Illustration of progress, Diego Llorente's debut, pantomime screams and Rodrigo message from the bench - Leeds United Talking Points

Disappointment highlights progress in third 'big four' test

It was never going to be easy was it? Time may tell that Leeds United’s long-awaited return to Stamford Bridge saw them face the 2020-21 Premier League champions.

Liverpool and Manchester City might have something to say about that, and also Jose Mourinho’s ‘ponies’ Tottenham Hotspur in what is being billed as a four-horse race.

Yet for Leeds, there was more than enough encouragement in Saturday night’s 3-1 reverse, the disappointment at which clearly highlights just how far Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites have come and the lofty standards set within the side.

After all, United have already shown twice this season that taking on a genuine fancied title contender should not mean that the Whites are written off.

Leeds proved that on the opening day of the campaign in a thrilling game at defending champions Liverpool who were left breathing a huge sigh of relief after scraping a 4-3 victory.

City were not so lucky with Pep Guardiola’s side forced to leave Elland Road with a point in a crazy 1-1 draw.

United should also have been out of sight against another established Premier League big gun in the recent home clash against Arsenal which somehow ended 0-0.

Everton and Aston Villa were also beaten too.

Yet Saturday’s clash essentially represented a third contest against what is being considered now as one of the division’s 'big four' and it is to United’s credit that the Whites were so disappointed with a 3-1 defeat.

It is easy to forget that what matters most upon United’s top-flight return is staying in the division though it is already perfectly clear that the Whites are capable of much more than that.

After four minutes of Saturday’s encounter, it looked like Leeds were capable of potentially winning at Chelsea and ending the Blues’ 15-game unbeaten run.

Patrick Bamford’s strike against his former side gave the Whites a perfect platform to build on and United probably are capable of beating the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

Yet most things would need to go right for that to happen and the magnitude of the task facing the Whites in their latest assignment should not be overlooked.

Leeds might have proved a cut above the Championship and the Whites might have then spent nearly £100m in the summer but this is a Chelsea side who have been in the Premier League for 28 consecutive seasons having won the thing five times in that period and as recently as 2015 and 2017.

The Blues then spent £222m in the summer and essentially this is now a side geared up to win a title.

As far as a learning curve is concerned, there was absolutely no disgrace whatsoever in United’s defeat and especially their display in an open first-half.

Diego Llorente's baptism of fire and pantomime screams

Generally speaking the usual issues held United back in terms of squandering what goalscoring chances were created apart from Bamford’s strike and at times being vulnerable at the back but there were major mitigating circumstances here.

Bielsa said at his pre-match press conference that summer signing Diego Llorente had recovered from his groin issue but that he hoped that the Spanish international centre-back would now be able to play to get some minutes for United’s under-23s before playing for the first team.

The Whites head coach hoped he would not have to “accelerate” Llorente’s progress yet after just nine minutes the defender was accelerating up off the bench to replace the injured Robin Koch.

Hardly an ideal debut, especially against Chelsea, for what was a true baptism of fire and Llorente should be commended for keeping his cool amidst continued sarcastic high-pitched screams and jeers from 2,000 fans inside Stamford Bridge.

The Blues contingent were clearly in pantomime mood for pantomime season and certainly made the most of their return to the stands, clearly mocking the defender after the noise he made during an aerial challenge.

In the end, the Blues would have won by a more comfortable margin but for some more outstanding goalkeeping from Illan Meslier who was probably United's man of the match and still has immense potential at just 20 years of age.

Whites skipper Liam Cooper also admitted afterwards that Leeds perhaps could have pressed Chelsea more though given the opposition that is easier said than done.

Several Whites players also failed to really reach their A-game but even so other sides will fall to much heavier defeats than this at Stamford Bridge.

Leeds, though, already know that on their absolute A-game they can be more than a match for anyone in this division, even City and Liverpool, and rest assured Bielsa will be working hard on further perfecting that A-game ahead of Friday night’s home clash against seventh-placed West Ham.

They are all big games in the Premier League but the Hammers clash and next Wednesday's hosting of 13th-placed Newcastle United look particular important for Leeds who now sit 14th.

Poveda and Rodrigo's impacts from the bench

Saturday's contest saw Bielsa name the same starting XI for the third game in a row, which always looked likely given just how impressive Leeds were in the recent fixtures against Arsenal and Everton.

But it might well be that Bielsa now opts to change things slightly and the situation with Llorente will obviously depend on the severity of Koch's injury.

And both of United's other two used substitutes at Chelsea are pushing hard for starts and in particular and not surprisingly record signing Rodrigo.

The Spanish international forward has not started a game since returning from covid and Bielsa said it would take time for the £28m recruit to reach his best levels but Rodrigo again offered an immediate spark when replacing Gjanni Alioski in the 69th minute.

In short, despite Mateusz Klich having performed with huge credit in a more advanced role, Rodrigo looks like United's best no 10, especially with Pablo Hernandez injured, and his second-half display was a clear message that he should now start.

Raphinha and Jack Harrison again got the nods out wide but Ian Poveda once again strongly advertised his claims with his showing after replacing Harrison three minutes before the hour and it was interesting that it was Poveda and not Helder Costa introduced.

Tyler Roberts was another unused substitute and Leeds are certainly not short of attacking options.

Harrison had a pretty disappointing game at Chelsea but his overall progress and form has been excellent and it seems likely that both Harrison and Raphinha will again start out wide against West Ham but there are definite options for Bielsa to choose from.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/liam-cooper-admits-leeds-united-are-still-learning-job-after-difficult-chelsea-defeat-3059134

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/chelsea-3-leeds-united-1-graham-smyths-player-ratings-whites-joy-short-lived-stamford-bridge-3059045

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins