toptop
Jamie
Vardy scored the winner as Leicester produced an impressive display to shock
Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Eden Hazard hit the bar for Chelsea in the first half, but Vardy fired the Foxes
in front with a fine near-post finish in the 51st minute.
It took Chelsea until late in the game to respond as Antonio Rudiger headed wide
from a corner and then Marcos Alonso hit the post with only Kasper Schmeichel to
beat.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Kepa (5), Alonso (5), Rudiger (5), Luiz (5),
Azpilicueta (6), Jorginho (5), Kante (5), Kovacic (5), Willian (5), Pedro (5),
Hazard (6)
Subs: Giroud (5), Loftus-Cheek (5), Fabregas (5)
Leicester: Schmeichel (6), Chilwell (8), Morgan (7), Maguire
(7), Pereira (8), Mendy (7), Choudhury (7), Ndidi (7), Albrighton (6), Maddison
(6), Vardy (7)
Subs: Gray (5), Iheanacho (5)
Man of the match: Ben Chilwell
But Leicester held out to move up to ninth in the Premier League and provide a
welcome pre-Christmas boost for manager Claude Puel.
There had been reports before the match that Puel was fighting for his job over
the festive period, but the performance - particularly in the second half -
should lift his spirits as Leicester won at Stamford Bridge for the first time
since 2000.
Chelsea, who had not previously lost at home this season, dominated possession
in the first half without creating many clear openings.
A long ball from David Luiz almost provided the opening goal in the second
minute, drifting just wide of the post after confusion in the Leicester defence
left Schmeichel stranded on the edge of the box.
Luiz was then inches away from nodding in a corner at the back post before
Hazard spun Harry Maguire but fired against the bar from 15 yards out.
Leicester were resolute and well-organised, and only a brilliant save from Kepa
Arrizabalaga prevented Wilfred Ndidi scoring from 30 yards out in the 40th
minute.
But the Foxes did break the deadlock in the 51st minute, sweeping forward on the
counter before James Maddison slipped a pass through for Vardy and he fired past
Arrizabalaga at the near post.
Hazard forced Schmeichel into a sharp save shortly afterwards, but otherwise
Chelsea were lacklustre and careless in possession in both halves.
Leicester went closest to scoring next as Cesar Azpilicueta blocked a backheeled
shot from Vardy and then Arrizabalaga pushed away an effort from Marc
Albrighton.
Chelsea eventually threatened with injury-time approaching but Rudiger glanced a
header wide from six yards out and then Schmeichel got the faintest touch to tip
Alonso's low shot onto the post.
Team news
Chelsea named the same XI that won at Brighton last weekend, meaning Eden Hazard
again started up front.
Leicester made two changes from their last Premier League match as Hamza
Choudhury and Ben Chilwell replaced Demarai Gray and Christian Fuchs.
Opta stats
Chelsea have lost at home in the league for the first time in 13 games, since a
1-3 defeat to Tottenham in April (W7 D5).
Leicester enjoyed a Premier League victory in London for the first time in 11
visits, since a 3-2 win at West Ham in March 2017 (D4 L6).
Chelsea have failed to find the back of the net in two of their last four home
Premier League games, as many as in their previous 21.
Leicester have beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for the first time in their
last nine visits in all competitions (D2 L6).
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has scored 13 goals in his last 15 Premier
League appearances against the 'big six' sides.
Courtesy of Jamie Vardy's opener for Leicester, Chelsea conceded a home Premier
League goal for the first time in four games, ending a run of 357 minutes
without an opposition goal at Stamford Bridge.
Jamie Vardy's goal for Leicester was his first not to come from the penalty spot
in his last 10 Premier League appearances, since scoring against Huddersfield in
September.
Man of the match - Ben Chilwell
He wasn't involved in the goal, but Chilwell was involved in almost every other
Leicester attack, particularly in the second half when he launched several
counter-attacks. He was also strong in defence as the Foxes kept Chelsea at bay.
What's next?
Chelsea are live on Sky Sports when they go to Watford on Boxing Day and Crystal
Palace on Sunday. They then host Southampton on January 2.
Leicester have home games against Manchester City on Boxing Day and Cardiff on
Saturday before a trip to Everton on January 1, live on Sky Sports.
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Kepa, Azpilicueta (c), Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kovacic
(Loftus-Cheek 61), Jorginho (Fabregas 75), Kante, Pedro, Willian (Giroud 61),
Hazard
Subs Not Used Caballero, Zappacosta, Barkley, Cahill
Booked
Goals
Leicester City Schmeichel, Chilwell, Morgan (c), Pereira,
Maguire, Ndidi, Mendy, Choudhury, Maddison (Gray 82), Vardy (Iheanacho 84),
Albrighton
Subs Not Used Ward, Iborra, Fuchs, Okazaki, Evans
Booked Ndidi, Mendy
Goals Vardy 51
Attendance 40,558
Referee Lee Probert