Chelsea will try to bounce right back on their feet from the heartbreaking 118th-minute defeat to Liverpool in the League Cup final, when they shift their focus to the FA Cup fifth round and Championship side Leeds United.
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The Blues had more than a few chances to win it throughout regular (and extra) time, but the combination of wastefulness and a man-of-the-match performance by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saw the chance to win a trophy in Mauricio Pochettino’s first season slip away in such painful fashion. Perhaps the FA Cup is still on the cards for Chelsea, but while drawing a second-division side might look a favorable draw on paper, Leeds are hardly an average Championship side after being relegated from the Premier League last season.
Rising star Crysencio Summerville (15 goals, plus 8 assists) remains at Leeds and currently sits 4th in the Championship Golden Boot race. Daniel James (10 goals, 7 assists), Patrick Bamford and Wilfied Gnonto (5 goals each) also stuck around for an immediate promotion back to the PL, and Leeds sit 2nd, level on points with 3rd-place Ipswich Town, with 12 games left to play. 21-year-old forward Georginio Rutter also arrived in the summer for $39 million and has chipped in six goals and 12 assists himself. Having won 11 of their last 12 games in all competitions, including a perfect nine-for-nine in the league, few sides in the world carry as much confidence as Daniel Farke’s side at this very moment.
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How to watch Chelsea vs Leeds live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 2:30 pm ET, Wednesday
Online: ESPN+
Chelsea injuries, team news
OUT: Reece James (thigh), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Carney Chukwuemeka (ankle), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Thiago Silva (groin)