Overview
Enzo Maresca will aim for his first achievement as a coach as Chelsea continue their Premier League title race against Leeds United.
The Blues just had an impressive 1-1 draw with leaders Arsenal, despite having to play with 10 men for most of the time after Moises Caicedo received a red card. This result caused Chelsea to drop to third place, 6 points behind Arsenal.
Now, Chelsea will have to visit Elland Road, where the competition between the two teams is no longer as fierce as before.
Enzo Maresca has lost both previous encounters with Leeds, both in the 2023-2024 Championship season when he was in charge of Leicester City. Leeds are one of three teams he has met with more than once but has failed all of them, along with Middlesbrough and Manchester City. Maresca's only encounter at Elland Road ended with a score of 1-3 in February 2024.
Last December also ended disappointingly for Chelsea, when they lost their last two matches of 2024 against Fulham and Ipswich Town. The Blues' longer run of defeats in the competition came in December 1990 and 1991 with four consecutive games, including a defeat to Leeds.
However, Chelsea are in good form in local evening matches (after 7 hours), having lost just two of their last 17 matches - losing 0-2 to Ipswich and 0-3 to Brighton last season (won 12, drew 3).
In contrast, Leeds have won just one of their last 12 midweek Premier League games (D5 L6), with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest in April 2023. The Yorkshire side are struggling, currently 18th after a narrow 3-2 defeat to Manchester City, and have won just one of their last three home games (losing two).
Coach Daniel Farke has lost all three of his Premier League meetings with Chelsea, when he led Norwich City from 2019-21, with a total score of 2-19. His most recent match against The Blues ended with a heavy defeat of 0-7 in October 2021.
This season, five of Leeds' seven Premier League home goals have come in the first half (71%). Their first 45 minutes conversion rate was 10% (5 goals from 50 shots), down to 4.7% in the second half (2 goals from 43 shots).
Chelsea could be boosted by the return of Cole Palmer. The Englishman was benched in the draw with Arsenal, but is likely to play against Leeds. Palmer's only Premier League meeting with Leeds before that was when he came on as a substitute in the 88th minute in Manchester City's 3-1 win at Elland Road in December 2022.
Head-to-head record
Chelsea's record at Elland Road is not very good, as The Blues have won just 6 of their 48 away games against Leeds in the tournament (D13 L29).
Of the teams that have visited Elland Road for at least 20 games, only Sheffield Wednesday (12%) have a lower win rate than Chelsea (12.5%).
In contrast, Leeds have won just one of their last nine Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D2 L6). However, that victory came in the most recent home encounter in August 2022, when The Whites won 3-0.
Score prediction: Leeds United 0-1 Chelsea
The match between Leeds United and Chelsea takes place at 3:15 am on December 4 (Vietnam time).
