Team
news, stats and prediction ahead of Leicester vs Chelsea in the Premier
League on Saturday; kick-off 12.30pm.
Team news
Youri Tielemans will miss Leicester's clash with Chelsea due to a calf
issue.
The injury picked up before the international break means the Belgian
midfielder will miss his first Premier League game since December 2019.
James Justin and Wesley Fofana are also injured but Marc Albrighton is fit
again.
Romelu Lukaku will miss out for Chelsea as the Belgium striker continues to
battle an ankle problem.
Mateo Kovacic is also sidelined with a hamstring injury, but Timo Werner
could be back in action after his own hamstring issues.
Marcos Alonso is fit after an ankle concern, with Mason Mount back in
training after wisdom tooth surgery.
Christian Pulisic has returned unscathed from international duty and is in
line for just his third Premier League appearance of an injury-hit campaign.
Jones Knows prediction
Thomas Tuchel has built, officially what is the best defence in the Premier
League, conceding just four goals (just one from open play). Only two teams
have conceded fewer after opening 11 games of top flight season. However,
I'd be stunned if Chelsea maintain these types of numbers over the next few
weeks. When looking at the expected goals against data, Chelsea are offering
up good chances and shooting opportunities to the opposition.
In fact, Chelsea have the biggest difference between goals conceded (4) and
expected goals against (11.79) in the Premier League after the opening eight
games - at 7.79. It's a huge overperformance.
This is an angle I've spoken about in the last few weeks but Chelsea's
previous opposition, in Norwich and Burnley, haven't been strong enough in
forward areas to tempt me in to getting involved on the prices surrounding
goals going in Chelsea's net.
Now is the time though to back for goals and for an exciting match as
Leicester carry a genuine top-six ranked threat in the final third but a
defence that is one of the leakiest in the Premier League this season.
Since Brendan Rodgers took charge in 2019, only Liverpool, Manchester City,
Manchester United and Chelsea have scored more goals than Leicester. And
their average of 3.11 total goals in their matches over the past two
seasons, is the second highest average - behind Manchester United - of any
team in the Premier League.
The market is expecting a cagey, tactical affair but with chances of goals
at either end, this is a match that could catch fire. That also then opens
up the avenue for backing the match total shots market where the line is set
at 25 or more shots at Evens. If you take out the possibility of this game
catching fire and going shots crazy, the hard averages from both teams'
shots data this season make that line appealing anyway. Chelsea's games are
averaging just over 24 shots per 90 minutes and Leicester's just over 26. I
think the 25 or more will breeze home. And the higher lines of 31+ at 5/1
with Sky Bet and even 34+ at 16/1 should not be ruled out.
The play therefore is to combine goals and shots in a special offered by Sky
Bet involving over 2.5 goals, both teams to score and the match to produce
27 or more shots.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2
BETTING ANGLE: Back over 2.5 goals, BTTS and the match to have 27 or more
shots (9/2 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
Leicester City are unbeaten in their last three home Premier League matches
against Chelsea (W1 D2) last having a longer unbeaten run on home soil
against the Blues in the top-flight between February 1985 and May 1995 at
Filbert Street (four draws).
Chelsea have only lost three of their last 18 Premier League games against
Leicester (W10 D5), though one of those was at the King Power last season, a
2-0 defeat in Frank Lampard's last league game in charge in January.
In all competitions, Leicester have won two matches against Chelsea in 2021,
winning in the Premier League in January and the FA Cup final in May. In the
last 10 years, only one team has beaten the Blues three times in a single
calendar year (Manchester United in 2019).
Leicester City have lost 14 of their last 16 Premier League games against
the league leaders (D2), with their last such victory coming in January 1998
- a 1-0 win against Man Utd at Old Trafford thanks to a Tony Cottee strike.
Chelsea have won their last three Premier League away games by an aggregate
score of 7-0. They've not won four in a row on the road without conceding
since December 2008 (a run of six under Felipe Scolari).
No side have scored more headed goals in the Premier League this season than
Chelsea (4), while no side have conceded more via headers than Leicester
this term (4).
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