Jamie Carragher has predicted Chelsea will knock Leeds United out of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge. The Sky Sports pundit's forecast casts doubt on Leeds' ability to reach the competition's fourth round for the first time in five years.
Leeds travel to London for the Wednesday evening tie in solid early-season form. They have taken five points from their opening three Premier League games, sitting ninth with a record of one win and two draws. Their goal difference stands at +1, having scored three and conceded two. This leaves them four points behind early leaders Manchester City as they prepare for a home league game against Newcastle on September 14th.
The match presents a significant hurdle for Daniel Farke's side. Chelsea, under Xabi Alonso, have also started the league campaign with six points from three games. They will be looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal last Sunday. Recent history adds to the challenge for Leeds, who were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley earlier this year.
Leeds' recent record in the Carabao Cup further illustrates the difficulty. Since the 2021-22 season, they have progressed beyond the third round only once, suffering two second-round exits and one first-round defeat. Their last fourth-round appearance was a 2-0 loss away to Arsenal in October 2021. The club's current priority remains Premier League survival, but a strong cup run is a welcome target for the squad.
Team selection will be impacted by absences. Leeds will be without three players for the trip to Stamford Bridge. The current injuries list confirms Ilia Gruev, Joe Rodon, and Mateo Joseph are all sidelined. This will test the depth of Farke's squad as he balances cup ambitions with the upcoming league fixtures.
Despite these challenges, Leeds have shown resilience. They defeated Nottingham Forest in the second round to set up this tie and have remained unbeaten in their last three matches across all competitions. Their league standings position offers a platform of confidence.
A victory would represent a notable achievement and break a prolonged cycle of early cup exits. It would provide a morale boost ahead of the busy autumn schedule and demonstrate the squad's growing capability against top-tier opposition. Progress would also offer valuable playing time to squad members pushing for more regular league involvement.
Carragher's prediction sets the narrative, but the match will be decided on the pitch. Leeds last reached this stage of the Carabao Cup in the 2022-23 season. The final whistle at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday will determine if their wait for a fourth-round berth continues. Their next match is at home to Newcastle United on September 14th.
