Chelsea at Leeds United: Four things to look for at Elland Road

Chelsea's Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly (C) celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in London on August 14, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Kai Havertz of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Chelsea FC at Goodison Park on August 06, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images) /

3. Finding potency in attack

Speaking of the fluid attack, this is where my eyes will really be focused in this match. We’ve mentioned consistency amongst the team, but at this point when considering the attack, I’m looking for anything that would prevent the last vestiges of optimism for the Blues’ forwards from dissipating into the ether altogether.

Thus far, Chelsea has a 1.17 NPxG/90 and it has seen non-penalty goals from non-forwards in Reece James and Koulibaly. Even more concerning is that the Blues’ forwards really only have one goal involvement, a beautiful assist from Sterling to James against Tottenham last week. This is a real area of worry for Chelsea, who has been devoid of any true goalscoring threat up front over the past two seasons. Sterling has been a really strong addition to the team from a creative perspective, but something is still missing. While it’s perhaps easy to blame the system, the amount of clear chances that have been missed this season alone tells a different story.

For this match, it will be imperative that Tuchel begins to crack the code with the combination up front. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tuchel try for Armando Broja up top to inject some energy and natural finishing ability into the starting XI after some lackluster performances from Kai Havertz in that regard. Regardless, whatever Tuchel has planned for this match-up, it will be worth watching how engaged the front line is throughout the contest.

The fluid nature of the group allows for excitement and unpredictability, but buy-in can wane when top players are producing at the level they’re used to at times. Will Sterling begin to become frustrated within this system as others have? Will a change in personnel help unlock a hidden combination? Can the Blues find an attacking threat before bigger matches this season? The answer to these questions may be just days ahead.

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