19th Dec 2012 | Football
Leeds v Chelsea Tip
The Blues barely know what continent they are on while the hosts have been waiting for this day to come round.
Strangely, backing the Championship team to beat the European champions almost seems like the obvious bet at best odds of 15/4 with BetVictor.
Chelsea’s preparations for this league cup quarter-final could hardly be less ideal. Defeated in the Club World Cup final in Japan on Sunday, the Blues returned to London on a 6,000 mile flight on Monday before swiftly heading up to Yorkshire to face a pumped-up Leeds.
The pressure is all on the Londoners, and in particular Rafa Benitez who can’t rely on one decent Premier League result against Sunderland keeping disgruntled fans off his back. The former Liverpool boss must go into battle at Elland Road without either John Terry or Gary Cahill at centre-back; John Obi Mikel and Ramires are suspended while Fernando Torres had another neurotic performance at the weekend.
The Whites have already beaten top flight Everton and Southampton on this cup run and there have been three straight victories at home in the Championship against Leicester, Palace and Ipswich - all of whom were flying when they came to town.
Neil Warnock lives for these occasions and knows what a huge game this is for Leeds fans who have waited since 2004 to renew the rivalry. He himself has waited five years to put one over Benitez, who he blamed for his Sheffield United side’s relegation in 2007 after the Reds’ boss fielded a weakened team.
All the ingredients for an upset are there and the price on Leeds makes them the right selection at 15/4 (BetVictor).
Odds correct at time of publishing: 12:26 19th Dec, 2012 but subject to change
