Leeds demolish Chelsea after Édouard Mendy howler sparks emphatic win

There was sound from the raucous Leeds congregation and a relentless fury to their side’s play. It yielded a fine second victory of the season, a fourth Premier League goal for the captain, Rodrigo, and a first one for the eye-catching young US international, Brenden Aaronson.

Most of all Jesse Marsch’s mode of play suggests it was a smart move to sack Marcelo Bielsa in February as the former took over with the team two points above the drop zone. What followed was a final-day survival act and time for Marsch to implement his ideas across a full pre-season.

Seven points thus far this term and this invigorating dismantling of Chelsea are the fruits. Worse, for Thomas Tuchel, is how the visiting manager was seriously out-thought by an opposite number taking charge of only his 15th game in English football. After last week’s “handshake-gate” with Antonio Conte, Tuchel warmly did the honours with Marsch but the Chelsea coach will have to seriously revive his gang before Saturday’s visit to Leicester.

As with all of those in blue, Raheem Sterling was bright initially then faded. He went close to opening his Chelsea goal ledger when Conor Gallagher poked the ball down the left. In blazing sunshine, Sterling skipped infield and unloaded at Illan Meslier’s goal: for a moment the stadium hushed before relief surged from the local support as the ball missed to the goalkeeper’s left.

Sterling was soon again incisive, this time prodding the ball to Mason Mount whose awareness allowed him to succed with a no-look pass to Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He should have shot instantly but dawdled and Leeds escaped.

Those in white were to prove effervescent throughout. Aaronson, once of Philadelphia Union and RB Salzburg, was a floating playmaker