Chelsea vs Leeds United - prediction, team news, lineups

As the BlueCo task continues to crumble, Chelsea commence the post-Liam Rosenior epoch nether the Wembley Stadium arch this Sunday, erstwhile Leeds United await successful the FA Cup semi-finals.

The Blues and Whites are vying for a changeable astatine glory against either Manchester City oregon Southampton, but the erstwhile besides person an urgent request to reconstruct a consciousness of stability.

Match preview

Neither experienced coaches nor managerial novices person been capable to ace the BlueCo codification astatine Stamford Bridge, wherever the Chelsea hierarchy opted to regenerate the outspoken Enzo Maresca with a seemingly much malleable brag successful Rosenior, already acquainted with the mode successful which the owners run from his clip astatine Strasbourg.

However, aft overseeing a catastrophic tally of 7 defeats from 8 games successful each competitions - with the astir caller six of those losses seeing Chelsea neglect to find the backmost of the nett - Rosenior was comically fixed the boot just 3 months into a six-year contract, resulting successful different mammoth payout from the lambasted powers-that-be.

Chelsea's authoritative Rosenior connection stood retired for a antithetic reason, though, arsenic the nine announced that they would participate a play of 'self-reflection' earlier appointing a caller semipermanent caput coach; Andoni Iraola and erstwhile Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas are believed to beryllium among the frontrunners.

For the clip being, Calum McFarlane volition erstwhile again measurement up to the relation of interim caput manager - arsenic helium did for 2 games aft Maresca's exit - arsenic helium bids to pb Chelsea to a 17th FA Cup final, and their archetypal since 2022.

The Blues could hardly person been handed a kinder tally to Wembley, though, taking down 4 lower-tier teams successful Charlton Athletic, Hull City, Wrexham and Port Vale, scoring astatine slightest 4 goals successful each game; nary squad has ever netted 4+ times successful 5 consecutive FA Cup games.

The attacking signifier publication suggests Leeds request not interest astir Chelsea making FA Cup past this weekend, arsenic the Blues person failed to people successful each of their past six matches erstwhile facing top-flight absorption - either from England oregon elsewhere.

While Chelsea are successful freefall, Leeds person recovered the equilibrium that their opponents lack, stringing unneurotic a seven-game unbeaten tally crossed each competitions and dragging themselves distant from the Premier League relegation zone successful the process.

Daniel Farke's broadside person not rather secured their top-flight presumption for adjacent word conscionable yet, but acknowledgment to their nine-point pb implicit Tottenham Hotspur and seven-point vantage implicit West Ham United, the in-form Whites are astir location and hosed.

Leeds tin truthful get astatine Wembley with a swagger astir them arsenic they purpose to extremity a 53-year exile from the FA Cup final, having not reached the showpiece lawsuit since the 1972-73 season, erstwhile they finished arsenic runners-up to Sunderland.

Derby County, Birmingham City, Norwich City and astir precocious West Ham United person fallen to the Whites' superiority successful the 2025-26 tournament, but amid Chelsea's existent attacking woes, Leeds person failed to people successful their past 3 visits to Wembley, stretching backmost to 1996.

Eric Cantona was the past antheral to nett for the Whites astatine the venue backmost successful the 1992 Charity Shield, but Leeds avoided decision successful some of their Premier League meetings with Chelsea earlier this season, and it is not outlandish to suggest that Farke's men could adjacent beryllium the favourites for this must-see semi-final.

Chelsea FA Cup form:

Chelsea signifier (all competitions):

Leeds United FA Cup form:

Leeds United signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Amid each the chaos successful West London, McFarlane was capable to present 2 pieces of bully quality successful his pre-game property conference, confirming that Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer had some trained and could beryllium options for the semi-final.

However, Estevao Willian is improbable to play again this play owed to a hamstring injury, joining Reece James (thigh), Filip Jorgensen (groin), Levi Colwill (knee/fitness), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (thigh) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (doping ban) connected the sidelines.

In spite of the mode of their atrocious Brighton & Hove Albion display, McFarlane should prime a akin XI to Rosenior's last act, albeit with Pedro and Palmer replacing Romeo Lavia and the out-of-sorts Wesley Fofana.

On Leeds' end, Farke has confirmed the unfortunate quality that Ilia Gruev volition beryllium retired for the remainder of the play with his genu problem, but helium could inactive person 3 fittingness boosts for the semi-final.

The Whites brag is hopeful that Jayden Bogle volition retrieve from the whack to the ft helium sustained against Bournemouth successful midweek, portion neither Sebastiaan Bornauw nor Anton Stach (both ankle) person been ruled retired either.

Farke has placed his religion successful Karl Darlow to bully effect successful the Premier League, but the 49-year-old hinted successful his pre-game property league that cupful 'keeper Lucas Perri would defender the posts astatine Wembley.

Chelsea imaginable starting lineup:

Sanchez; Acheampong, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Palmer, Pedro, Neto; Delap

Leeds United imaginable starting lineup:

Perri; Struijk, Bijol, Rodon; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin

We say: Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United

With Man City being Man City and Southampton connected an astonishing tally of form, a clash with Chelsea is the second-kindest FA Cup semi-final Leeds could person wished for - the archetypal being Rosenior's Chelsea.

Accused of lacking respect for their erstwhile manager, the Blues should chopped re-energised figures nether McFarlane, and the imaginable returns of Pedro and Palmer could assistance occurrence Chelsea into the final.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.