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Leicester City vs Chelsea 01/02/2020 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Leicester City vs Chelsea

Date: 01/02/2020

K/O: 12:30

Venue: King Power Stadium

Referee: Lee Mason

TV: BT Sport 1

Leicester City and Chelsea go head to head in the game of the week in a lunchtime clash that may just prove to be the decisive game in the battle for the final two Champions League places.

With both teams seeming to stutter during and after the harsh winter schedule, and recent heartbreak for the Foxes as they were denied a place in the Carabao Cup final, this third versus fourth game will be a defining moment in this years’ league campaign. A win here would be a huge coup for either side, a chance to regain the strong form that took them this far up the table in the first place, and a large step towards lucrative European football next year – and it is impossible to say who will snatch it.

In danger?

Prior to Christmas, both Chelsea and especially Leicester (who were in second), found themselves in great form and in excellent standing in the table – safe and clear from competitors in their Champions League places. Whilst Leicester, despite losing second to Manchester City (who are only three points ahead), still have a 14-point gap over fifth-placed Manchester United, Chelsea are only six points away from the same opponents.

If the Blues were to lose a single game and United were to win one, this gap would be reduced to a paltry three points. Any further losses for Leicester would not have as such serious consequences but would certainly mark a continuation of a slide for the Foxes and may have knock-on effects that could see this gap slowly disappear.

The stakes are undeniably high and, as we get closer and closer to the ‘final run-in’, points in themselves become more and more valuable as teams run out of opportunities to actually gain them. The worst thing Leicester and Chelsea could go through now is to go into this last stretch desperately needing points to keep the places they’ve worked hard, and were never expected, to be in.

With Rodgers and Lampard more than aware of these valuables, expect a fiery, all-out game when third and fourth place clash.

A draw in the reverse fixture – but not here?

A draw between these two teams seems unlikely. While the reverse fixture (1-1) might suggest exactly the opposite, this situation for both teams has changed dramatically. Their past draw was played out by two young teams who were only one game into their season, and still working out how to play to their style.

There were flashes of fluidity, Chelsea’s goal and Leicester’s second half, but neither side had found their proper defensive or offensive footing yet. Twenty-two games later, it is a different story. The Blues and Foxes have gone through runs of bad and good form, through frustration and ecstasy, emphatic victories and humiliating defeats. This game is likely to be vastly different from the one we saw at Stamford Bridge, in its result and in its events.

While both teams have grown since they last played, they’ve not done a huge amount of drawing. Leicester have drawn only three games all season, and Chelsea four, with one of these of course coming in the game they played against each other. Only Burnley (3), Manchester City (3), and Liverpool (1) have similar or lower numbers. This suggests that both teams are likely either to play well enough to get all three points or falter to a loss, as splitting the share is not in their nature.

As to who will take them all? Right now, it is anybody’s guess. Chelsea have managed just two wins in their last five to Leicester’s three, but the Foxes have lost two to Chelsea’s one – in all, they’re in mixed form. Leicester’s defeat in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final could hamper their spirits, or drive them to victory back at home, but Lampard’s side may come out firing having had more rest and without a victory in their last two. Don’t count either of them out.

The Stats.

Leicester are unbeaten in their last four league games against Chelsea (W1 D3), but Chelsea have won five of their last seven away matches against Leicester – losing only to the Foxes in their title-winning season. No team has won more away matches than Chelsea at the King Power Stadium.

Neither team has won at home when playing each other in their last six meetings – the last time a team did so was Chelsea’s 3-0 victory in their own title-winning season in 2016/17.

Brendan Rodgers has never beaten Chelsea in his managerial career, despite having thirteen attempts at doing so already (losing six of these).

Team News

Jamie Vardy could return to the starting line-up after a quick recovery from a glute strain, but Wes Morgan is unlikely to feature after a groin injury. Daniel Amartey and Nampalys Mendy will also remain sidelined.

As well as Chelsea’s longer-term injuries to Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham could also miss out. Reece James, however, is likely to be fit to start.

Predicted Starting XIs

Leicester City (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Ricardo Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi; Perez, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy

Chelsea (4-3-3): Kepa; James, Christensen, Rudiger, Azpilicueta; Kanté, Jorginho, Kovacic; Hudson-Odoi, Abraham, Willian

Score Prediction: Leicester City 2-1 Chelsea

Back at home, where they won 4-1 last time out, Leicester will be hot with desire to fight back from their mid-week loss and should come flying out to score an early goal. Chelsea will have the chance to reply before half time, but the Foxes’ home advantage will see them heap pressure on Chelsea in the second half and take the win.

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