2019-20 Premier League: Week Two – Chelsea vs Leicester City

Frank Lampard makes his home bow as Chelsea manager as the Blues take on Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in the second Super Sunday fixture. 

A win will lift Chelsea out of the relegation zone whilst Leicester could climb into the top seven if they take the win.

 

Team news

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Chelsea could have Willian and Antonio Rudiger available as the pair continue to regain match fitness after respective hamstring and knee injuries. 

Andreas Christensen however is a doubt after picking up a knock in midweek, therefore potentially giving Fikayo Tomori his second Chelsea start. 

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both remain sidelined with their ruptured Achilles injuries, as Reece James (ankle) and Marco van Ginkel (knee) continue to join them on the sidelines. 

Leicester have no injury concerns to report with a full squad available as James Justin and Dennis Praet continue to wait for their debut appearances, after failing to come off the bench last weekend. 

 

Form

Chelsea enter this match off the back of a 4-0 defeat in their league opener at Manchester United, before losing on penalties to Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup in midweek after a 2-2 draw. 

Leicester meanwhile drew a blank in their goalless opening draw against Wolves, despite registering 16 shots of which just one was on target. 

 

Stat Attack

• Chelsea have avoided defeat in eight of their last nine meetings across all competitions with Leicester (W5, D3, L1).
• In three Premier League meetings between these teams in August, Chelsea have won their two home clashes by a combined 4-1 aggregate with two goals in both fixtures, after drawing their first such clash 2-2 at Leicester’s old Filbert Street ground in 1999. 
• Each of Chelsea’s last three permanent managers have won their opening home games, with a combined 7-3 goal aggregate. 
• Chelsea have taken ten points from across their first home games in last five seasons (W3, D1, L1). 
• Leicester have won just one of their last five opening away games to a new season (W1, L4)

 

Prediction

This is a huge test for Chelsea because their attacking play has been fantastic but defensively, their marking needs to improve otherwise Leicester will punish them on the counter with their pace.

I can therefore see a fast paced encounter here but Chelsea should win this if they’re clinical enough with their chances, which hasn’t been the case on many occasions in their last two outings.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Leicester City

Result: Chelsea 1-1 Leicester City