Match Preview: Leicester v Chelsea

Conrad Leach

Leicester v Chelsea: probable starters in bold, contenders in light

Since Leicester won the title in 2016, they have found Chelsea a difficult nut to crack, losing to them seven times in 14 games across all three domestic competitions. But the momentum shifted a little last season, with Brendan Rodgers’ side winning at home in the league and then in the FA Cup final. This season, however, the clubs’ paths have diverged, with Chelsea on top of the pile and aiming for a six-point lead over Manchester City, for a little while at least, if they win this early kick-off. Leicester might seem marooned in 12th, but a win could take them above Manchester United and into sixth after everything shakes out. Leicester are without their Cup final hero, Youri Tielemans, because of injury, which could hurt them more than Chelsea suffer from the absence of Romelu Lukaku, who Thomas Tuchel said is close to a return but will not be fit for this game.

Saturday 12.30pm BT Sport 1

Venue King Power Stadium

Last season Leicester 2 Chelsea 0

Referee Paul Tierney

This season G8 Y31 R0 3.875 cards/game

Odds H 4-1 A 9-11 D 37-13

LEICESTER

Subs from Ward, Thomas, Dewsbury-Hall, Choudhury, Daka, Vestergaard, Pérez, Iheanacho, Amartey, Bertrand, Albrighton

Doubtful Bertrand (knee)

Injured Tielemans (calf, Dec), Fofana (ankle, Jan), Justin (knee, unknown)

Suspended None

Discipline Y14 R1

Form DDWWLD

Leading scorer Vardy 7

CHELSEA

Subs from Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Sarr, Baker, Saúl, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Vale, Barkley, Christensen, Ziyech, Werner, Alonso

Doubtful Mount (wisdom tooth), Werner (hamstring)

Injured Lukaku (ankle, 23 Nov), Kovacic (hamstring, unkown)

Suspended None

Discipline Y12 R1

Form LWWWWD

Leading scorer James 4