Chelsea

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Returning to the club where his grandmother was a season holder will be an "amazing thing for me and my family", says Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior.

The Blues visit Championship Hull City in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday evening, providing Rosenior an emotional opportunity to return to the club he watched as a child, played for, and later managed.

"Incredible," he told BBC Sport.

"I've got an emotional family connection with the club through my grandma. I used to go up there when I was a little boy. I'm talking four or five years old on summer holidays all the way through. Without that football club, I wouldn't be here now.

"She was a season ticket holder. She got to see me play there. Sadly she passed away pretty much a year to the day before I joined Hull as manager."

"I think she did the draw," Rosenior added with a smile.

"She must have messed around with the balls in the hat. Amazing for my family to get together. I think I need about 20 tickets so we'll see how it goes.

"Without that club and without being there, I wouldn't be in this situation now. I'm so thankful. It's a club that I will always love, and have a special place in in my heart for.

"And it's an amazing thing for me and my family that we go back there."

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Rosenior has started well as Blues manager, winning seven out of his first 10 matches in charge and remaining unbeaten in the Premier League. He believes supporters are beginning to see how his approach differs from previous boss Enzo Maresca.

"What I'm conscious of as well is that they're already part of a very good team," he added.

"My ideas are similar with tweaks and different things, but what you don't want to do is change too much too soon because the players lose their rhythm.

"I think people are starting to see a few things that are different. It's not about being different. It's about winning games of football. And that's the balance that I have to find."

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Former Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler has revealed how "really ambitious" Liam Rosenior became a success in management.

The 41-year-old is now in charge of Chelsea and will lead his side into an FA Cup fourth‑round tie at his former club, where he made 161 appearances as a player between 2010 and 2015.

Having previously served only as caretaker manager at Derby County in League One, Rosenior was appointed by Hull as a relatively inexperienced head coach in 2022.

Kesler told BBC Sport what he said to owner Acun Ilicali during the hiring process:

"I remember telling Acun: we're speaking to top international coaches, but this young coach has something special," he said.

"Acun comes from the entertainment world - he owns rights to reality shows like The Voice and Survivor. I told him Liam could be someone we bring into the limelight by giving him an opportunity.

"Liam spoke very well and we hoped he could apply his ideas.

"Finally, I asked him in our first meeting over coffee where he saw himself in five years.

"Knowing Championship coaches have short lifespans, I wanted to see if he was pragmatic or really ambitious. He said: 'I see myself coaching in the Champions League'."

"We took a risk - a calculated risk, not a crazy one."

Now working in the same role at Polish top‑flight side Pogon Szczecin, Kesler explained that Rosenior went to extra lengths to persuade players to join Hull.

He recalled driving with club recruiters from Yorkshire to London to convince Fabio Carvalho to sign on loan, and said not every attempt was successful, pointing to a similar trip to Burnley which ended without a deal.

"Liam focuses on communication and delivers what he needs to say in a very short period," Kesler added. "That's key for young players with short attention spans."

Rosenior was ultimately sacked after 18 months and 78 matches in charge, having missed out on the 2023-24 Championship play-offs by three points, because of what Ilicali said was a "difference of opinions".

Kesler "believes everything happens for a reason", with his own exit following six months later because he felt he needed a break after the birth of his son.

Chelsea are set to rival Bayern Munich for 23-year-old goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and will match Brighton's £50m valuation for the Netherlands international. (Teamtalk), external

Atletico Madrid are exploring a move for Chelsea's 27-year-old Spain defender Marc Cucurella. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Tuesday's and Wednesday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has been speaking to the media before Friday's FA Cup fourth round game against Hull City at The MKM Stadium (19:45 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Rosenior said it is "too early to know" the extent of the problem that forced Marc Cucurella off at half-time of Wednesday's 2-2 draw against Leeds but he is "definitely out" against Hull and the club are "doing our scans and assessment".

• Captain Reece James has had his training "modified", "is still under the weather" and "we will make a decision tomorrow".

• Rosenior confirmed Mamadou Sarr will feature against the Tigers after being recalled from a loan at Strasbourg in January: "Mamadou has a great chance to start the game. It's very difficult to but he's been here before and he knows me really well and my demands. He needs time to bed in but now I think he's in a really good place and will definitely see the pitch at some point on Friday."

• Reflecting on only taking a point against Leeds despite leading 2-0, Rosenior said: "Balanced view - 99% of the game was what I want to see, in terms of with and without the ball, defending set-plays, energy, courage. It was very, very good. It was just those moments, of switching off, where we need to improve."

• Would Chelsea not have conceded twice in six minutes with Wesley Fofana on the pitch: "You can over-analyse. It didn't matter who was on the pitch at that moment - we should have dealt with that situation. 99% of that performance was really good. With Wes, he has had those injury issues and I don't want him to break down again. You want consistency in your backline and we will get there in the end."

• Asked when will Fofana be fit to start three times in a week, Rosenior said: "For the first time he did midweek to weekend. That's a really positive sign. The aim for every player is to build them to a point to where they can play every game. We are not quite there yet. But I am confident we can get him there."

• On returning to the club he both played for and managed: "For me, Hull City is very special. My grandma was a season ticket-holder. I've got my family coming up. The club means a lot to me for many reasons. Hopefully we can put on a really good show. I want to do well in this competition. I don't see it any different to a Premier League or Champions League game. We will go there with a team I think can win the game. We will take it seriously."

Watch Hull v Chelsea live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, or listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 19:45 on Friday

Got a question about Chelsea? Get in touch and we'll put it to our experts

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Leeds United.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Nick: Two more points surrendered at home. Two more points dropped from a winning position. Two more points gift-wrapped to the opposition by Chelsea forgetting matches last 90 minutes. Essentially, 60 minutes of controlled, totally dominant, attractive play undone by switching off for six minutes. Intensely frustrating.

Kazuki: Again, our naivety cost us the game. This concept of a young and exciting team is fine as a presentation to the world, but when it's really young from the management to the coach to the players we don't have to stick to the concept as much and could bring in some steel with experience in defence. Please, please, I beg you Chelsea.

James: Leeds is always a tough test but from such a commanding position the game should be seen out. Sloppy in defence second half and it is dropping points like this that could prove costly at the end of the season.

Simon: Poor management, not reacting to the changing game. Desperately need a new keeper as well. Lots of work to be done.

Leeds fans

AC: Apart from the gifted pen Bijol was a welcome return. Credit Daniel Farke as he subbed Okafor for Bornauw, tweaked the setup and we got the ball forward quicker. Dodged a bullet at the end with Palmers miss. Very happy to take a point from the game.

Darren: It's the first time this season I can honestly remember Leeds getting a slice of luck and maybe a result they didn't merit. However, a few more of these will be required to even out the times when the exact opposite is true.

Ian: I'm not quite sure how Leeds pulled that off. When Bijol had a rush of blood to his arms I thought we were dead and buried. A never say die attitude rattled the Chelsea defence and a vital point with another two top-five sides to come.

Jason: Bogle was phenomenal in the Championship last season and he has excelled in the Premier League. Why don't I hear him being touted for an England call up?

JPL: How on earth did we pull that off? Still, we got a very valuable point and we'll take it. No one said this first season back was going to be easy. Every point counts. Can't help feeling a tad sorry for Palmer - that will take some forgetting.

Sean Kearns
BBC Sport

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In recent weeks it's been Chelsea's first-half displays that have threatened to end their winning streak.

But Rosenior alluded to the difficulties his side have had in producing a complete 90-minute performance since he took over from Enzo Maresca during his pre-match interview.

And so it proved again.

With an hour gone, Chelsea looked home and dry. Joao Pedro opened the scoring when he dinked the on-rushing Karl Darlow with a lovely effort following Cole Palmer's through ball.

Palmer then got on the scoresheet, converting from the spot when Jaka Bijol inexplicably bundled over Joao Pedro in the box.

At this point, Leeds hadn't registered a single shot on target.

But sloppiness crept in.

Moises Caicedo, having one of his easier days in defensive midfield, upended Jayden Bogle and Leeds had their way back as Lukas Nmecha converted.

If that was a gift, then Leeds' equaliser was charity.

Josh Acheampong's failure to deal with a simple ball over the top caused confusion and panic in the defence, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and right-back Malo Gusto desperately trying to clear their lines.

But Leeds' industry was rewarded when the ball fell kindly for Noah Okafor to tap into an empty net, leaving Rosenior furious.

"If we want to improve and get to where we want to be, we have to make sure we're switched on for 90 minutes. It's as simple as that," Rosenior said afterwards.

"I'm devastated because some of the football we played was excellent. We should come away with three points and we haven't because two of moments in the game we haven't taken care of. We gifted Leeds a point."

Chelsea were not without their chances in the closing stages, as Joao Pedro headed against the crossbar.

Their best chance fell to Palmer at the death. After a neat pass from Pedro Neto down the line, Caicedo squared a ball across the box for Palmer to tap into an empty net, only for the England forward to blaze over the bar.

Chelsea and Manchester United are considering a move for Tromso's 19-year-old Gambia defender Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh. (Mail), external

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Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior speaking to TNT Sports: "I don't want to talk about the football that we played. If we want to improve and get to where we want to be, we have to make sure we're switched on for 90 minutes. It's as simple as that.

"Devastated because some of the football we played was excellent. We should come away with three points and we haven't because two of moments in the game we haven't taken care of. We gifted Leeds a point."

On Leeds' goals: "I don't know if we need to make the challenge for the penalty. But even at 2-1, we need to take the sting out of the game. Whether we think it is handball, we are still in control of the situation. You kick the ball away and ask for handball after. These are small points moments that have cost us three points today.

Did he think it was handball in the build up to Noah Okafor's goal?: "At the time I did. I still haven't seen it. The rule is if there is any contact with his hand, it should be disallowed.

"From my understanding, if there is any handball in the build-up to the goal, it should be disallowed. They (VAR) need to help the referee."

Did you know?

• Joao Pedro has scored six goals in his last eight matches in all competitions for Chelsea; more goals than any other Blues player across the 10 games Liam Rosenior has been in charge.

• Since making his debut for Chelsea in the Premier League (September 2023), Cole Palmer has scored 18 penalties, more than any other player (Salah 15).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Leeds' display?

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

There are four games in the Premier League on Tuesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Chelsea v Leeds

• Everton v Bournemouth

• Tottenham v Newcastle

• West Ham v Manchester United (20:15)

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

And listen to Around The Grounds on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 19:00

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

It's two changes from Chelsea from the side that beat Wolves convincingly on the weekend.

Estevao and Josh Acheampong come into the side, with Pedro Neto and Wesley Fofana making way.

Captain Reece James, who Liam Rosenior said was ill during his pre-match news conference yesterday, doesn't make the squad.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Caicedo, Enzo, Palmer, Estevao, Joao Pedro

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Badiashile, Fofana, Sarr, Hato, Garnacho, Neto, Delap, Guiu

Image source, Premier League

There is no place for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in Leeds' matchday squad.

The former Everton forward's hit 10 goals this season and has been one of the biggest drivers behind the side's revival in recent weeks.

Leeds XI: Darlow, Justin, Rodon, Bogle, Bijol, Gudmundsson, Ampadu, Gruev, Nmecha, Bornauw, Aaronson

Subs: Perri, Byram, Longstaff, Tanaka, Buonanotte, James, Okafor, Gnonto, Piroe

Will Faulks
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Another weekend, another win for Liam Rosenior, who now has seven from his first nine games as Chelsea boss.

The team haven't been convincing in all of them - in fact, you could argue they're yet to put in a full 90-minute performance with the new manager in charge. But the victory over Wolves showed all of the same positives we've seen developing over the last month, with new ones added.

Joao Pedro continues his improved form, this time with two penalties won rather than a goal. Building on that existing trend was his increased chemistry with Cole Palmer. Not only was Palmer the man who put both spot-kicks away, but he also showed more understanding of his team-mate's movements in open play.

More fluidity and conviction in attack was what everyone was asking for, and on Saturday they got it - at least in the first half, before Chelsea eased off in the second period. The Andrey Santos and Moises Caicedo double-pivot has already added a lot of fortitude to the shape, as has the Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah pairing at the back. Robert Sanchez has been given more protection by the block of four ahead of him, and has responded with good form of his own.

If that solid spine can keep up their good performances and the attack continues to develop ahead of them, there's no telling where this season could end up. The Blues have closed the gap at the top of the Premier League table and qualified for the Champions League knockouts.

After facing Leeds and Hull City, they also reach their first free midweek since Rosenior came in, with an international break in March also on the horizon. That provides even more opportunity for performances to catch up with results, and for the positive mood at Stamford Bridge to continue to grow.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

In-form Chelsea are seeking a seventh successive home league win over Leeds United, whose most recent victory at Stamford Bridge came in December 1999.

Nonetheless, Leeds won this season's reverse fixture 3-1 and are looking to complete their first league double over Chelsea since the 1991-92 title-winning campaign.

Chelsea making most of favourable fixtures

Seven wins in nine games has been an impressive riposte by Liam Rosenior to those who questioned his appointment as Chelsea head coach five weeks ago. On Saturday, aided by Cole Palmer's club record fourth Premier League hat-trick, he became just the second English manager to win his first four matches in charge in the competition.

The first, Craig Shakespeare, went on to win his first five with Leicester City in 2017 but was sacked six months later. Rosenior will be well aware how quickly fortunes can turn.

Rosenior's lack of experience at a top-level club means he is considered by some to be a gamble. The odds have been in his favour so far thanks to a kind run of league fixtures; Leeds and Burnley are up next, meaning Chelsea will have played five top-flight games in a row against sides in the bottom six at the time.

Their record against teams in the lower part of the table is the third best in the division. The greater test for Rosenior and his players will be to sustain their form in the games that follow, starting on 1 March with a trip to Arsenal.

Whites flag on the road

Leeds United are one of two sides, along with Brighton, among the current bottom eight to have beaten Chelsea this season. That was a 3-1 victory for the Whites under the lights at Elland Road in December, and they made it five wins from five in night games at home this season by beating Nottingham Forest on Friday.

Manager Daniel Farke, who was understandably delighted with "a massive performance and a massive win", took four points from his two previous meetings with Rosenior when the latter was in charge at Hull City in the 2023-24 Championship season.

However, Leeds have only won two of their past 25 Premier League away fixtures – both against Wolves, in March 2023 and September this season.

They have seven away points this season from 12 games. Only Wolves and Burnley have a worse away record, and Leeds have earned a lower proportion of their points on the road than any other side in the division.

Leeds turned Chelsea over at Elland Road in December but they are not the same force away from home and this game smells of Chelsea revenge to me.

The Blues have made a good start under new boss Liam Rosenior, with four wins out of four in the league. Cole Palmer has hit form too, and they should win this fairly comfortably.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Leeds at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Reece James is fit but has been unwell so it is hoped he will be available. Cole Palmer is also fit for selection, as is Andrey Santos, who went off with a swollen ankle in the win at Wolves.

• He explained there is a "really detailed plan" in place for Romeo Lavia, who has trained with the team over the last two days. Rosenior said: "We have to make sure that when he's back, he's back for good."

• Rosenior was asked about his side easing off in performance level as games go on: "My aim is we play a really high level in every minute of every game. We've had a few conversations about that in recent days."

• On making an impression on players as a new head coach: "I think it's my job. It's always nice when players speak well of you. Most of the time they just want to stay in the team, so I take it with a smile. All of them, they are playing with a real enthusiasm at the moment, enjoying their football. At the moment things are looking good but you have to continue. The signs are looking really, really good for what we want to achieve together."

• He was asked where he sees Josh Acheampong in terms of position: "Josh is an amazing talent. In a month I have met him and his parents - you can see why he's a great lad as he's been brought up the right way. He has immense potential. What I like to do with all of my defenders, especially at the age they are, is put them in different positions as it improves them. Long-term Josh is a centre-back. He has all the attributes to be an outstanding centre-back. My job is to help him, to develop him."

• On Chelsea being more fluid in their style and if that is a specific instruction of his: "When you're the level of player I get to work with here, the reason they are top and elite is because they make great decisions in the moment. Being fluid has positives in terms of being unpredictable. But if you do not have the right structure behind that you can become really open in transition. It's trying to find a balance. I felt against Wolves there were some really pleasing aspects in our rotations. In the second half we didn't stay true to our structure. That's one of the reasons why our performance wasn't as good in the second half."

• Rosenior warned Leeds were "magnificent" in their win over Nottingham Forest and direct in their play, adding: "We need to stand up to that and overcome that."

• The head coach says he has had to rotate players as a result of the long season after the summer's Club World Cup: "You have to try to freshen up the team mentally and physically."

• He was asked about player welfare given Chelsea's players won the Club World Cup, then faced a full season and then a World Cup: "I think so, if I'm being honest, these lads are fantastic professionals - they live for their job which is so important. You want the best product possible. We have to find a way where we can find the right balance between the two."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea should not have been awarded a penalty for handball in their 3-1 win at Crystal Palace last month, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has said.

With Chelsea leading 2-0, Palace defender Jaydee Canvot blocked Joao Pedro's goal-bound shot with his arm.

Referee Darren England allowed play to continue but was sent to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR), Matt Donohue.

England watched replays on the screen for almost two minutes, and BBC Sport understands he took a lot of persuading.

The five members of the KMI Panel unanimously voted that the original on-field decision was correct and it was a mistake for the VAR to intervene.

It can be a confusing area of law.

The Ifab expressly says that an arm stopping the ball from entering the goal should not automatically be a penalty. There has to be a handball offence.

Yet in its briefings, Uefa has told referees it always expects a spot-kick.

In the Premier League, officials are told to have some discretion over arm position.

The KMI Panel felt the VAR intervention was incorrect because Canvot "is not making his body unnaturally bigger" and that there was a "small deflection off the hip".

It added: "The VAR intervention and final outcome after the on-field review, which resulted in a penalty and yellow card for a non-deliberate handball offence that denied an obvious goal, was considered to be incorrect."

Yet on Saturday, Newcastle conceded a penalty against Brentford, given on-field by referee Andy Madley, for handball by Jacob Murphy.

It was very similar in nature. A shot on target, stopped by an arm quite close to the body.

However, the Brentford penalty is likely to be judged to be a correct decision.

The Murphy handball had no deflection on to the arm, he was facing the shot and appeared to move his arm into the path of the ball in a non-deliberate way.

You can understand why fans might struggle to see the difference.

Laura Kenyon
Final Score reporter at Molineux

Image source, Getty Images

As Chelsea heaped more misery on relegation favourites, Wolves, a milestone was marked for the new Chelsea boss.

Liam Rosenior has become just the second English manager in Premier League history to win their first four games in charge.

Seven wins from his first nine in all competitions looks good on paper. But what really impresses is the words of the players. An air of positivity suggesting full buy-in for the Rosenior philosophy.

"Liam is amazing, he gives us all confidence", were the words of hat-trick hero Cole Palmer. And Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was equally glowing about Rosenior's "energy".

You could see that energy when stood in his technical area at Molineux, soaked through, soggy notepad in hand, shouting instructions in the pouring rain.

While it is still early days - and Chelsea will face far tougher challenges than Wolves - there is no doubting Rosenior is a big personality making an impact, not just in west London, but in the Premier League full stop.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Wolves and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Tony: A dreadful performance. An inadequate display by all players. Wolves create their own problems by continually passing the ball back to their goalkeeper and then continually failing to get the ball into the opposition's half. All this achieves is losing the ball and then opponents take advantage of the Wolves team, who are running backwards and can't keep them at bay. Abysmal.

Col: Laughing stock of the Premier League. Can we just forfeit our remaining games? Sooner we are relegated the better.

Dan: Six years ago we were playing in Europe. What followed was a lack of investment and selling our best players - and the result is the owners sending the club back to the Championship. I don't blame all the managers that have come and gone - I blame their employers. What's the point of purchasing a football club if you have got no drive or ambition for success?

Wol: We lost the game in the first half with stupid defending. We started well but once we conceded it was just a matter of how many they would score. I left at half-time and missed the second half. Apparently we played better then, but it was too late. We have been terrible all season and I can't wait for it to end. Hopefully we won't be ripped off by the prices of season tickets for the Championship, but I doubt Fosun will think about the fans.

Chelsea fans

Nick: Hardly the most scintillating performance - apart from Cole Palmer's cool penalties and well-taken third goal - but it didn't need to be. Conditions were absolutely awful. Did enough in the first half to coast through the second. With two far more physical and testing games to come on Tuesday and Friday, this win at a canter was ideal.

Danny: We were expected to win, and we did. Seven victories out of nine games is good but I'm not getting carried away with this improvement in results. The players seem to be enjoying it more under Liam Rosenior, but the passing needs to be quicker and more accurate. Saturday's line-up, albeit without Reece James, was strong and had good balance. Onwards and upwards with more expansive front-foot football please. Certain players will be moved on in the summer - Liam Delap, Benoit Badiashile and Alejandro Garnacho.

Alan: It was a great game until the second half. After the break, we just seemed to lack any energy and motivation. Palmer is not yet match fit but was on fire. Another match when the defence was a disorganised mess - it really needs sorting out. Against a better team, we would have struggled to win with such an error-strewn defence.

Kevin: Palmer is the first Premier League player to score three first-half hat-tricks. Ice, Ice Baby. A great first half meant we didn't need to waste energy in the second. Four wins in four for Rosenior. KTBFFH.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

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