Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
Sport
Matthew Hobkinson

Chelsea's major issue can give Leeds United hope for Premier League clash

Leeds United can take confidence from Chelsea's woeful goalscoring record this year when the two teams meet at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Less than two miles from Craven Cottage as the crow flies, Leeds will look to put the disappointment of their FA Cup defeat to Fulham behind them. The Whites did everything but score against the Cottagers and Javi Gracia knows that his side will need to be more clinical in front of goal for the rest of the season in their battle against relegation.

Yet when it comes to struggles in front of goal, Saturday's opponents have more to worry about than Leeds.

ALSO READ: Every word Javi Gracia said on Leeds United's defeat, finishing, Kristensen, Rutter and Gray

A trip to Stamford Bridge presents Leeds with the chance to do the double over Chelsea following a 3-0 win back in August at the start of the current campaign. The result was the beginning of what has proven to be a tumultuous season for the Blues and things have gone from bad to worse under Graham Potter in recent weeks.

Chelsea have scored just four league goals since the start of 2023 and have only found the back of the net more than once on one occasion since mid-October. In the top-half of the table, no other team has scored fewer goals than the Blues this term (23), with Newcastle's tally of 35 -still 12 more than Potter's side - the next lowest scorers in the top 10.

Leeds in their own right have also outscored the west London club with their total of 29 strikes for the season. Around £600million has been thrown at this Chelsea side since Todd Boehly arrived last summer, yet despite the jaw-dropping array of attacking talent on the pitch - things have yet to click into gear.

The likes of Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Hakim Ziyech and Mason Mount would walk into most Premier League starting line-ups. And yet Gracia will be telling his side that they have nothing to fear ahead of this weekend's clash.

Georginio Rutter came agonisingly close to scoring his first goal for Leeds in the defeat to Fulham and the Frenchman will be hoping he will have better luck against their next London opponents - a goal that could see the Whites climb as high as 13th in the Premier League.

It could well prove to be a question of which team can find their finishing boots on Saturday that will make all the difference.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.