Chelsea’s final two away games of the last Premier League season have formed the first two of the new campaign: Everton two weeks ago and Leeds this weekend.

Sunday afternoon’s combatants comprise two of the six clubs with a win and a draw to their name after the first two rounds of matches, with both deprived of three points last weekend and a place among the top flight’s remaining 100-per-centers.

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Unlike the Blues, the hosts were the beneficiaries of a VAR decision when no further action was taken against last-man Diego Llorente in Saturday’s draw at Southampton. Meanwhile, Mike Dean has admitted his error in not sending Anthony Taylor to review Cristian Romero's flagrant hair-pulling, but two precious points have already been lost.

That famous Yorkshire hospitality has never been extended to the kings of the King’s Road and results were once hard to come by. However, the 10 men of Leeds were unable muster a shot on target in last season’s 3-0 Chelsea win. The Blues will aim to extend our unbeaten run against Leeds in all competitions to nine matches. Victory in West Yorkshire could lift the Londoners into the top four.

Team news

Following an outstanding performance at centre-back and wing-back in the 2-2 draw with Spurs, Reece James has had a hand in 15 goals in 28 league appearances for Chelsea since the start of last season (six goals, nine assists) – the most for any defender.

Sadly another key contributor, N’Golo Kante, is likely to join Mateo Kovacic as a probable absentee, meaning Conor Gallagher or Ruben Loftus-Cheek could start in midfield. Loftus-Cheek excelled at right wing-back, using his height and skill advantage to pin Tottenham back.

Ruben was also an early sub in last season’s game at Elland Road after Dan James’s red card challenge ended Kova’s contribution. Slick football exposed fissures in Leeds’ bedrock that game and three goals was actually scant reward for the openings created.

Thomas Tuchel will nevertheless hope for a similar performance, especially as his new signings are already off the mark and impressing. Raheem Sterling’s first assist was for James, and Marc Cucurella’s corner delivered for instant fans’ favourite Kali Koulibaly, whose powerful volley was worthy of the illustrious previous owner of the 26 shirt. ‘K2’ is the first player to open his Chelsea account against Spurs since fellow African star Michael Essien in 2005.

A third successive clean sheet at Elland Road would be most welcome. Yet to concede in the first half, the Blues sadly reprised a bad habit from last season of failing to see out a result.

Chelsea conceded seven goals from the 80th minute on in 2021/22, compared to Liverpool’s two and four for Man City, and whatever the circumstances preceding the equaliser, Tuchel will be concerned that Harry Kane caught his defence napping.

Still, some of the Blues’ incisive passing and movement was thrilling, earning regular standing ovations, and the penetration in wide areas looks tailor-made to damage a Leeds team who already look vulnerable on the flanks.

Chelsea’s recent results at Elland Road

2021/22 W 3-0 Premier League
2020/21 D 0-0 Premier League
2012/13 W 5-1 League Cup
2003/04 D 1-1 Premier League

Rodrigo racking them up

After raking the carcass of a harrowing last season, Jessie Marsch has traded heftily and is implementing a direct style of play this season, accompanied by a combative, bustling approach with the seventh-lowest passing accuracy in the top flight.

Over the two games to date, Leeds have had short spells when they are on top but longer periods when they appear vulnerable and browbeaten. Last time around against Chelsea, they were reduced to 10 and mastered all over the field, registering a season-low 33 per cent ball possession.

Speedy US winger Brenden Aaronson has since stepped into the departed Raphinha’s creative boots and inspired the Whites to a comeback win at home to troubled Wolves. Former Blue Patrick Bamford is a doubt after being injured during the Southampton draw that followed, his replacement being Dan James.

The ex-Man United winger, later substituted himself, was sent off for a reckless challenge during our visit last season, and may retain his place should Bamford not recover. First team stalwarts Luke Ayling, Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo are all likely to miss this weekend’s action.

Despite an anonymous first half last Saturday, number 10 Rodrigo became the division’s leading scorer by taking his tally to three goals, the best start by a White since the days of Alan Smith. Winger Jack Harrison, though, was probably Leeds’ driving force in the final third until he tired in the heat.

All the same, there were worrying echoes of last season’s defensive anxieties once Saints made substitutions, switched formation from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2, and found free space on the wings. Marsch was unable to summon a tactical response and new right-back Rasmus Kristensen and experienced centre-back Llorente looked especially nervy as the game progressed.

Toughest away grounds

It is early in the season, but the trend of the previous two campaigns of Chelsea gaining more points on the road than at Stamford Bridge is playing out. In 2021/22, the tallies were 34 points at home and 40 away, while the previous year produced a more marginal 33/34.

Last season’s 3-0 success at Elland Road was only the Blues’ third since the 1980s, and the sixth in 47 visits stretching back to 1927.

On the opening weekend of the league, the Londoners broke a five-year duck by winning at a recent toughie, Goodison Park. Other hard places for the Blues to take all three points may be more surprising.

Chelsea's lowest away Premier League win rates

Ipswich Town - 5 matches - 0 wins - 0 per cent
Bradford City - 2 matches - 0 wins - 0 per cent
Oldham Athletic - 2 matches - 0 wins - 0 per cent
Coventry City - 9 matches - 1 win - 11 per cent
Man United - 30 matches - 6 wins - 20 per cent
Leeds United - 14 matches - 3 wins - 21 per cent
Liverpool - 30 matches - 7 wins - 23 per cent
Arsenal - 30 matches - 7 wins - 23 per cent

Roots of a rivalry

The enmity between 1970 FA Cup final rivals Chelsea and Leeds is legendary, and the roots of that animosity lie in moments such as one that happened at the end of April 60 seasons ago.

Both teams at Elland Road were chasing promotion to Division One, with Tommy Docherty’s young Blues close to that goal but in need of a win to go top with three games remaining. With the score poised at 2-2 the home side’s wing-half Bill Bell shovelled a dangerous ball to safety with his hand but referee Jim Finney ignored furious player protests and the loud howls of traveling fans.

The Blues were still promoted and after Leeds arrived in the top flight a season later, the London-Yorkshire battle kicked-off in earnest.

The difficult third season

Chelsea will have played away to the two lowest-finishing survivors of last season after this weekend. Before suffering the drop in 2003/04 (their last match being at Stamford Bridge) Leeds, the last champions of the old Division One in 1991/92, had enjoyed 14 Premier League seasons.

Now, after a tumultuous second campaign and salvation by a mere three points in May, Yorkshire’s only elite representatives will hope they can keep bucking the trend. Around a third of promoted teams are immediately relegated from the top-flight, and over the past decade or so the average stay has been three seasons.

Good Spurs runs extended

Although Tottenham’s fortunate point-salvage at the Bridge ended our five-match winning streak against the Lilywhites, Chelsea remain unbeaten in eight league games against our London rivals who, across all competitions, have now won once in 38 visits.

Champions League groups to be confirmed

The group stage of the 2022/23 Champions League comes into focus next week with the final qualifying fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then on Thursday 25 August, the 32 contestants will take their first step on the road to Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium when the group stage draw is conducted live from the Turkish capital from 4pm UK time.

Here comes the Carabao

English football’s fastest route to major silverware starts in earnest with Wednesday night’s round three draw, the stage Chelsea and other clubs competing in Europe join the fray.

The Blues, finalists for the second time in four seasons in February, will hope to go one better in 2022/23. This year’s competition will fit around the winter World Cup, with the quarter-finals shunted into January.

Matchday Three Premier League fixtures

Saturday

Tottenham v Wolves 12.30pm (BT Sport)
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa 3pm
Everton v Nottingham Forest 3pm
Fulham v Brentford 3pm
Leicester v Southampton 3pm
Bournemouth v Arsenal 5.30pm (Sky Sports)

Sunday

Leeds v Chelsea 2pm (Sky Sports)
West Ham v Brighton 2pm
Newcastle v Manchester City 4.30pm (Sky Sports)

Monday

Manchester Utd v Liverpool 8pm (Sky Sports)