Leeds United will face Chelsea in the EFL Cup third round if Chelsea beat Luton at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, according to The 42. The tie would be a repeat of last season’s FA Cup semi-final and would see Chelsea host Leeds at home, barring an upset against the League One side.
The draw shows Chelsea/Luton v Leeds as one of the ties, with Liverpool set to face Tottenham and Manchester United against Brighton in other all-Premier League clashes. Manchester City will host Norwich as holders, while Arsenal travel to Ipswich. The ties will be played over the weeks commencing 7 and 14 September, with Champions League clubs playing in the second week due to European commitments.
Leeds United enter the tie with a strong start to the season, sitting 9th in the Premier League with 3 points from 1 game, a win, and a goal difference of +1 having scored 1 and conceded 0. Their next fixture is at home to Brentford on 30 August, and they will be without Gabriel Gudmundsson, Mateo Joseph, and Wilfried Gnonto due to injury.
Facing Chelsea in the EFL Cup offers Leeds United a chance to measure themselves against a top-six side early in the campaign, with the potential to build momentum ahead of their Premier League fixtures. The club can use the competition to give squad players minutes while maintaining competitiveness, especially as they look to improve on their league standing. For updates on upcoming games, check our fixtures page.
With several key players sidelined, Leeds United will rely on squad depth for the EFL Cup tie, particularly if it proceeds. The absence of Gabriel Gudmundsson, Mateo Joseph, and Wilfried Gnonto means others will need to step up, and the club’s current form suggests they are capable of competing. For more on the squad, visit our squad page.
