Premier League: Chelsea Enter the Foxes’ Lair

Leicester City vs Chelsea

Leicester City and Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday in a replay of the 2021 FA Cup final when the Foxes stunned Thomas Tuchel’s European Champions with a 1-0 victory.

Brendan Rodgers’ team are yet to find the form that beat Chelsea to win the cup and are sitting in mid table after an inconsistent start to the campaign. Meanwhile, the latest Premier League 2021 betting odds place Tuchel’s side as clear second favourites to win the league, behind Manchester City, though they currently sit at the top of the table, three points ahead of the Sky Blues.

Chelsea will hope to extend their unbeaten run to eight games while Leicester are hoping for a second home win of the season.

Talking Points

Barnes can lift Leicester

Brendan Rodgers has led the Foxes to consecutive fifth placed finishes, though in both the last two seasons they occupied a top four place for much of the campaign. But they have struggled for consistency this term and are currently in 12th position with 15 points.

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All too often the Foxes have been unable to turn draws into wins and, just before the international break, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United. Brazil start Raphinha put the Whites ahead but a superb curling effort from Harvey Barnes levelled for the Foxes, and they thought they’d won it but Ademola Lookman’s late strike was ruled out by VAR.

Barnes has been one of Leicester’s most consistent performers over the past couple of seasons, and he could be the man to spark an upturn in form at the King Power with his pace on the wing and incisive passing and shooting. Meanwhile, the evergreen Jamie Vardy has seven goals and is second place, behind Mo Salah, in the race for the Golden Boot.

Chelsea wing-backs can cause havoc in the Foxes’ defence

The Foxes defence has been suspect this season and they could come under attack from Chelsea’s full backs. With four goals to his name, Reece James is the Blues’ unlikely top scorer and his wing-back partner Ben Chilwell has three goals. James also has three assists in the Premier League and the 21 year old England star is currently Chelsea’s joint top scorer in all competitions. “I’d say at this moment in time, this is probably the best I’ve performed,” says James, “and recent results and performances have probably shown that as well.

Chelsea injury boost as Romelu Lukaku returns to training ahead of their Premier League clash with Leicester — Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is back in training and could play a part against Leicester

“Our team’s performing well and we’re creating a lot of chances, so that’s obviously helping and we’ve got great players around us.”

With the likes of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic in the ranks this is indeed a highly talented team, but the Blues’ biggest threat against Leicester is likely to come from the flanks. No side in the Premier League have scored more headed goals than Chelsea this season, while no side have conceded more via headers than Leicester. James put in a peach of a cross for Havertz to head home against Burnley last time out and that kind of delivery will cut open any defence.

Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Matteo Kovacic have all been sidelined in recent weeks but they are back in contention. Lukaku has been suffering from an ankle injury but he’s been spotted at the club’s training ground and, if the Belgian striker plays, he’ll fancy getting on the end of a cross from one of his wing-backs.

Chelsea’s Premier League 2021 results have been superbly consistent, but a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley sent the Blues into the international break scratching their heads. A game against Sean Dyche’s Clarets is rarely a straight-forward affair, but Chelsea had ample opportunity to win the game, and now they’ll be keen to keep the distance between them and Manchester City to three points by beating Leicester.

History

As the longer established top flight club, Chelsea have had the better of the head to head results in the Premier League era, winning 20 of 36 encounters while the Foxes have won seven and drawn nine.

But as well as beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final, thanks to a spectacular Youri Tielemans goal, the Foxes also triumphed when the two sides met at the KingPower Stadium last season. Strikes from Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison gave Brendan Rodgers’ side a 2-0 win which took them to the top of the table.

Recent form favours Chelsea who won five on the bounce, before drawing with Burnley, while Leicester are without a win in three in all competitions.

Betting Tip

	Leicester City vs Chelsea	Leicester City or Draw @ 1.91
	November 20, 20:30 (GMT+8)

At SBOTOP odds of 4.17 to win, Foxes fans might be tempted to back their team, while Chelsea are at 1.76 and the draw is at a price of 3.44. Tuchel’s Blues are a brilliant side but there is more to come from Leicester and, though short of wins, the Foxes have been tough to beat, only losing to high flying Arsenal in their last six league games.