Leicester City vs Chelsea
There comes a point in a season when a team needs to get its campaign by the scruff of the neck. Now is that time for newly promoted Leicester City.
Before anyone thinks I’m being critical of Steve Cooper and the Foxes, I certainly am not.
Last season’s Championship winners have had to sell so many of their leading players over the last 18 months, so the sheer fact they romped to the second tier title last season, and then made a solid start to life back in the Premier League, is worthy of praise indeed.
It’s just now they need to get some more points on the board or risk being drawn into a relegation dogfight along with the sides that accompanied them – Ipswich Town and Southampton – on their promotion journey last term.
Standing in their way this weekend is the man who guided the Foxes to the top flight at the first time of asking, only to then leave before they got there as Chelsea came calling.
Talking Points
To my surprise, he’s making a decent fist of his new role.
His credentials weren’t questioned as such, more I felt he may struggle at a club which has been something of a soap opera over the last two years of American ownership.
Instead, Enzo Maresca appears to be building on the stability that Mauricio Pochettino put in place and is getting a tune out of some of the talented players – expensively assembled – at his disposal.
Joint third in the table, they have enjoyed quite a few Premier League 2024 highlights so far and be firm favourites for this one.
Back to the East Midlands, and it’s doubtful whether Maresca could have extracted any more than Cooper has managed from his players so far.
They have already shown – in their opening draw with Spurs, as well as a second-half fight back with Arsenal which so nearly secured an unexpected point – that they can compete.
Even a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford last time out came against clinical opponents and was a scoreline which didn’t fully reflect their own contribution.
More points on the board are needed quickly though, and this should be a contest they are extra motivated for as they welcome back their former boss who deserves a warm reception for his achievements last term.
Whether he receives it after leaving the fray at the first chance of an upgrade I am unsure.
What I am not unsure about is whether the players he left behind should have a desire to show him just what he is missing.
History
Chelsea have won five and drawn one of their last six encounters.
That includes an FA Cup quarter-final last term when they triumphed 4-2 at Stamford Bridge, thanks to goals from Marc Cucurella, Cole Palmer, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Noni Madueke – the latter two in stoppage time after the Foxes had fought back from 2-0 down to threaten an upset.
Both league games two seasons ago also went the way of the West Londoners, including the contest at the King Power Stadium when former Leicester man Ben Chilwell, Kai Harvertz, and Mateo Kovacic scored the goals in a 3-1 win. Patson Daka had briefly drawn Leicester City level.
Of course, despite the recent record, it was Leicester City, not Chelsea, who won the most important meeting of all.
The 2021 FA Cup Final was truly memorable and will always be remembered in football history.
The last time Leicester beat Chelsea in the league came a few months earlier when Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison scored the goals in a 2-0 home success.
Chelsea have won 62 of their meetings, with 28 Leicester successes and 35 draws.
The inaugural meeting took place in September 1905 in Division Two when Chelsea debutant James Robertson netted the only goal of the game.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP Premier League 2024 betting odds expect Chelsea to extend their unbeaten record in this fixture. They can be tipped 1X2 @ 1.52 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 1.94.
That contrasts with the home side who are available 1X2 @ 4.92 and Asian Handicap + 0.75 @ 2.19.
A re-run of their last game in the Midlands is on offer with Correct Score 1-3 @ 11.00.
If you fancy goals, then it’s worth looking at Over 3.25 @ 2.04, Total Goals 2-3 @ 2.08, and 4-6 @ 2.39. I am going for a result which may surprise you though.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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