Leeds United v Chelsea: Key stats and talking points

Chelsea continue their bid to keep pace with leaders Arsenal as they travel to a Leeds United side on a run of four defeats.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of their meeting at Elland Road.

Card-happy Chelsea

Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday was creditable in the sense that Enzo Maresca's side earned a point against the league leaders despite playing almost an hour with 10 men.

Moises Caicedo's first-half red card was the fourth that Chelsea have received in just 13 league games this season - at least double the tally of any other team - although the issue of indiscipline has undermined Maresca's men for far longer.

Since the start of 2023-24, the Blues have been given 229 yellow cards and 10 reds - both the most of any Premier League club.

Maresca called his players "outstanding" after they took the lead with 10 men against Arsenal and, although they were unable to hold on, it did demonstrate their ability to cope without Caicedo.

Chelsea have gone 1-0 up in their past eight Premier League outings, a happy tendency that has somewhat masked the costs of having a player sent off.

Should they fail to keep 11 men on the pitch on Wednesday, they may find proceedings harder than predicted given their poor record at Elland Road.

Chelsea have won just six of their 48 away league games against Leeds (drawn 13, lost 29), their worst win ratio against teams they have visited at least 20 times, after Sheffield Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Maresca has lost both of his previous league games against Leeds, while managing Leicester City in the Championship in 2023-24.

Leeds bidding to end losing run

Daniel Farke's side have lost four consecutive Premier League matches, equalling their longest losing streak from their previous top-flight campaign in 2022-23.

Leeds are on 11 points after 13 games and, while eight teams have had 11 points or fewer at this stage and survived - most recently Nottingham Forest in 2022-23 - Farke will want the losing streak to end as soon as possible before a congested run of fixtures in December.

Leeds' biggest problem so far this season has been an inability to shut other sides out.

They have conceded at least once in each of their past 10 Premier League games, having kept a clean sheet in two of their opening three matches this season - a failing that came back to haunt them after shipping a late goal to lose at Manchester City on Saturday.

Affairs at the other end of the pitch are more positive however, with Lukas Nmecha on a scoring run of three successive matches. If Leeds can match improved performances in attack with a tighter defence, they may yet fight their way out of trouble.