Wilfred
Ndidi is in line to make his Premier League debut when champions Leicester
host leaders Chelsea on Saturday evening.
The midfielder started for the Foxes in the FA Cup win over Everton last
weekend, just days after completing his move from Genk.
He is now set to feature in the league for the first time, with Foxes
manager Claudio Ranieri saying: “I’m sure he’ll get better because the more
he plays, the more he will understand the team.”
Leicester’s victory at Goodison Park was their first domestic win away from
home this season.
They start the weekend 15th in the table, 28 points behind Chelsea, who will
be looking to bounce back from their defeat at Tottenham last time out.
The Blues were looking to set a new record of 14 straight league wins, but
lost 2-0 at White Hart Lane.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who won the Premier League Manager of the Month
award for December, told the club website: "It’s a big game. We started
January with a loss against Tottenham, which was a pity because I think the
game was well balanced.
"But now we have a tough game at Leicester and it’s important to restart a
good run in the Premier League, we must play with great concentration."
Team news
While Ndidi is set to make his league debut for Leicester, Leonardo Ulloa is
out with a muscular problem.
Andy King and Jamie Vardy are available after training this week, but Riyad
Mahrez, Islam Slimani and Daniel Amartey are at the Africa Cup of Nations.
John Terry is suspended and Conte has some undisclosed injury doubts for the
trip to the King Power Stadium.
Terry was unsuccessful in an appeal over his dismissal against Peterborough
in the FA Cup and his place on the substitutes' bench could go to Nathan
Ake, who has been recalled from his loan at Bournemouth.
Conte made nine changes for the FA Cup win over Posh and is likely to revert
to his first-choice line up, fitness depending.
Opta stats
Leicester have won just one of their last nine Premier League games against
Chelsea, though it came in this exact fixture last season (D1 L7).
Indeed, Chelsea have won three of their last four visits in the Premier
League to Leicester (L1), with two of those wins masterminded by Ranieri in
2002 and 2004.
Despite winning the league last season, Claudio Ranieri’s Premier League win
percentage was better at Chelsea (52 per cent) than it currently is at
Leicester City (48 per cent).
Diego Costa has scored in two of his three Premier League games against the
Foxes, though both goals have been at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have the best points differential from this season to last after 20
games (+26), while Leicester City have the worst (-19).
Conte’s side have made the fewest changes to their starting line-up overall
this season (19), although 10 of these have come in the last five matches.
Chelsea won more Premier League games in December (six) than Leicester City
have done all season (five).
Paul Merson's prediction
This is a huge match. Leicester are missing some players at the Africa Cup
of Nations and this is a big one for Chelsea after losing to Tottenham.
They play Hull next week before two difficult games against Liverpool and
Arsenal. If they don’t win this game then you start wondering whether the
wheels might fall off.
I expect Chelsea to have just a little bit too much and I don’t see how Wes
Morgan and Robert Huth will be able to cope with Diego Costa. I think it
will be difficult but Chelsea to win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
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