Chelsea Team News & Predicted Lineup vs Leeds

This is a Chelsea predicted lineup for their Premier League clash with Leeds United. This will take into account the most recent team news for the Blues following Liam Rosenior’s press conference and injury updates on a number of players. The inverse fixture in December saw the promoted Whites get the upset win over the world champions. This time around, with a new manager in charge the top-half side will be aiming to continue their win streak in the league and keep themselves closer to a spot in the top four.

Chelsea Team News & Predicted Lineup vs Leeds United

How Chelsea Have Lined Up Recently

Rob Sanchez has been the first choice goalkeeper and with his solid form is unlikely to be willingly dropped anytime soon. The back line can feature Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato, Wes Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Malo Gusto, and Reece James either in a back four or back five.

The pivot of choice is usually Andrey Santos with Moises Caicedo. Enzo Fernandez can drop in when needed but he is usually played in the number ten spot under Liam Rosenior.

The wide options make up of Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, and Estevao. Joao Pedro and Liam Delap battle it out for the striker spotbut only one is in any kind of form so only rotation would excuse Delap starting over his colleague.

Chelsea Recent Form & Tactics

The manager has changed between either a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-5-2/3-4-2-1 system. This can depend on the opposition and the gameplay to take advantage of or counter them. The team has some similar ideals to Enzo Maresca but the use of players can be very different. The full-backs are far more dynamic and there’s more license to play riskier passes and try to play through the middle in front of a back line. This allows them to stretch and contract back lines until gaps form, as seen against Wolves where underlaps and overlaps kept their back line guessing all match long.

Since changing managers, things have looked up for the Blues. Rosenior has got them ticking in the league where they have four wins on the bounce after getting just one win in 12 towards the end of the previous coach’s tenure. Goalscoring has seen an uptick as they have netted three or more in five of their nine matches since the change. Defensively, they are prone to being leaky, only keeping two clean sheets in nine.

Chelsea Team News

According to PremierInjuries, there could be as many as eight players unavailable for selection due to injury or suspension. Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Jamie Gittens, and Mykhailo Mudryk are long-term absentees; they could be joined by James, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Filip Jorgensen. Some of those latter names could be deemed fit as they have minor issues or no recent updates on their status.

There are also some fitness issues to look out for as the team have played every three days for basically two months straight. Fofana is usually managed due to fitness issues, Gusto may need a rest after playing most recent outings, one of Pedro or Neto could also be rested or played here and rested against Championship opposition in the cup.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup

GK – Rob Sanchez

LB – Marc Cucurella

CB – Benoit Badiashile

CB – Trevoh Chalobah

RB – Reece James

DM – Andrey Santos

DM – Moises Caicedo

AM – Enzo Fernandez

W – Estevao

W – Pedro Neto

ST – Joao Pedro