*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Chelsea and Leeds feels like the ultimate late-90s, early-00s fixture that made me fall in love with the Premier League.
I’m not sure why, come to think of it. But the scene is now very different and this game means far more than fairly much any of the encounters in the aforementioned period ever did.
Chelsea’s struggles are well-documented. Roman Abramovich is still awaiting his sale of the club, while their fans who have ignored their club being little more than a private company for so long in exchange for trophies, are now faced with the prospect of trying to find the next owner who’ll just shut up and hand over a few hundred million.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!
Their season petered out from a potential title challenge to a potential fight for the top four – but a win here will all but seal it. This, unlike their previous outings, would be a sure sign that off-field issues aren’t affecting them, and they can just a win a game of football that has a clear reward at the end of it for them.
For Leeds? Well, you could point to them having easier fixtures down the line, but then you spot Everton having to play Watford, Brentford and Palace. Game on. Here’s a Bet Builder.
*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 6/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Leeds and the Draw
If you peel back the panic and look at the bare form, Leeds have lost games against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Given the former’s ability to be the best team in the world at seemingly any moment that isn’t a Champions League semi-final, and the latter’s resurgence that’s resulted in a contract extension for Mikel Arteta, it’s hardly a damnation.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have failed to beat Manchester United – the cardinal sin of cardinal sins in the Premier League – drew 2-2 with Wolves and failed to score against Everton. Everton.
Both Teams to Score
Leeds haven’t kept a clean sheets in their last 21 games were against Watford and Crystal Palace. Both of those, by the way, were away from home.
Leeds still play far too expansively on the big Elland Road surface and whether by the hand of Bielsa, Marsch or Maradona himself, they’re just not organised at the back and frequently struggle to fill the spaces they vacate quick enough.
Their only clean sheet at home this season? Against Watford back in October.
Over 2.5 Goals
Not to be repeating myself of course but Leeds netted nine times in their four-game streak prior to going winless in three games.
They’re a boom or bust prospect and despite a point against Chelsea actually seeming like a good result in principle, we’re approaching the stage of the season where a reliance on cliches won’t just get you a job with Sky as a pundit, but it’ll also get you relegated.
Raphinha to Score or Assist
I’m not a massive believer in Leeds’ ability to win possession that high up the pitch but I do think Chelsea have shown enough signs of over confidence higher up the pitch than usual – which is weird because their results are getting worse.
That quick switch is always on for Leeds and in these areas, they look to their talisman. Expect him to pick the right pockets of space.
Leeds v Chelsea betting tips:
Leeds and the Draw
Both Teams to Score
Over 2.5 Goals
Raphinha to Score or Assist
*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 6/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
FREE BET IF 1 LEG LETS YOU DOWN
If one leg of your 4+ fold Bet Builder fails to land, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Bet Builder Free Bet If 1 Leg Lets You Down per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
READ MORE
- Exclusive: Liverpool fan has witty Erik ‘Tenth’ Hag saved in Twitter drafts
- Elon Musk’s plan to ban post-match apologies from Twitter
- Peter Crouch: ‘When a manager talks about fixture congestion, it can put an excuse in your head’
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
