Team
news, stats and prediction ahead of Chelsea vs Leicester in the Premier
League.
Team news
Chelsea will assess defender Andreas Christensen, who limped off during the
midweek Super Cup defeat by Liverpool, ahead of the Super Sunday clash with
Leicester.
However, Antonio Rudiger and Willian could both return after knee injuries
but Callum Hudson-Odoi is still out with an Achilles problem and Reece James
remains on the sidelines with an ankle problem.
Leicester defender Filip Benkovic is still sidelined with an ankle problem
but Brendan Rodgers' side travel to Stamford Bridge with no new injury
concerns.
Midfielder Dennis Praet could make his debut following his summer move from
Sampdoria.
Opta stats
Chelsea's 0-1 home defeat to Leicester in the Premier League last season was
only their second against the Foxes in 13 meetings in the competition (W7 D4
L2) and their first since September 2000.
Leicester are looking to win consecutive away league matches against Chelsea
for the first time since October 1961.
Only one of the last 86 shots in Premier League games between Chelsea and
Leicester has been converted - the one converted was scored by Leicester's
Jamie Vardy in a 1-0 win in December 2018.
Chelsea have won their opening home league match of the season in 14 of the
last 16 seasons (W14 D1 L1), with their only defeat coming as reigning
champions in 2017-18 against Burnley.
Chelsea haven't lost their first two games at the start of a top-flight
season since the 1973-74 campaign, when they finished 17th under Dave
Sexton.
This will be Leicester's 500th Premier League game, the 16th different team
to reach the milestone. Of the previous 15, only five have won their 500th
game - Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham, Newcastle and most recently Manchester
City (6-1 v Burnley in April 2010).
Since the start of 2014-15, Leicester forward Jamie Vardy has scored 12 away
Premier League goals against the 'big six' - three more than any other
player.
Following a 0-4 defeat against Man Utd in his first game, Frank Lampard is
looking to avoid becoming only the second Chelsea manager to lose his first
two Premier League games in charge, after Gianluca Vialli. Indeed, Vialli
(Feb 1998) and Glenn Hoddle (Aug 1993) are the only Chelsea bosses to lose
their first home Premier League match (excluding caretakers).
Charlie's prediction
I see pain and suffering for Chelsea. Frank Lampard is playing youth team
players at Old Trafford because he is left with no other scenario, but his
anger at not being able to drag people off the treatment room is a
reflection of where Chelsea are but also where Leicester are.
Brendan Rodgers will play pass and move, pass and move, but this is
different, this is Leicester. He has lost Harry Maguire, which was a great
deal for Leicester. Is he going to change from what we saw at the latter end
of last season? Yes he will, but it will take time.
Ross Barkley will struggle here, because Leicester keep the ball well and
move it, so he will see less of the ball to make things happen. It has been
a change of circumstances at Leicester and massively so at Chelsea. This
weekend is about Lampard getting his team over the line. It is going to be a
rollercoaster ride of a season and they will not make the top four.
I am going to go for a surprise score in this one. This is not a negative
throw towards Lampard, I wish him well. This team will just take time to
truly understand what they are, and they will be more exposed at home than
away from home in my opinion.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-2 (14/1 with Sky Bet)
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