Chelsea vs Leicester City 22/12/18

22 December 2018

After a tight 1-0 win over Bournemouth in midweek’s EFL Cup clash, Chelsea will host Leicester City to Stamford Bridge, looking to extend a four-game winning home run in all competitions.

The Blues are going through a turbulent period that has seen them losing three out of last five Premier League outings, which is why they’ve lost the pace with Liverpool, whom they now trail by eight points. However, the Pensioners have secured two successive league triumphs ahead of this meeting, beating Brighton and Manchester City. Still unbeaten at home (W6, D3), Maurizio Sarri’s men have won three out of last four games at Stamford Bridge, keeping a clean sheet three times in the run. Only Man City (33) have scored more goals than Chelsea (19) at home this season, with Hazard and co. scoring a minimum of two goals per match seven times in nine home encounters so far.

Meanwhile, Claude Puel’s men come into this meeting following a frustrating EFL Cup elimination to Manchester City after a penalty shoot-out. The visitors are experiencing huge problems playing away from home, as they’ve managed to secure just one win on their previous five road trips in the Premier League. Furthermore, the Foxes have conceded in seven out of nine games on the road this term, failing to keep a clean sheet in their previous three away meetings. Goals have been in short supply in their last four road encounters, with Leicester scoring one goal or less in all four games while conceding one goal or less in the process. Also, five out of their previous six matches away from home have produced under 2.5 goals.

Provisional line-up – Chelsea:

Gk: Arriazabalaga Defense: Alonso – Rudiger – David Luiz – Azpilicueta Midfield: Jorginho – Kante- Kovacic Attack: Willian – Eden Hazard – Pedro

Provisional line-up – Leicester City:

Gk: Schmeichel Defense: Fuchs – Maguire – Wes Morgan – Pereira Midfield: Ndidi – Mendy – Albrighton Attack: Maddison – Demarai Gray – Vardy