Football fans in England have two intriguing fixtures to look forward to this week, with Chelsea facing Leeds United in the Carabao Cup third round and Manchester United opening their Champions League campaign against Azerbaijani side Sabah at Old Trafford.
At Stamford Bridge, Xabi Alonso's Chelsea side will look to build on a mixed start to the season. The Blues have collected six points from their opening two Premier League fixtures and advanced past Luton Town 2-0 in the Carabao Cup's second round. However, their form has been shaky, with narrow one-goal victories over Fulham and Brighton offset by a 2-1 defeat to London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium at the weekend, a result that has piled some early pressure on the Spanish manager.
Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro have each scored twice in three Premier League outings for Chelsea, but Alonso is expected to rotate his squad for the Leeds tie, handing opportunities to fringe players and new arrivals. Danny Welbeck is reportedly set to lead the line for the visitors in what could prove a tricky test for the hosts.
Daniel Farke's Leeds United have made a strong start to their Premier League return, remaining unbeaten in the league and sitting comfortably in the top half of the table. Having already dispatched Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the previous round of the Carabao Cup, Leeds arrive at Stamford Bridge with genuine confidence and the potential to cause an upset against a below-strength Chelsea lineup. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm BST, with the match broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage beginning at 7.30pm. Sky Sports subscribers can also stream the match via the Sky Go app and website.
Meanwhile, Manchester United return to Champions League action for the first time in a year, hosting Sabah, the champions of Azerbaijan, at Old Trafford on Thursday, September 10, with kick-off set for 8pm BST. The match will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with streaming available through HBO Max, and coverage starting at 7pm.
Manager Michael Carrick, in his first full season in permanent charge, is contending with a lengthy injury list ahead of the tie. Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton are all sidelined, while Carlos Baleba is also not yet available. Marcus Rashford is a fitness concern after picking up a knock in United's recent defeat to Everton, with Carrick noting the forward was