Chelsea dropped to fourth in the Premier League table as they suffered a bitterly disappointing 3-1 defeat to Leeds United.
Leeds took the lead as early as the sixth minute at Elland Road when Jaka Bijol netted a thunderous header from a corner, and it was two when Ao Tanaka fired in a superb hit close to half time.
Enzo Maresca brought Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto on at half time and Neto instantly halved the deficit, but then a Tosin Adarabioyo error gifted Leeds their third as Dominic Calvert-Lewin stole in to consign Chelsea to a poor defeat.
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith was at Elland Road to rate the Chelsea players’ performances…
Robert Sanchez 4
Made a couple of decent saves but maybe could have done more with Leeds’ first goal. Distribution not as assured as usual.
Trevoh Chalobah 5
He and Liam Delap lost Bijol for the opening goal but he recovered to produce a decent showing, starting at right-back and then moving to centre-back at half-time.
Tosin Adarabioyo 3
Was not always as touch-tight to Leeds’ attackers as he could have been, and then made a horrific mistake to gift them their third goal.
Benoit Badiashile 3
Played one poor pass and had a difficult evening, hooked at half-time.
Marc Cucurella 5
Involved in Neto’s goal and one of Chelsea’s better players, moving into midfield.
Enzo Fernandez 4
Not his best game, and it was the Argentine who was dispossessed to allow Leeds their second goal.
Andrey Santos 5
Chelsea’s best midfielder on the night but still found it difficult to stop Leeds counters at source.
Estevao Willian 4
Had a couple of nice carries forward but showed a little naivety with a needless foul which earned him a yellow card and for the second game in a row he was substituted at half-time.
Joao Pedro 5
Snatched at the ball one or two moments but did make a few nice runs off the ball. Still a bit too anonymous.
Jamie Gittens 6
Had a really poor first half but excellent out wide saw him assist Neto for Chelsea’s goal.
Liam Delap 5
Carried the ball forward when he could but Leeds were up to the physical challenge and only offered him one sight of goal, which he squandered.
Subs:
Pedro Neto (Estevao, 46’) 6
Came on and made an instant impact, controlling a cross at the back post and volleying in.
Malo Gusto (Badiashile, 46’) 4
His introduction didn’t have the desired impact. Often outmuscled when trying to scrap for a loose ball.
Alejandro Garnacho (Gittens, 61’) 5
Was OK when he came on. One dart forward down the left almost delivered a goal for Cole Palmer.
Cole Palmer (Delap, 61’) 5
Came close but put wide with one chance as he made his long-awaited return after ten weeks out injured.
Marc Guiu (Santos, 77’) N/A
Not used: Jorgensen, Hato, James, Acheampong
