Enzo Maresca returns to the King Power Stadium for the first time since his Chelsea departure on Saturday when his new-look Blues take on Leicester City in the Premier League.
The Italian guided the Foxes to promotion back to the top flight last season but jumped ship in the summer after Chelsea came calling. Maresca’s successor, Steve Cooper, will want to make sure it’s an unhappy return for his opposite number.
Chelsea sit third in the Premier League table when club football returns after the international break in November. The Blues have impressed this season after a shaky start but have won just one of their last five league games.
Leicester are fighting tooth and nail at the other end of the table but have shown glimpses of their potential under Cooper. Back-to-back wins either side of the October international saw them climb the table and they are currently three points above the relegation zone.
here it is 90 minutes guide to Leicester vs Chelsea.
Leicester vs Chelsea head-to-head record (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Leicester |
Chelsea |
|---|---|
|
Man Utd 3-0 Leicester – 11/10/24 |
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal – 11/10/24 |
|
Ipswich 1-1 Leicester – 02/11/24 |
Chelsea 8-0 Noah – 07/11/24 |
|
Man Utd 5-2 Leicester – 30/10/24 |
Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea – 03/11/24 |
|
Leicester 1-3 Nottingham Forest – 25/10/24 |
Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea – 30/10/24 |
|
Southampton 2-3 Leicester – 19/10/24 |
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle – 27/10/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Application TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, discovery+ |
|
united states |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
|
canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
Leicester have struggled with injuries during the international period and the disappointing news for Cooper is that Abdul Fatawu is sidelined with an ACL injury. The rest of the campaign will be lost.
Jordan Ayew is in contention at the weekend after suffering an injury for Ghana, while Jamie Vardy, who missed the Defeat by 3-0 against Manchester United last time, he could come back from a back injury.
Bobby Decordova-Reid is being monitored ahead of the weekend and could return from an “uncomfortable” injury. Striker Patson Daka could make his first appearance of the season as he nears his return.
Back-up goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk and right-back Ricardo Pereira remain sidelined and Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Facundo Buonanotte is suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season before the international break.
Leicester’s predicted line-up against Chelsea (4-3-3): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Soumare, Ndidi, Wink Peaks; McAteer, Vardy, Mavididi.
There are a number of former Leicester players in Chelsea’s squad, although the out-of-favour Ben Chilwell will not feature on Saturday. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall left the King Power in the summer and is likely to be on the bench this weekend, while centre-back Wesley Fofana is a doubt with a knee injury picked up before the international break.
Maresca has revealed Reece James has suffered another injury and at the very least he will be missing for the trip to Leicester. Fellow right-back Malo Gusto is also a doubt with an ankle injury and midfielder Romeo Lavia could miss out with a hamstring problem.
Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill withdrew from the England squad during the international period but should feature in the East Midlands. Filip Jorgensen is unlikely to start on Saturday but is a slight doubt after withdrawing from the Denmark Under-21 squad.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez played early Wednesday morning for Ecuador and Argentina, making them doubtful to start on Saturday.
In better news, Jadon Sancho should be fit to feature after missing recent games through illness.
Chelsea predicted line-up against Leicester (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gust, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Net; Jackson.
It remains to be seen what kind of reception Maresca will give him on his return to the King Power, but he won’t mind too much as long as his Chelsea side can get back to winning ways in the Premier League. That’s exactly what they should do against a Leicester side plagued by injuries and suspensions, especially in the final third.
Chelsea have the attacking firepower to unlock a stubborn and deep defensive lock, while Leicester’s lack of creativity in the final third could be a stumbling block.
These are not the sort of games that will define the Foxes’ season and their performance at Old Trafford before the international break inspires little confidence in a shock result.
