Chelsea v Leeds: Premier League – live!

9 min: Werner clears off the Leeds line! That was bizarre. Mount’s corner was headed on by Giroud and seemed to be going in at the far post. Then Werner appeared from nowhere to control the ball and volley it onto the crossbar!

8 min Werner’s shot deflects behind for a corner. Before it is taken, Leeds are forced to make a substitution: Robin Koch, who was doubtful for the game, is replaced by the Spanish international Diego Llorente. This is his Leeds debut.

What a goal from Leeds! Phillips, on the left wing near the halfway line, curled a stunning left-footed pass around Zouma to put Bamford through on goal. Mendy came out to the edge of the area but Bamford slipped past him and sidefooted the ball into the net. The finish was immaculate, the pass quite glorious.

Patrick Bamford scores against his old club!

2 min: Giroud misses an excellent chance! Mount’s corner from the left is headed just wide of the near post by Giroud. He arrived late and towered over the Leeds defenders, but his downward header hit the side netting.

1 min: Ziyech almost scores after 44 seconds! Thiago Silva drove a nice pass over the defence to Ziyech, who made a nice angled run from the right. He took the ball down beautifully on the run and drove a low shot that was kicked away by Meslier.

1 min Peep peep! Chelsea, in blue, kick off from right to left. Leeds are in their maroon change strip.

Chelsea emerge from the tunnel to a raucous ovation from the 2,000 fans at Stamford Bridge. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone for nine months.

West Ham 1-3 Man Utd was the final score at the London Stadium. West Ham should have been out of sight at half-time; they weren’t, and Manchester United were sensational in the last 25 minutes.

The chosen two thousand

“Wondering how the lucky fans who get to attend are chosen,” says Ezra Finkelstein. “s it like a lottery or based on loyalty?”

It’s done by ballot.

Pre-match reading

Chelsea and Leeds were responsible for one of the filthiest – and funniest – matches in football history. This is definitely worth ten minutes of your time.

Olivier Giroud, who scored F-O-U-R goals in Seville in the week, makes his first Premier League start of the season. Leeds are unchanged from the team that won so well at Everton last Saturday.

Chelsea (4-3-3) Mendy; James, Zouma, Thiago, Chilwell; Havertz, Kante, Mount; Ziyech, Giroud, Werner.
Substitutes: Kepa, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Pulisic, Abraham, Kovacic.

Leeds (4-1-4-1) Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Alioski; Phillips; Raphinha, Klich, Dallas, Harrison; Bamford.
Substitutes: Casilla, Llorente, Struijk, Poveda-Ocampo, Roberts, Helder Costa, Rodrigo.

Referee Kevin Friend.

I spy with my little eye, a very tasty Saturday-night fixture. This is the first Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Leeds since 2004, yet it comes with a decent backstory. The fun and games between Frank Lampard and Marcelo Bielsa two seasons ago, when Lampard was at Derby, will give tonight’s game an extra edge. The return of supporters to Stamford Bridge for the first time since March won’t hurt either.

A win would put Chelsea top overnight, but Leeds’ intrepid freewheelers will test their new, dramatically improved defence. At the other end, Bielsa’s man-markers will do well to cope with the speed and individual skill of Chelsea’s forward. Chelsea have been involved in a couple of bore draws this season; this, surely, will not be dull.

Kick off 8pm.