The Premier League 2022-23 action will resume its third gameweek on Sunday evening when London giants Chelsea will travel to the Elland Road stadium. Both Leeds United and Chelsea have begun their new season with a win and a draw but will look forward to registering their second victory of the season.
Leeds United have not defeated Chelsea in the Premier League in the last 20 years, with their last victory over the Blues in the English top-flight coming in 2002. Meanwhile, while Chelsea beat the Whites 3-0 in the last meeting, they have also never registered consecutive away wins in the Premier League against them.
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Apart from this, if Chelsea manages to clinch a win and register a clean sheet against Leeds on Sunday night, it will be the first time they have done so in the first two Premier League away games since the 2005-06 season.
Team news:
The hosts will be missing out on Stuart Dallas, Junior Firpo and Luke Ayling against Chelsea. While Liam Cooper has returned to training, he is doubtful to make it on the team sheet on Sunday. Meanwhile, Patrick Bamford is back but will also be doubtful to start against the Blues.
Leeds United is likely to retain the majority of the squad that drew against Southampton the previous weekend. Illan Meslier will be starting in goal while the defensive lineup is likely to have Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Rasmus Kristensen and Pascal Strujik.
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Marc Roca and Tyler Adams are expected to start in the midfield. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Moreno is likely to replace Bamford as the striker, who will be flanked by Jack Harrison and Daniel James in the wings. Brendan Aaronson is likely to start in an attacking midfield role.
On the other hand, Chelsea will be missing out on N’Golo Kante, who picked up an injury last weekend against the Spurs. Apart from Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Armando Broja and Marcos Alonso will also not be available on Sunday.
USMNT forward Christian Pulisic, who returned to training a few days ago, could make a cameo appearance against Leeds. Meanwhile, Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to return to the starting lineup.
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Edouard Mendy will start in goal while Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly make the three-man defensive line. Reece James and Ben Chilwell could start as wing-backs.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is likely to replace Kante in the lineup, partnering with Jorginho. Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling are expected to make up the frontline.
Probable lineups:
Leeds United: Meslier (GK), Kristensen, Koch, Llorente, Struijk, Roca, Adams, James, Aaronson, Harrison, Rodrigo
Chelsea: Mendy (GK), Azpilicueta, Silva, Koulibaly, James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Havertz, Sterling
