How is the right-back conundrum solved?
Leeds United have a problem on the right side of defence. Luke Ayling’s suspension, Stuart Dallas’s injury and Cody Drameh’s loan have robbed the club of arguably their three best right-backs.
Jamie Shackleton has about an hour’s worth of first-team football under his belt since mid-December and on that night he was tortured by Jack Grealish. Jesse Marsch has been left debating the merits of moving a centre-back out there or shuffling backwards the likes of Daniel James or, unbelievably, Raphinha.
If the head coach sticks his best attacking player at right wing-back there will be serious questions asked of him should the Whites go on to lose a match they would ideally take at least a point from. How Marsch does solve the problem will be interesting.
READ MORE: Leeds United line-up vs Chelsea as Lewis Bate gets his chance in three-change system overhaul
An abundance of centre-back choices points to a back three or five and wing-backs. The choices there will have an impact across the rest of the team Marsch has available to him.
Cooper returns or Captain Phillips?
We have been here before with Marsch and Liam Cooper. The skipper was expected to play at Arsenal and failed to make the squad.
On Tuesday, the head coach repeated his belief Cooper was ready to play in the Chelsea match. It would be a welcome return given how well he performed in his previous games since injury.
If the Scotland international were to feel discomfort in his knee again, it’s most likely we will see Kalvin Phillips starting with the armband in the Premier League for the first time. A fateful black-and-white picture of Phillips with the armband went out across his social media channels this week.
Actions speak much louder than a jpeg on the world wide web, but you have to believe he knows full well how gigantic these three matches are and it’s well within his power to dominate the midfield in each of them.
Elland Road and the directors’ box
The atmosphere around the stadium as Manchester City stuck away their second, third and fourth goals was unbelievable. Arguably the loudest and most consistent chanting of the campaign came as the penny dropped on a defeat which left Leeds staring relegation in the face.
The away corner at Arsenal was also excellent on Sunday despite another horror start to really dampen spirits. There is no doubt, in another match with a top-four side they are expected to lose, the fans will be loud again on Wednesday night.
If Chelsea were to come away with three points, the manner of that defeat with the timing of the goals is likely to set the tone for reactions to those in the directors’ box. The meek 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa saw the mood turn around Andrea Radrizzani and his executives.
The owner has not been seen at Elland Road since that loss. One eye on the reaction around him on Wednesday night will be worthwhile.
Clear air to Burnley
As unlikely as it feels after the mood in the last two losses, a first win in four would put a far more reassuring glean on the Premier League table. The Whites kick-off 15 minutes before Everton at relegated Watford, so a win would even take them beyond the Toffees for a little while at least.
The Clarets do not play again until Sunday lunchtime when they visit fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur. Lose that and Leeds would be three points clear of the Lancashire outfit with the same number of matches played.
Taking the Bate
Lewis Bate was pursued by a litany of clubs last summer once it became clear he would be moving on from Chelsea. Leeds got their man, much to the envy of so many in the game.
Bate was considered one of the jewels at one of the best academies in European football. He played the hard yards like so many in their opening weeks under Marcelo Bielsa and impressed with the under-23s.
His chance finally came in January when, with injuries biting hard, he got minutes in back-to-back West Ham United clashes at London Stadium. The 19-year-old did not look out of his depth.
Injuries have been an issue in pockets this term, but after several weeks of solid play with the under-23s and decent training under Marsch, he got a chance from the bench in very trying circumstances at Arsenal.
Much depends on the formation Marsch goes with, but Bate seems the fresh injection of energy and ideas this team might need, even if experience is against him in atmospheres like Wednesday’s.
