How Chelsea could line up against Leeds United

Chelsea could be without up to eight players for Saturday's Premier League encounter against Leeds United at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues were dealt a major blow when defender Thiago Silva was forced off with knee ligament damage in the first half of last Sunday's 2-0 defeat at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, and the 38-year-old is now set for at least six weeks on the sidelines.

Mason Mount has also been ruled out after sustaining an abdominal injury in training this week, and the midfielder will now join Silva, Armando Broja (knee), Edouard Mendy (finger), Christian Pulisic (knee), Cesar Azpilicueta (concussion) and N'Golo Kante (thigh) in the treatment room.

Trevor Chalobah is set to be recalled to the starting lineup at right-back after Graham Potter confirmed that Reece James is doubtful with a hamstring problem, while Mateo Kovacic is available for selection after missing the defeat at Spurs due to illness.

In the absence of Silva, either Wesley Fofana or Kalidou Koulibaly is set to start at centre-back alongside Benoit Badiashile, while Marc Cucurella – who was left out of the matchday squad last weekend – will be hoping to challenge Ben Chilwell for the left-back spot.

Enzo Fernandez is expected to start his sixth successive game since his British record transfer in January, and the Argentine could be joined in centre-midfield by one of Kovacic, Denis Zakaria, Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Conor Gallagher.

Joao Felix has scored Chelsea's only goal in their last six matches and he will likely continue in behind Kai Havertz, while Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Hakim Ziyech and Raheem Sterling will all be battling for a start on the flanks.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Kepa; Chalobah, W. Fofana, Badiashile, Chilwell; Fernandez, Zakaria; Madueke, Felix, Sterling; Havertz