Chelsea back on course for Champions League after crushing win at Leeds

Chelsea's Champions League hopes were rejuvenated and 10-man Leeds were left deeper in the relegation mire after a comfortable 3-0 win for Thomas Tuchel's side at Elland Road.

Mason Mount’s early strike and second-half goals from Christian Pulisic and Romelu Lukaku halted Chelsea’s three-game winless run and lifted them four points clear of London rivals Arsenal in third place.

It was a timely win for Tuchel’s stars, who had dropped 10 points in their previous five matches, before Saturday’s FA Cup final against Liverpool.

"We needed a performance like that. We deserved to win. That's the best message. We were excellent right from the start and kept our focus and high intensity," Tuchel told Sky Sports.

"We knew what was waiting. We had a lot of reason to trust ourselves. The players delivered. Full credit to them.

"We arrive [at the FA Cup final] with a clear mindset because we did what we needed to do this week. Good news."

For Leeds, it was another night to forget. They slumped to a third straight defeat to remain in the bottom three and had a man sent off for the second time in successive matches.

Jesse Marsch’s side played for 66 minutes with 10 men after Dan James’ straight red card for his ill-judged lunge on Mateo Kovacic.

Three goals and three points! ✊#LeeChe pic.twitter.com/eihaBybxRi

James’ dismissal followed a similar rush of blood by teammate Luke Ayling in Sunday’s defeat at Arsenal and Leeds subsequently never threatened to add to their points tally.

Mount followed up his pass out to the right flank in the fourth minute and when Reece James played the ball back inside, the England midfielder slammed home the opening goal.

Leeds, who handed teenage midfielder Lewis Bate his first league start and kicked