Leicester vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Chelsea have a great chance of getting back to winning ways in the Premier League against a Leicester outfit who looked low on confidence prior to the international break.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 23rd November, 2024: UK – 12:30pm / US ET – 7:30am / US PT – 4:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sport / US – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Fubo
Leicester Preview: Drop-off in form
Although they are three points clear of the relegation zone heading into this round of fixtures, Steve Cooper will be a little concerned by a recent drop-off in performances with the Foxes having failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions.
Three of those have come in the Premier League, the most recent of which was a 3-0 defeat to Man Utd which marked the first time Cooper's men had failed to find the net in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea Preview: Wins have dried up a little
Chelsea may sit third in the Premier League table - arguably higher than many onlookers would have predicted at this stage - but they have won just one of their last five league games so Enzo Maresca will be eager for them to get back to winning ways here against one of the promoted sides.
Goals certainly haven't been an issue for the Blues having scored in their last ten Premier League encounters, but Maresca will want to see some improvement at the back given that his side haven't kept a clean sheet in their last six league games.
Leicester Team News: Fatawu out for the season, Buananotte suspended
Jamie Vardy has been taking part in modified training due to a back injury and could be risked, but Cooper could play it safe and opt for Odsonne Edouard down the middle, or even fit-again Patson Daka.
Facundo Buonanotte is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards, while Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan Ayew are carrying minor knocks and could be involved. Issahaku Fatawu, though, is out for the season with a serious ACL injury.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Soumare, Winks, Ndidi; Ayew, Edouard, Mavididi
Unavailable: Stolarczyk (Injured), Pereira (Injured), Buonanotte (Suspended), Fatawu (Injured)
Questionable: De Cordova-Reid (Injured), Ayew (Injured), Vardy (Injured)
Chelsea Team News: James out again
Reece James has been ruled out of this fixture with what Maresca hopes is a minor muscular issue, while youngster Omari Kellyman is targeting a return from a hamstring injury within the next month.
A slew of Blue personnel were withdrawn from international duty, but with several of them pictured in training this week and no specific updates provided in the press conference, it seems likely that they will all be available.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Unavailable: James (Injured), Kellyman (Injured)
Questionable: Jorgensen (Injured), Colwill (Injured), Fofana (Injured), Gusto (Injured), Lavia (Injured), Palmer (Injured), Sancho (Injured)
Leicester vs Chelsea Prediction
You have to fear for Leicester here, with the Foxes looking a little disjointed before the international break, especially in defence where they have conceded 12 goals in their last four games across all competitions.
With some key players set to miss out for the hosts, Chelsea will sense that they are there for the taking. The Blues have scored at least four goals on six separate occasions this season (all competitions), so they can be backed with confidence.
Leicester vs Chelsea Tip: Chelsea to win & over 2.5 goals
