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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 7: Chelsea’s Thiago Silva celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge on November 7, 2020 in London, England. Sports stadiums across the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, as the government’s social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues, causing games to be played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)
Chelsea welcomes both Leeds United and fans to Stamford Bridge for the first time in a long time, but who will they see at the Blues XI?
Chelsea will enter this game with cautious confidence, and with good reason. The Blues should be confident in welcoming Leeds United at Stamford Bridge because they have shown they have no problem creating opportunities or scoring goals this season. They have also shown that they are now an excellent defensive team, which makes for a complete team.
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea face a team from Leeds that will last 90 minutes, which means the Blues need players in top form. Chelsea rested nine of the 11 first-team players against Sevilla in midweek and still won the match by a four-goal margin. Here’s who we think Lampard is sending against the Premier League returnees:
Edouard Mendy (No. 16) Goalkeeper, Senegal
Mendy starts in goal without a doubt. The Senegalese giant has kept nine clean sheets in 12 games and has only conceded three goals in his career with Chelsea. He has a save percentage of around 90 percent, compared to Kepa Arrizabalaga’s 52 percent last season. Mendy’s alertness and willingness to rush out when necessary, or to claim crosses before they become opportunities to score, is part of what has made Chelsea formidable on defense.
Reece James (No. 24) Right-Back, England
James has improved his defense considerably this season as he leads the team in tackles and ground games. He is now more tactically aware and has remained lethal offensively. He has everything Chelsea needs in a fullback and something more. His goal against Brighton is an example of one of his skills not normally associated with defenders: scoring goals. James has been sending sweet crossovers in recent games, but no one has been around to cap off those golden opportunities. It will be a handful for many defenders he faces and Leeds is no exception.
Kurt Zouma (No. 15) Center-back, France
Zouma has been superb this season, leading the defense in several key defense stats like punts, interceptions and aerial duels. Zouma has been putting on solid defensive performances since last season and now he’s just getting the payoff for it. His association with Thiago Silva has worked perfectly and they have played an important role in Chelsea’s newfound defensive strength, although not as important as Mendy.
Thiago Silva (No. 6) Center-back, Brazil
Silva leads the team in passes per game, and this isn’t surprising either, as he’s the calmest head on the baseline, which is why the Blues play from behind through him. Silva came under great pressure in his first Premier League game due to his unforced error that led to the goal, but he has recovered since then and that’s commendable. Show where you are mentally. He complements Zouma very well and is the best passer on Chelsea’s defensive roster. He leads the defense on long passes, although Zouma leads on progressive passes.
Ben Chilwell (No. 21) Left-Back, England
Many fans doubted Chilwell when he was being attacked by Lampard as his nationality brought a certain bias to his evaluation. That being said, he has played much better than at Leicester City. He’s made an occasional pass back to opponents here and there, but overall, he’s been excellent on both defense and offense. He ranks second in Chelsea in key passes per game, behind only Hakim Ziyech. Chilwell has also played his own role in Chelsea’s defensive fortunes. Winning 57 percent of his aerial duels, which is impressive for someone who is 5ft 10 (178cm) tall.
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