Premier League: White-Hot Atmosphere Set to Await Chelsea

Leeds United vs Chelsea

Four wins from two games is a decent start for any Premier League side but, ahead of Sunday’s clash at Elland Road, one club will be much happier with their lot.

For in beating Wolves and drawing at Southampton last Saturday, Leeds have a positive foundation to build on – especially given they only preserved their top-flight status on the final day of last season.

Chelsea will have been pleased with their opening weekend win at Everton – so often a tricky place to visit – but last Sunday’s draw at home to Spurs will have felt more like a defeat considering they led until the final seconds.

So, who will be smiling come Sunday teatime – an American or a German?

Talking Points

In fairness, Chelsea weren’t the only team to concede from a winning position last time out as Leeds were 2-0 up at Southampton before being pegged back.

Their main concern though will be how they cope if they are without the services of main striker Patrick Bamford, a player whose misfortune with injury over the past 12 months was so keenly felt last term after he had helped fire them to a ninth place finish the previous campaign.

With their other two best performers. Raphinha and Kalvin Philips, departing for pastures new this summer then they can ill afford to lose Bamford, even with £26-M man Rodrigo finding his feet in the first two games of the new season.

Chelsea felt hard done by last weekend when Harry Kane netted a stoppage time leveller against them.

Yet the result doesn’t alter the suspicion they lack a killer instinct and, on the evidence of what I’ve read so far, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner will need to be replaced even if their contributions last term were far below what was expected.

In Raheem Sterling they have a genuine winner but someone whose best position may not be as an out-and-out centre-forward.

It will be interesting to see if Thomas Tuchel recruits someone between now and end of the transfer window.

They have been linked with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – the man who put them to the sword in the FA Cup Final two years ago – and further back are reportedly close to winning the race to sign Inter Milan’s highly-rated midfielder Cesare Casadei with the club pushing to complete the signing of the 19 year-old this week.

They have had two bids rejected and are expected to be successful with their third offer, which could be as much as £12-M.

Whatever happens, they won’t have a new frontman in time for the visit to Elland Road.

Will that give Jesse Marsch’s Leeds the chance to deliver some rare Premier League 2022 highlights against the West Londoners?

History

It says much for Leeds’ hold over Chelsea historically that – even accounting for the Roman Abramovich era which began in 2003 – the Yorkshire club are still ahead in their head-to-head record. Leeds have 39 wins, Chelsea had 37 successes, and there have been 30 draws.

That said, Leeds have not defeated the West Londoners for 19 years.

It was December 28, 2002, to be precise, when goals from Jonathan Woodgate and a young James Milner secured a 2-0 win at Elland Road – ironically, those names throw back to a time when Leeds had a fine Aussie contingent which my colleague has reminded readers of.

How Leeds fans would love to be able to call upon the likes of Harry Kewell or Mark Viduka this weekend.

In fact, that remains their only success against Chelsea in their last nine meetings in all competitions stretching back 20 years.

Last season, Chelsea earned a double over the Yorkshire club when a last-gasp Jorginho penalty, his second of the afternoon, edged a five goal contest at Stamford Bridge.

The corresponding fixture towards the end of last term saw Chelsea run out comprehensive 3-0 winners, courtesy of Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, and Lukaku goals.

Leeds’ cause wasn’t helped when, were already a goal behind, Dan James was shown a red card midway through the first half.

The occasion of their very first meeting was in December 1927 in the former Division Two – a 5-0 home Leeds triumph.

Arguably the most famous meeting between the sides was in the 1970 FA Cup Final.

After an initial 2-2 draw at Wembley, Chelsea won the replay 2-1 at Old Trafford.

After Mick Jones gave Leeds a first half lead, Peter Osgood equalised 12 minutes from time before David Webb scored an extra-time winner.

It was the first FA Cup final to require a replay since 1912 and attracted a British television audience of more than 28 million, the second highest UK audience for a sports broadcast (behind the 1966 World Cup Final).

Betting Tip

I do think this will be closer than last season’s equivalent, although the SBOTOP Premier League 2022 betting odds are not so sure with Chelsea firm favourites.

Either way, we expect goals to be generated from these two sides at Elland Road.

 

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