Leeds United Stun Chelsea 3-1 in Crucial Premier League Victory

5 December 2025 Football Match Recap

Leeds Escape Relegation Zone with Stunning Victory

Leeds United produced their best display of the season in a stunning 3-1 home win against Chelsea to climb out of the Premier League’s bottom three. The victory at Elland Road on December 3, 2025, represented a crucial turning point for Daniel Farke’s struggling side, who had endured a four-game losing streak before this impressive performance.

The match showcased Leeds’ determination and tactical discipline against one of the league’s title contenders. Leeds’ 3-1 win over Chelsea came with just 28.6 per cent possession; their lowest share in a league victory since December 2016 when they beat Reading in the Championship (23.2 per cent). Despite Chelsea’s dominance of the ball, Leeds executed their game plan to perfection.

Early Pressure Pays Dividends

Jaka Bijol headed Leeds into an early lead with his first goal for the club and Ao Tanaka arrowed a brilliant strike into the bottom corner for his first of the season two minutes before half-time. The home side’s aggressive pressing in the opening stages caught Chelsea off-guard, with the Blues struggling to find their rhythm at a raucous Elland Road.

Chelsea pulled one back soon after the restart through substitute Pedro Neto but Dominic Calvert-Lewin restored Leeds’ two-goal advantage as the Yorkshire side snapped a four-game losing run to ease some of the pressure on under-fire boss Daniel Farke.

Significance for Both Sides

Leeds move onto 14 points, three points more than 18th-place West Ham before the Irons play Thursday. Chelsea stall on 24 points and are likely to finish the midweek games in their current fourth-place position. The result represents a major setback for Enzo Maresca’s title aspirations, with his side falling nine points behind league leaders Arsenal.

For Leeds, this victory provides crucial breathing space in their fight for survival. The big games keep coming for Farke’s side, with reigning champions Liverpool being the next visitors to Elland Road on Saturday, but they will be buoyed by a much-needed three points. The performance demonstrated that Leeds possess the quality and fighting spirit necessary to compete at the highest level, offering hope to supporters that their Premier League status can be preserved this season.