Chelsea Target Fifth Consecutive Premier League Victory Against Struggling Leeds United

2026-02-10 community

London, 10 February 2026
Chelsea host Leeds United at Stamford Bridge seeking their fifth consecutive league win under new manager Liam Rosenior, who could become the first Chelsea boss since Maurizio Sarri in 2018 to win his first three home matches. The Blues sit fifth in the Premier League, 14 points ahead of 16th-placed Leeds, who have managed just two victories in their last 25 away Premier League fixtures. Cole Palmer, fresh from his weekend hat-trick against Wolves, leads Chelsea’s attack as they aim to extend their impressive home record against Yorkshire opposition.

Rosenior’s Remarkable Start Continues

Liam Rosenior has made an extraordinary impact since his appointment as Chelsea head coach five weeks ago, achieving seven wins in nine games [1]. The English manager became just the second in Premier League history to win his first four matches in charge of the competition, following Craig Shakespeare’s achievement with Leicester City in 2017 [1]. However, Rosenior will be mindful of Shakespeare’s fate, who was dismissed just six months after his impressive start [1]. Chelsea’s current winning streak has been aided by favourable fixtures, with the Blues having played five consecutive top-flight games against sides in the bottom six at the time [1]. Their record against teams in the lower part of the table ranks as the third best in the division [1].

Team News and Injury Concerns

Chelsea face significant personnel challenges ahead of tonight’s fixture, with captain Reece James ruled out due to illness after a virus swept through the Chelsea camp during Rosenior’s early tenure [2]. The England international had recovered from a previous knock that forced him to miss games against Arsenal and Wolves but succumbed to the illness that has affected multiple squad members [2]. The Blues will also be without Jamie Gittens, who suffered a hamstring tear in the first half of their 3-2 victory over West Ham [2]. Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, and Levi Colwill remain sidelined through injury, though Lavia has trained over the past two days [2][5]. Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended for the match [4][5], while Tosin Adarabioyo continues his recovery but is not involved this evening [2].

Palmer Leads Chelsea’s Attacking Threat

Cole Palmer enters tonight’s match in exceptional form following his club-record fourth Premier League hat-trick in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers [1][4]. The attacking midfielder’s remarkable goalscoring exploits have been instrumental in Chelsea’s recent success, and Rosenior confirmed his availability for the full 90 minutes when asked during Monday’s pre-match press conference [2]. Chelsea’s confirmed starting XI features Palmer alongside Andrey Santos, who is fit to start after being substituted late in the weekend’s match against Wolves [2]. The Blues have named a strong lineup with Sanchez in goal, supported by Gusto, Acheampong, Chalobah, and Cucurella in defence, while Caicedo and Santos anchor the midfield behind an attacking trio of Palmer, Fernandez, and Estevao, with Joao Pedro leading the line [2].

Leeds United’s Away Day Struggles

Leeds United arrive at Stamford Bridge with a concerning away record, having won just two of their last 25 away Premier League matches [4]. The Yorkshire side currently sits 16th in the Premier League after 25 matches, trailing Chelsea by 14 points [7]. Despite their lowly league position, Leeds secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on 7 February, with goals from Jayden Bogle and Noah Okafor, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted his tenth goal of the season [7]. Leeds manager Daniel Farke expects a similar squad to their last match, though Pascal Struijk remains doubtful and Anton Stach is sidelined with a hip injury [7][5]. Jaka Bijol has returned to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury and is in line to make his first appearance since 11 January 2026 [5], while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to lead the attack pending his recovery from illness [5].

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Premier League football match