NafisaThere is something different about Leeds United heading into this season.
Daniel Farke’s side have already shown enough in the opening weeks of the campaign to suggest they are not simply back in the Premier League to make up the numbers, while their Carabao Cup run has given supporters another reason to believe this could be an exciting campaign.
The Whites have taken four points from their opening three Premier League fixtures, winning one and drawing two, while also progressing past Nottingham Forest in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
But their reward is about as difficult as it gets.
Leeds travel to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening to face Chelsea in one of the standout third-round ties, with both sides looking to keep their hopes of a cup run alive.
Chelsea, meanwhile, come into the game after suffering a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday. Xabi Alonso’s side have collected six points from their opening three Premier League matches, but they will now be hoping to respond immediately in midweek.
For Leeds, the fixture also carries an extra edge.
Chelsea got the better of the Whites at Wembley earlier this year in the FA Cup semi-finals, meaning Farke’s men will have the opportunity to settle the score when the two sides meet again.
And with so much at stake, Jamie Carragher has now given his verdict on how he expects the contest to unfold.
Sharing his prediction for Sky Sports’ Super 6, the former Liverpool defender has backed Chelsea to come through the tie with a 2-1 victory.
That prediction would see Leeds fall short of reaching the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time in five years.
The Whites have endured a difficult record in the competition in recent seasons. Their last appearance in round four came in October 2021, when they were beaten 2-0 away at Arsenal.
Since then, Leeds have only reached the third round once, during the 2022-23 campaign. They were knocked out in the second round on two occasions and suffered a first-round exit once.
That record makes Wednesday’s trip to west London an even bigger challenge.
Yet there is plenty for Leeds supporters to be encouraged by. Farke’s team have made a positive start to their return to the Premier League, and another strong performance against one of the division’s bigger sides could provide further evidence of their progress.
Chelsea will undoubtedly represent a major test, particularly at Stamford Bridge, but Leeds have already demonstrated that they can compete in difficult fixtures.
The Carabao Cup may not be the club’s primary objective, with Premier League survival naturally carrying greater importance, but there is little doubt that a deep cup run would add another exciting dimension to the season.
And for those travelling down to the capital, there will be the added motivation of seeing Leeds respond after their FA Cup heartbreak against Chelsea earlier this year.
Carragher has made his prediction.
Now Farke and his players have the chance to prove him wrong.
Nafisa
