There is no let-up in the Blues' intense fixture schedule as Leeds United visit west London this evening in the Premier League.

The game rekindles an enmity as old as the M1 motorway that connects the two cities – and once captivated the viewing public as much as moon landings, coronations and soap opera climaxes.

The Yorkshiremen have had an extra day to recover for the fixture after they hosted and beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 on Friday. The Blues, meanwhile, enter the game fifth in the top-flight table after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday.

The reverse fixture at Elland Road, a 3-1 defeat for the Blues, was one of our most disappointing showings of the campaign. But we can avenge that defeat this evening, as we go in search of a seventh successive home league victory over the Whites.

Three points could, depending on results elsewhere, also move the world champions up to fourth in the Premier League table with a third of the campaign to play.

Chelsea team news

Liam Rosenior confirmed at his pre-match press conference that Reece James was a doubt for the fixture due to illness, although he hoped to have the Blues skipper available.

Cole Palmer is ready to start once more following his hat-trick in Saturday's win at Wolves, while there were updates on three other members of the squad.

Rosenior said at his pre-match press conference yesterday: ‘Andrey (Santos) trained today, he’s absolutely fine. He’s a soldier. He had a swollen ankle [on Saturday]; it wasn’t a great tackle on him and he couldn’t continue. But he’s absolutely fine for tomorrow.

‘Tosin (Adarabioyo) is looking good, and he trained today, and it's great to have him in and around the group.

‘We have a really detailed plan for Romeo Lavia. He was back on the training pitch with us in the last two days and it’s been great to see him.

'He’s such a great player, we know that, but what we have to do is make sure that when he’s back, he’s back for good. So we are just making sure he gets the right plan over the next ten days to two weeks to achieve that.’

The history

No game between these two sides can pass without mention of the 1970 FA Cup final and its replay. If there were ever to be a historical reenactment, it would be as gruesome as any medieval battle.

The Blues lifted the trophy following a famous 2-1 win at Old Trafford – witnessed by a UK record TV audience for club football of 28.49 million viewers – that was peppered with fouls and retribution. If it were to take place today, the red card count would be in double figures.

That game set the tone for relations between the two camps for generations – and both sets of supporters still sing disparagingly about the other even when not in the same division.

Now, after a two-year absence from the Premier League and in possibly gentler times, the Whites are back and battling for their top-flight survival.

The Blues won this fixture in each of the Yorkshire club’s most recent three-season Premier League tenancy (2020-2023).

In December 2020, under Covid restrictions, just 2,000 supporters at Stamford Bridge watched goals from Olivier Giroud, Kurt Zouma and Christian Pulisic cancel out an early Patrick Bamford strike.

The following season, the visitors broke the deadlock again from the spot, but Mason Mount levelled before the interval and Jorginho put Thomas Tuchel’s European Champions ahead from the penalty spot. Leeds thought they had claimed a late point, but another penalty at the death from Jorginho sealed a 3-2 win.

In March 2023, Wes Fofana’s first league goal for Chelsea was enough to claim all three points, and Javi Gracia’s strugglers suffered the drop two months later.

Know this…

Chelsea are aiming to secure a seventh consecutive home league win against Leeds United for the first time in our history.

The Blues have lost just four of our previous 73 home Premier League matches against promoted clubs, with 55 wins and 14 draws recorded in that period.

Our victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday meant Liam Rosenior became just the fifth Chelsea head coach to win their opening four league matches in charge. The others were Jose Mourinho (2004/05), Guus Hiddink (2008/09), Carlo Ancelotti (2009/10) and Maurizio Sarri (2018/19).

Meanwhile, Palmer's treble at Molineux saw him become the first Chelsea player to score four hat-tricks in the Premier League.

He is also the first Premier League player to score three first-half hat-tricks, with his others coming against Everton and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Sixty years ago this week, Chelsea defeated Leeds 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round, with Bobby Tambling scoring the winner after a George Graham shot rebounded off the post.