Chelsea vs Leeds United preview

Liam Rosenier hailed Leeds United’s performance in their win over Nottingham Forest as “magnificent” ahead of the new Chelsea boss facing him for the first time as a Premier League manager on Tuesday.

The Blues have won all four of their league matches under Rosenier but face opponents who are also in promising form, with a 3-1 home win taking Leeds to seven points from their last four games.

“They’re very forward-thinking,” Rosenier said. “When I say they’re straight, I really mean it in a positive way. They use their power.

“They use Dominic (Calvert-Levine), whose movement in the box is outstanding. He crosses in and counter-presses very well. We have to stand up to him and overcome that intensity (elements) which is the key to the game.

“We’ve turned a lot around, which we need to do at this point in the season. You have to be really, really well prepared to give the players the best plans and solutions for the problems you face.”

🥶#CFC | #Walk pic.twitter.com/HEQzCfP6d4

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 8, 2026

Leeds had lost six of their previous seven matches before beating Chelsea 3–1 at home on 3 December, snapping a seven-game unbeaten run to ease the pressure on Daniel Farke and put his players on course to stay in the top flight.

Farke rejected a suggestion that the result was a turning point in United’s season. “Those days don’t come often, when you are able to dominate against one of the biggest names in this league,” he added.

“We have worked hard for the last two-and-a-half years to win games like this, but the result will not help us (at Chelsea).

“We have to put more effort into it. It’s a different situation: a game with a different manager, (who) has adapted his game slightly.”

Third-bottom West Ham are six points behind Leeds and host in-form Manchester United on Tuesday (20:15 GMT).

“I first met (Rosenier) when he was a pundit and I loved what he had to say and his take on games — it made a lot of sense,” Farke said.

“He liked the way he set up his team (at Hull), so they played proper football. He did more than a decent job there.

“He’s a promising, still relatively young coach. It’s a big stage and I’m sure he’ll do everything he can to grab this opportunity with both hands.

“So far, he has achieved impressive results in the Premier League and the Champions League. He is a very talented manager.”

📐 All English: English#LUFC x @HisenseUK pic.twitter.com/m9AWpRRyPh

— Leeds United (@LUFC) February 8, 2026

Chelsea vs Leeds Team News

Wideman Reece James is a doubt for Chelsea through illness. Midfielders Romeo Lavia, Dario Esugo and Jamie Gittens all have hamstring problems, as does defender Tosin Adarabio.

Goalkeeper Philip Jorgensen is a doubt and centre-back Levi Colville has a long-term knee injury. Winger Mykhailo Mudrić has not played since November 2024 after being suspended by the FA following alleged adverse drug test results.

Farke hopes the former England international is also suffering from illness after forward Calvert-Levine and midfielder Ilia Grove both appeared to struggle against Forest.

Centre-back Pascal Struijk is a doubt with a hip problem and midfielder Anton Stach is out but defender Xhaka Bijol could make a full return from injury, having been an unused substitute against Forest.

Chelsea vs Leeds United line up predictions

Chelsea starting XI: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Mark Cucurella, Estevao, Andre Santos, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caesdo, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto

Leeds starting XI: Karl Darlow, Sebastian Bornau, Sean Longstaff, Joe Roden, James Justin, Brendan Aronson, Daniel James, Ethan Ampadu, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Dominic Covert-Levine, Noah Okafor

Cole completes his hat-trick. ✨#CFC | #Walk pic.twitter.com/8d199OBxBU

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 7, 2026

How to Watch Chelsea vs Leeds: TV Channel, Live Online Stream

Kick-off on Tuesday is at 19:30 GMT (14:30 ET / 11:30 PT). Live TV coverage in the UK is on TNT Sports 4 and the Discovery Plus app.

TNT Sports costs £29.99 per month Discovery PlusThis includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a wide range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.

Chelsea vs Leeds United Stats

• Chelsea are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home games against Leeds, winning six in a row (D1) since the defeat in December 1999, when Stephen McPhail scored both goals in the Whites’ 2–0 win.
• They are winless in their three midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games this season (D1 L2), including a 3-1 defeat at Leeds in December.
• Rosenier is aiming to become the first Blues boss since Maurizio Sarri in September 2018 to win his first three Premier League home games.
• The Englishman had failed to win either of his previous two meetings with Leeds, drawing 0-0 at home and losing 3-1 during the 2023/24 Championship campaign with Hull City.
• Those games are also the only two previous meetings between Rosenier and Farke
• Joao Pedro has been directly involved in four goals in his last four home Premier League matches for Chelsea (3 goals, 1 assist) but has never scored or assisted against Leeds, losing all three top-flight games (two with Watford, one with Chelsea).
• Following their 3-1 win at Elland Road in December, Leeds are looking to complete a league double over Chelsea for the first time since their 1991/92 title-winning campaign.
• Leeds Chelsea could become the second promoted team to complete the Premier League double, since Charlton Athletic in 2000/01.
• They have not won any of their last seven midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) away games in the Premier League (D3 L4), conceding 24 goals (3.4 per game) in all those matches.
• Two of their last 25 away Premier League matches (D6 L17) have resulted in wins, both at Wolves (3-2 in March 2023, 3-1 in September 2025).
• Five of their last seven away wins in the competition have come against sides starting with W, with none of their last 22 coming against teams starting with any other letter (D6 L16) since a 2-1 win at Liverpool in October 2022.
• Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Levine could become the first players to score home and away against Leeds. Chelsea During the same campaign from Mark Viduka in 2000/01