Date: Saturday 22nd December 2018
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
This afternoon’s game in the run up to Christmas sees us take on Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea come into the game off the back of wins in the league and cup, setting up a Carabao cup semi-final with Spurs after a hard-fought win against Bournemouth midweek. It’s certainly not plain sailing for us though, with eight points dropped in the last six league games, leaving us fourth in the league and eight points off the current leaders.
Our games follow an almost predictable pattern now of plenty of possession resulting in little more than a bit of puffing and blowing, making every game seem such an effort without really putting enough effort in to start with.
Leicester come into the game with back-to-back defeats behind them although it hasn’t always been like that for them this season, with Puel steering them to a decent unbeaten run before their recent defeats in the league and cup.
Alvaro Morata is back in training although I suspect Sarri might opt for the false nine again, which probably means a tough day for Hazard’s ankles given Leicester have already had four red cards in the Premier League this season.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri says “I’ve never seen Chelsea like a contender for the title. I always said that at the moment there are two teams a step ahead of us.”
Leicester manager Claude Puel meanwhile, says “I think with our mentality – we showed this mentality [in the midweek defeat] against Manchester City – we can make a strong game, a good performance and I hope a good result.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Andreas Christensen (hamstring) is out and Alvaro Morata is back in training although unlikely to start.
For Leicester, Wilfred Ndidi (knee) is a doubt but Jamie Vardy (groin) and Ben Chilwell (knee) are both expected to be back.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Giroud, Hazard
LEICESTER (Possible line-up): Schmeichel; Pereira, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs; Mendy, Ndidi; Gray, Maddison, Ghezzal, Vardy
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 0-0 Leicester (18th January 2018)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: DLWLWW
LEICESTER: DDWDLL
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Leicester in all competitions.
- Leicester’s last win at Stamford Bridge was in 2000.
- Chelsea have won three of their last four Premier League matches.
- Chelsea are unbeaten at home in the league this season.
- Leicester have lost their last two Premier League matches.
- Exactly half of Leicester’s 22 points this season have been earned away from home.
- Leicester are without a win in their last 10 Premier League visits to London.
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-0 Leicester
Sky Sports: Chelsea 3-0 Leicester
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Leicester