Team
news, stats and prediction ahead of Chelsea vs Leicester in the Premier
League on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 8.15pm).
Team news
Mateo Kovacic and Andreas Christensen could return when Chelsea host
Leicester in Tuesday's Premier League match at Stamford Bridge.
Kovacic has been out of action with a hamstring problem and just failed in
his bid to be fit for Saturday's FA Cup final, where Leicester defeated
Chelsea 1-0.
Christensen has been dealing with a leg tendon issue but could strengthen
the Blues' options in defence.
Leicester will be without defender Jonny Evans.
The Northern Ireland international limped off during the first half of
Saturday's final with an ongoing heel problem.
Cengiz Under (hip) is a major doubt while James Justin and Harvey Barnes
(both knee) remain sidelined.
Jones Knows' prediction
Factoring in emotion and the afterparty factor is hard to quantify when
trying to make sound betting decisions - unfortunately Opta don't produce
'expected hangover' data.
But surely we can assume that Leicester will be physically and mentally more
drained than their opponents for what is shaping up to be one of the most
important matches of the season. It's no surprise to see that Chelsea have
been well backed at 4/6 with Sky Bet despite losing both meetings with the
Foxes without scoring this season.
I think Chelsea will sneak this one but they won't be carrying my money,
mostly due to Timo Werner continuing to convince he's not a striker to rely
on in the big moments in front of goal. His team-mates have created chances
amassing to an expected goal figure of 10.65 this season yet he has only
bagged six Premier League goals in 33 appearances, missing 18 big chances
along the way. That works out at 0.67 big chances spurned every 90 minutes.
That simply isn't good enough for a title-chasing side.
He is taking up a big chunk of the first goalscorer market which does open
up the possibility of squeezing some value out of his team-mates. I've come
down on the chances of Mason Mount bagging the first goal at 7/1 with Sky
Bet. Since Thomas Tuchel took charge, Mount is averaging almost three shots
a match and has found the net six times. At the weekend he amassed an
expected goals number of 0.36 from his three shots and almost bagged the
equaliser when denied by Kasper Schmeichel late on. He's Chelsea's most
important attacking player under Tuchel and 7/1 is overpriced.
JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 2-0
Opta stats
Chelsea are winless in their last six Premier League meetings with Leicester
(D4 L2), having won nine of their previous 11 against them in the
competition (D1 L1).
Leicester are looking to complete their first league double over Chelsea
since the 2000-01 campaign.
Leicester have won just two of their last 29 away league games against
Chelsea (D11 L16), winning 1-0 in December 2018 and 2-0 in September 2000.
Between them, Manchester United (13), Chelsea (5) and Manchester City (5)
have won 79% of the Premier League titles (23/29). Leicester have already
won at both Manchester clubs this season and could be just the second team
to win away at all three in a single Premier League campaign after Liverpool
in 2008-09.
Chelsea have won just two of their seven midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday) Premier League games this season (D2 L3), failing to score in four
of those games.
Chelsea haven't lost their final home league game in any of the last 18
seasons (W12 D6), since losing 3-1 against Aston Villa in the 2001-02
campaign.
Leicester haven't won their final away league game in any of the last six
seasons (D2 L4), losing each of the last four in a row.
Chelsea have conceded the first goal in their last two Premier League games,
coming back to beat Man City before losing to Arsenal. The Blues had only
conceded first in one of their first 15 league games under Thomas Tuchel (a
1-1 draw with Southampton).
Victory for Leicester would ensure a top four finish for the Foxes for just
the second time in the Premier League, after their 2015-16 title win.
Brendan Rodgers would be just the second British manager to finish in the
top four of the Premier League with two different clubs (also Liverpool),
after Kenny Dalglish (Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United).
Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho has scored a Premier League goal on six
different days of the week, with Tuesday the only day on which he's failed
so far. If he scores in this game, he'll be the first player in Premier
League history to score on all seven days of the week within a single
season.
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