Team
news, stats and prediction ahead of Chelsea vs Leeds United in the Premier
League on Saturday; kick-off 8pm.
Team news
Chelsea have a fully-fit squad for Saturday night's Premier League clash
with Leeds at Stamford Bridge but Frank Lampard is expected to rotate his
resources after Wednesday's 4-0 Champions League romp at Sevilla.
France forward Olivier Giroud is pushing hard for his first league start of
the season, having struck all four goals in Spain in a stunning display of
finishing.
Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa has reported no new injuries following last
week's 1-0 win at Everton and is expected to choose from an unchanged squad.
Midfielders Pablo Hernandez (muscle strain) and Jamie Shackleton (thigh) are
continuing to work their way back to full fitness and unlikely to be in
contention.
Bielsa confirmed defender Diego Llorente has recovered from a groin injury
but will feature for the Under-23s before being considered for his belated
club debut.
Jones Knows' prediction
The Chelsea defensive juggernaut will be given a significant workout this
weekend. Leeds won't be scared to throw caution to the wind with their usual
gusto but may just bump into a Thiago Silva shaped wall.
Since his mishap on debut against West Brom, Silva has been downright
dependable and excellently efficient without breaking sweat for Chelsea. In
450 minutes of game-time since the 3-3 draw at the Baggies, Silva has
conceded just one goal on his watch. A figure backed up by the expected
goals against figure of just 1.94 during that period. His influence, added
to the no-nonsense goalkeeping of Edouard Mendy, could take Chelsea to
silverware this season.
With the space on offer up the other end for Chelsea's forward players, who
will be given license to test their skills one-on-one with Leeds' brave
defensive shape, chances are going to fall their way at regular intervals in
what should be a typically bonkers encounter. Their quality will shine
through in the final third.
JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 3-0 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
Chelsea won their last meeting with Leeds in all competitions, winning 5-1
at Elland Road in a League Cup tie in December 2012. This will be the first
league meeting between the sides since a 1-0 win for the Blues at Stamford
Bridge in May 2004.
Leeds have lost their last three Premier League away games against Chelsea
(between 2002-2004), as many as they'd lost in their first nine in the
competition at Stamford Bridge (W2 D4 L3).
Leeds have won just one of their last 21 away league games against London
sides (D6 L14), beating QPR 3-1 in December 2017. In the top-flight, the
Whites have lost their last four games in the capital by an aggregate score
of 1-12.
Of all Premier League sides to have played in more than one season, Chelsea
have the best win rate in home games against promoted sides (82% - 68 wins
in 83 games). Indeed, the Blues have lost just three such matches in the
competition - 0-2 vs Nottingham Forest in January 1995, 0-1 vs Charlton in
April 2001 and 0-1 vs Bournemouth in December 2015.
Only Tottenham (9) are on a longer current unbeaten run in the Premier
League than Chelsea (8), while no side has kept more clean sheets than the
Blues in the division this term (5).
Leeds have won three of their five Premier League away games this season
(L2), as many as they had in the whole of their previous campaign in 2003-04
(W3 D2 L14). The Whites have kept a clean sheet in each of these three
victories.
Leeds' Premier League matches this season have seen more shots taken than
any other side in the competition (289), with the Whites ranking second for
most shots (153) and fifth for most shots faced (136). Five of Leeds' 10
Premier League games this season have seen 30+ shots.
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