Date: Tuesday 10th
February 2026
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 19:30 GMT
Fresh
off a Cole Palmer masterclass at Molineux, we’re back at Stamford Bridge
tonight to welcome dirty Leeds.
Chelsea have chalked up
four Premier League wins on the bounce since the arrival of Rosenior – and to
be fair, what his tactical plans lack in artistic merit, they make up for with
results! If the boss could get our squad concentrating for the whole 90 minutes
(instead of vanishing off into TikTok land at half-time), we might even look
like a proper football team. Imagine!
We’re swaggering into
tonight’s showdown sitting pretty in fifth. Leeds, bless them, are up to 16th.
You’d think the maths would be on our side – but this is Chelsea, so anything
can happen.
Leeds have snatched
victories in three of their last five matches, proving once again that any team
facing us suddenly remembers how to play like Barcelona. They beat us in
December, so you can bet they’ll be dreaming of the double tonight.
And just to add some
suspense: we haven’t won a single midweek match all season – including that
Leeds fiasco. Buckle up!
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Liam Rosenior says “When I first watched that game (at Elland
Road), it was as a neutral. I had no idea within two or three months I’d be
manager of Chelsea. Going to Elland Road, it’s always really, really difficult.
Always been difficult. It’s a club, their fans have backed them really, really
strongly at home. Daniel’s an outstanding coach. You can see in our recent
performance as well, [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin’s in really good form. The way
that they press, their energy, they’re direct in a really positive way. It’s
going to be a really difficult game again. I’m not here to talk about what’s
happened in the past or what happened before I was here. I’m focused on the
game [tomorrow].
You
saw it against Nottingham Forest. They were magnificent in that game. Very
forward-thinking. When I say direct, I mean it in a really positive way. They
used the strengths of the team. They used Dominic. His movement in the box is
outstanding. They get crosses in the box. They counter-press really, really
well. We have to stand up to that and overcome those intensity things that are
key to the game.”
Leeds
manager Daniel Farke, meanwhile, says “Really good results under Liam. Lost
just the cup games against Arsenal but win after win. Back fighting for a
Champions League spot, we are respectful, especially in an away game. We
don’t have to speak about their individual quality, they are a very promising
group of players and if they’re on it, it can be difficult. We have to be more
on it, away game, different manager.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL), Jamie Gittens (hamstring), Tosin Adarabioyo, Romeo
Lavia (both thigh), Dario Essugo (thigh) are all injured and Mykhaylo Mudryk remains
suspended. Andrey Santos is a doubt after coming off against Wolves, whilst
Reece James might return.
For Leeds, Anton Stach appears to be
the only likely absentee.
TEAMS
CHELSEA
(Possible line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah,
Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; J Pedro
LEEDS (Possible line-up): Darlow; Rodon, Struijk, Justin; Bogle, Aaronson, Ampadu,
Gruev, Gudmundsson; Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
LAST SEASON
N/A
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: WWWWLW
LEEDS: DLWDLW
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea
are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home games against Leeds
- Leeds
won the reverse fixture 3-1 in December
- Leeds are looking to become just the
second promoted side to complete the Premier League double over Chelsea, after
Charlton Athletic in 2000-01.
- Chelsea are winless in their three
midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games this season (D1 L2)
- Leeds haven’t won any of their last seven
midweek (Tues, Weds, Thurs) away games in the Premier League (D3 L4)
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 3-1 Leeds
