Head coach Enzo Maresca is set to return to the King Power Stadium on Saturday as his current team, Chelsea, faces off against his former club, Leicester City. This mid-season encounter holds significance for both sides.
Both teams enter the game in a slump, failing to secure wins in their last two outings. Chelsea drew 1-1 with both Manchester United and Arsenal in their recent matches but maintained their 3rd place position in the league. Leicester City, on the other hand, suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Manchester City and recorded a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town. They find themselves 16th in the standings with just 10 points from 12 fixtures.
Chelsea’s star, Cole Palmer, has been relatively quiet in the past few games but boasts a solid season with six goals and four assists. Together with Noni Madueke, the duo has created 17 chances, more than any other pair in the league this season.
Reece James is sidelined once again due to an injury and won’t be available for the Leicester trip. Additionally, right-back Malo Gusto is a doubt due to an ankle injury, while midfielder Romeo Lavia is contending with a hamstring problem. Jadon Sancho, who was recently out due to illness, is expected to return this week.
For Leicester, Wilfred Ndidi has impressed by maintaining control in the opposition’s box. He has delivered 4 assists from just nine created chances, partly thanks to exceptional finishes by his teammates.
Leicester City is also dealing with injuries to crucial international players. Abdul Fatawu remains out for the rest of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Jordan Ayew might miss this weekend’s game after sustaining an injury while playing for Ghana. On a positive note, Jamie Vardy could potentially make a comeback from his back injury.
Back-up goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk and right-back Ricardo Pereira are still recovering and expected to be absent. Additionally, Facundo Buonanotte will miss out due to suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season.
Chelsea Vs Leicester City Head-To-Head
The historical data heavily favors Chelsea, with the team winning 62 out of the 125 encounters between them. Leicester City has only managed 28 victories, while 35 of the matches have ended in a draw.
Notably, Leicester City enjoyed a period of success from 2018 to 2021 against Chelsea, securing six consecutive wins. However, they have since struggled, losing four of their last five matches in the EPL against Chelsea.
Chelsea has been formidable in away games against Leicester City, losing just one of their last seven Premier League encounters. They have netted six goals in their last two away matches.
Leicester City has had difficulty against top-tier teams recently, failing to win any of their last 13 games against teams starting in the top four of the table. During this period, they have conceded 35 goals, averaging 2.7 per game. Their last win against a top-seeded team was in 2021, when they defeated Liverpool 1-0.
Chelsea also triumphed over Leicester City outside the Premier League, with a 4-2 victory in the FA Cup last season.
Chelsea Vs Leicester City Prediction
Chelsea is expected to be the dominant side in their upcoming game against a beleaguered Leicester squad. Nevertheless, Chelsea’s recent performance issues may worry their supporters. Leicester City’s injury troubles could, however, work in Chelsea’s favor. Given their formidable attack, we anticipate Chelsea will net several goals, whereas Leicester may struggle to score.
