been enough for Tuchel to reward him with another start. Tammy Abraham is still out with an injury so if Havertz is not playing then Giroud will have to lead the line – something that might be a bad idea due to the pace and intensity that Leeds United posses.
Christian Pulisic has fallen down the pecking order ever since Frank Lampard was sacked and he along with Hakim Ziyech will once again remain on the substitutes bench.
Chelsea’s predicted XI vs Leeds United:
Predicted Line-up: Edouard Mendy; Thiago Silva, Christensen/Azpilicueta, Rudiger; Kante, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi/James, Chilwell; Mount, Werner, Kai Havertz.
Stats via Whoscored.
