Chelsea chase another Premier League win under Liam Rosenior against a Leeds United side lifted by recent form but hit by injuries, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin a doubt and Pascal Struijk ruled out, as both clubs look to build on a 3-1 victory in their most recent league outings.
Leeds United opened a six-point cushion above the relegation places after beating Nottingham Forest 3-1, a match where Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a 10th league goal this season to end a two-game winless spell and maintain hope of repeating December’s 3-1 success over Chelsea.
Daniel Farke confirmed that Leeds United face defensive disruption, as Pascal Struijk is unavailable for the Chelsea trip due to a hip flexor issue, while Anton Stach is nearing a return that is expected
to come in the Aston Villa match, leaving Calvert-Lewin’s fitness as the main attacking concern.
"Dominic was struggling with illness, but I hope it's not too bad, Farke said in his press conference. Pascal Struijk will definitely miss this game; he has problems with his hip flexor. [Anton] Stach will be back, probably just for the [Aston] Villa game. Apart from this, I hope to have everyone available. "
Farke highlighted how Struijk’s absence affects structure when Leeds United switch to a three-player defence, because the defender is the squad’s only left-footed centre-back and offers different passing angles and strong aerial presence that helped Leeds deal with crosses and long balls in recent weeks.
"You miss a player with red-hot form. Pascal was a rock in the last weeks. He is the only left-footed centre-back. If you play with three at the back, it makes a difference. A right-footed player has different passing angles. Also, his strength in the air, in the last game, he won so many headers. It is not ideal to not have him available. "
The work continues pic.twitter.com/ugpqojez6qLeeds United (@LUFC) February 9, 2026
Chelsea have responded strongly to Liam Rosenior’s appointment, winning all four Premier League games under the new head coach to climb into fifth place, one point behind the top four, following a 3-1 home victory over Wolves in which Cole Palmer delivered a first-half hat-trick.
Palmer’s treble against Wolves made Chelsea’s forward the first player in Premier League history to score three hat-tricks in the first half of matches, having previously achieved the feat against Everton and Brighton, yet team-mate Robert Sanchez believes the attacking midfielder still has further improvement ahead.
"He's brilliant, Sanchez said. He's not even at 100% yet, he has just come back from injury, and still managed a hat-trick. We're very happy. Everyone knows how good he is, so he needs to keep it up. He's only going to get better. "
Another Chelsea threat is Joao Pedro, who has contributed three goals and one assist across the club’s last four home league matches, although the forward has yet to record a goal involvement in three previous Premier League appearances against Leeds United, all of which ended in defeat.
Chelsea vs Leeds United statistical landmarks and records
Leeds United lean heavily on Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack, as Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Calvert-Lewin all scored in December’s 3-1 win over Chelsea, placing the striker in contention to emulate Mark Viduka, the last Leeds player to score home and away against the Blues in one league season, in 2000-01.
Calvert-Lewin passes double figures in a Premier League campaign for the third time, alongside 13 goals in 2019-20 and 16 in 2020-21, with eight of this season’s strikes arriving since the beginning of December, more than any other player in the division during that period.
Chelsea’s record at Stamford Bridge against Leeds United points towards a home advantage, as the hosts are unbeaten in seven successive Premier League meetings there, winning the last six after a draw, and have not lost this fixture on home soil since a 2-0 defeat in December 1999.
Leeds United still chase a historic league double after December’s Elland Road victory, something last achieved by the club against Chelsea in the 1991-92 title-winning season, while Charlton Athletic in 2000-01 remain the only promoted team to collect home and away Premier League wins over the Blues.
Chelsea vs Leeds United match prediction and Opta odds
Liam Rosenior’s impact at Stamford Bridge is reflected in Chelsea winning both home league matches since the coach took charge, and another victory would see Rosenior become the first Chelsea manager to claim three straight Premier League home wins from the start since Maurizio Sarri, who achieved that in September 2018.
Leeds United’s away record raises further concerns, with only two victories from their last 25 Premier League road fixtures, alongside six draws and 17 defeats, and both wins came against Wolves, 3-2 in March 2023 and 3-1 in September 2025, emphasising the challenge that awaits at Stamford Bridge.
OPTA’s model rates Chelsea as strong favourites against Leeds United, highlighting the contrast between the hosts’ recent surge and the visitors’ travel problems, with the probabilities below outlining expected outcomes for the league meeting at Stamford Bridge.
| Result | Probability |
|---|---|
| Chelsea win | 66.2% |
| Draw | 18.4% |
| Leeds United win | 15.4% |
With Chelsea in strong form under Liam Rosenior and Leeds United missing Pascal Struijk and possibly Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the statistical edge and home advantage lean towards the hosts, yet Leeds carry confidence from December’s win and recent improvement as both clubs pursue important Premier League points.
