Prediction: Chelsea vs Leicester City

Prediction: Chelsea to win to nil

Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Bet365

Chelsea will look to cut the gap to top-of-the-table Liverpool on Saturday afternoon as they take on Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.

Mauricio Sarri’s troops currently sit fourth in the Premier League standings, already eight points behind the Reds so a victory this weekend is imperative. Elsewhere, Claude Puel’s have gone right off the boil in recent weeks and have fallen into the bottom half of the table. The pressure is building on the Frenchman at the King Power Stadium so three points in West London could go a long way in silencing the doubters.

Chelsea

Despite having suffered consecutive away losses in the Premier League recently, the Blues have bounced back from that adversity in the perfect way. The 2016/17 champions are undefeated in their last four games in all competitions. Whilst that is not particularly impressive in isolation, they have managed to secure their inclusion to the knockout rounds of the UEFA Europa League, progressed to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and notched back-to-back Premier League wins over Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion.

It was that victory over the previously undefeated Citizens that was particularly eye-catching. Goals from N’Golo Kante and David Luiz secured a relatively comfortable win. That victory also ensured that they continued their impressive unbeaten start on home soil. Only Liverpool and Manchester City are the only other unbeaten teams at home in the Premier League. As a matter of fact, only that duo, plus Tottenham Hotspur, can claim to better the Blues’ excellent defensive record on home soil. Chelsea have only conceded seven goals in nine games at Stamford Bridge. It would be fair to say then, should they continue this against Leicester, that would give them an excellent platform to pick up maximum points.

Team News

Striker Alvaro Morata has been ruled out for the game with a knee injury and is not expected to return until Boxing Day. Olivier Giroud could be drafted into the team in place of the Spaniard. Elsewhere, Victor Moses and Marco van Ginkel are both still restricted to the sidelines with long-term knocks.

Leicester City

In comparison to Chelsea, the Foxes have had to endure a difficult week. They were made to suffer a poor 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last weekend, and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup against Manchester City on Tuesday evening, albeit via a penalty shootout. That means that the East-Midlanders have suffered three consecutive defeats in all competitions. They have not had four back-to-back losses in all competitions since January 2015. As a matter of fact, they have only won two out of their last ten Premier League games.

The Foxes have also not found the net in either of their last two league games. It’s fair to say that their poor form lies at the door of their prolificacy in front of goal. Within those ten games, they have scored at a rate of only 0.8 goals per game, something that will surely need to improve as they head to Stamford Bridge. As a matter of fact, they have only scored more than two goals on two occasions away from home so far throughout the 2018/19 campaign.

Team News

Puel could welcome back star striker Jamie Vardy after he was rested against Manchester City on Tuesday. However, long-term injury absentees Matty James and Daniel Amartey remain ruled out.

Key Facts To Consider

• Chelsea have the far better record between the two teams (W56, D31, L25)
• The last match between the two ended 2-1 to Chelsea
• The Foxes have not won at Stamford Bridge since a 2-0 victory back in September 2000
• Leicester have only scored two goals in their last five games against Chelsea
• Claude Puel has never won against Chelsea as a manager

Conclusion

All the signs really are pointing to a comfortable Chelsea victory, and that should be exactly what happens on the day at Stamford Bridge. Leicester will not threaten the Blues enough and as a result, the hosts’ talented attack should be too much to handle. It will be a relatively straight-forward afternoon for Sarri’s men.

Prediction: Chelsea to win to nil

Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Bet365