How Leeds United can beat Chelsea and the 'big bucks' puzzle Whites must solve - David Prutton

It's one for the footballing ages; these two kicking the hell out of each other and I'm sure there will be a great edge to Sunday's contest between the Whites and Blues at Elland Road.

Obviously Thomas Tuchel is absolutely fired up after what happened against Spurs and Chelsea have the type of footballers that can dismantle a lot of teams in European football as and when they click into gear.

It's a tough one for Leeds but I think the whole spectacle is great and Elland Road is built on games such as this and the atmosphere. It's one to look forward to.

Take out what both teams have done so far and it's a great rivalry but also another chance for three points and I absolutely can see Leeds beating them.

There'll be a reaction obviously from Chelsea for the frustration that they felt against Spurs.

But having seen what Leeds can do at full pelt, Chelsea won't be taking them lightly at all.

There is a suggestion perhaps in the way that Leeds line up leaves them susceptible to attacks down the wider parts of the pitch.

Whether that's something that they're going to address and make the first port of call from playing against Chelsea I don't know.

But as ever when you are playing at home, take out Manchester City and Liverpool, there is that onus on you to go and press and force the game.

There will be an element of that again from a Leeds point of view and it's as good a time as any to play Chelsea over the course of a Premier League season I think.

Maybe the way we have seen games refereed so far sets it up for what would be a classic, old school vibe to the match on Sunday between two teams that have had contrasting fortunes in recent Premier League history by virtue of the fact that only one of them has been there.

But this is one of those steps to take towards being an established Premier League club again.

It's a big one but I don’t think Leeds should fear it.

Leeds had to settle for a point in last weekend's clash at Southampton and the home side's ability to respond to adversity shows that there is a team spirit and a togetherness at St Mary's after all the supposed doom and gloom.

Defensively from a Leeds point of view, Southampton went around the houses for the first goal to score it but how Joe Aribo had that much time and space in the 18 box I don't know.

The second goal was a wonderful defence splitting pass but you have got to know where your opposite man is and he is always going to be running in there.

From a Leeds point of view, it's a case of frustration given the fact that they were 2-0 up and how hard it is to get 2-0 up in a Premier League game.

To come away with a sole point is disappointing and compounded by Patrick Bamford coming off and wherever he is at with the stage of his injury.

Rodrigo has been the man to get the goals for Leeds so far and he can definitely keep that going if he gets chances like the second one that he got and the ball in that he got for his first one.

The challenge was laid out for him not only to lead the line but to live up to the billing of being that most expensive player.

Maybe if you are a footballing purist who loves the beautiful game and the minutiae of it, if you point the finger about what else he does, it becomes a bit of a churlish point to make because if he scores goals, it doesn't really matter.

If he brings goals to a team then that's what costs tens of millions of pounds in the Premier League.

For him and for Leeds, there is disappointment with the way the second game went but it's four points from two and no defeat as yet.

It's very early days but it's a solid enough start.

I feel for Patrick because I think we are all dying for him to get back to full fitness and to be able to play a prolonged part.

But it does bring the club's striker options into sharper focus and getting a fully fit squad is something that has been unheard of at Leeds in the last couple of seasons.

If the right player is there for the right price then I presume it's a go but those two things can be poles apart, the right player and the right price.

You can have the right player but a ridiculous price and the wrong player at something you can afford.

It's a balancing act but that's where they earn the big bucks.

If you look at left back, you had Pascal Struijk playing there against Southampton and then Jack Harrison slotting in as a left wing back later on.

But if you look at the position that Jack found himself in for the equalising goal, looking back at his man as his man bears down towards goal then there's still a lot to learn from that position if there's not a specialist there.

Again, it lays down a challenge to Junior Firpo to come back in and be a consistent part of good things both defensively and going forward for Leeds.

If Rodrigo is stepping up with goals then Junior has got to step up with defensive nous.