Matchday thread for the Premier League match vs Leeds at Elland Road.

Won't be about much on Sunday so posting the match thread now for any that want to get on it after the Arsenal game, or before.

Love the battles with Leeds. Was always fire to it and just feels like a real proper rivalry. Made in our shared history from 1970, and could see that still burned bright in the 90s and 2000s.

A tough battle no doubt due to the fact that Leeds are sh*te and we make hard work of beating lesser teams. We’ll take 3 points but it will be tougher than it should be.

We've got some players who will need a rest after having to work twice as hard vs Arsenal with 10 men.

I'd expect Fofana, James, Enzo and neto to be in need of dropping out, but don't think he will drop Enzo do to having no caicedo either.

So I'd like to see:

Sanchez

Gusto

Acheampong

Chalobah

Cucurella

Santos

Enzo

Estevao

Palmer

Garnacho

Delap

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

We've got some players who will need a rest after having to work twice as hard vs Arsenal with 10 men.

I'd expect Fofana, James, Enzo and neto to be in need of dropping out, but don't think he will drop Enzo do to having no caicedo either.

So I'd like to see:

Sanchez

Gusto

Acheampong

Chalobah

Cucurella

Santos

Enzo

Estevao

Palmer

Garnacho

Delap

My team as well, depending on Palmer’s fitness.

Enzo will need to be more of a #6 here than his usual box crashing self. Leeds killed City on the break.

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

My team as well, depending on Palmer’s fitness.

Enzo will need to be more of a #6 here than his usual box crashing self. Leeds killed City on the break.

Yes he will and can do so, as long as he is instructed to do so.

I do find myself gravitating towards a preference for a 3 man midfield, back to our Lampard and Maka/Mikel and Ballack/Essien days. Santos, Caicedo and Enzo sounds really, really good.

Not an option here though. Maresca already said Reece needs his minutes watched, Moi is banned and neither Essugo nor Lavia ready.

So 2 man midfield it is and without Fofana will need to be a game we outscore them in, so hopefully Coles new boots are also shooting boots and we can end up on the right side of a 2-3 or 2-4/ 3-4.

Oh no I’ll be out seeing Geoffrey Chaucer!

Sanchez

Gusto Acheampong Chalobah Hato

Enzo Santos

Estevao J.Pedro Garnacho

Delap

Palmer set to start

This is a pretty good account of the rivalry, even it is from a more Leeds POV.

Sounds like Maresca is conflicted about whether to play Reece here, or not. Was adamant after Arsenal he would not but now sounds more 50 50 on the matter.

He also indicated Cole would start.

I will be well pissed off if we lose this game.

I will also not be very surprised.

Come on you BLUES!

Just saw a stat that we've dropped 10 points from winning positions this season. If only we'd managed those games better....

58 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

Just saw a stat that we've dropped 10 points from winning positions this season. If only we'd managed those games better....

Aye regularly shooting ourselves in the foot.

Got to go on a long winning run and overcome the festive Chelsea curse.

That or kiss goodbye to any shot at the title.

Currently our mighty blues sit 3rd while Leeds occupy 3rd from bottom

Palmer starts very good - surprisingly bc he’s not match fit and those northern monkeys will be at it no doubt from the off with hard hitting tackles etc. But if he’s ready and maybe baldy thinks put the fixture to bed and 🪝 him at 45 minutes. It is essential tomorrow that there can be NO complacency vs this lot, I dont wanna see Charity FC tomorrow bc it’s up north and 🥶. Wanna see the same effort, commitment and general all round good stuff that we witnessed last Sunday & vs Barca and more importantly take 3 points off Leeds so they are on there way back down where they belong.

let’s see if this team are really contenders or not !

All business for this one. Get there, work damn hard and let our quality show through. Go bang in 3 goals and we win. Time for our forwards to be clinical given some midfield and defense shortages.

13 minutes ago, PhilH930 said:

All business for this one. Get there, work damn hard and let our quality show through. Go bang in 3 goals and we win. Time for our forwards to be clinical given some midfield and defense shortages.

You just know that, after our showing vs Barca and the amount of effort we had to put in vs Arsenal, that this game has "after the lord mayor's show" written all over it.

Match Day!

Come On Chelsea!!

Sanchez

Acheampong Tosin Chalobah Hato

Santos Enzo

Estevao Palmer Garnacho

Guiu

Palmer is back babyyyyyy. Acheampong needs to play too, preferably in the middle but i can't see Maresca giving him the nod over Tosin.

THIS IS THE TEAM HE WILL PICK

Sanchez

Gusto Tosin Badieshille Cucurella

Santos Enzo

Estevao Palmer Garnacho

Delap

James, Forfana and Neto need a rest

I think Maresca will start without Palmer and ease him in from the bench at maybe 60 mins.

I understand the need for rotation however there has to be a balance between rotating CB's and forming a solid partnership. Two besties always do better than two strangers.

I hope Estevao get plenty of minutes these historically dirty buggers wont be able to catch him and never mind foul him. Go Steve Go! I love it when he pops up in the centre then switches to the left before returning to the right.

22 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

I will be well pissed off if we lose this game.

I will also not be very surprised.

Come on you BLUES!

Leeds are struggling this season and have been gradually sliding down the table in recent weeks i think we will have too much for them. They will fancy themselves without the Caicedos, it will at least be two players they dont have to worry about, but this game will bring more pressure for Farke. We win this 0-1 or maybe 0-2.😎

Oh I see that Marvin Hinton has died ! RIP Marvin.

Nice tribute on the club website : https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/marvin-hinton-1940-2025

Just 4 survivors left now from our 1970 FA Cup winning team (plus sub).

Let's hope the team pay an appropriate tribute with three points this evening.

I'll go for a 4-1 win ... with a Delap hat trick LOL

I think Cole will start on the bench and be brought on 65ish minute. Reece should be left out completely for a full rest. We really need to get JP and Delap firing again like they were at the CWC.

Just get the three points and tell Leeds to go Farke themselves. Up the Chels!