The biggest and most intriguing match of the Premier League weekend has been saved for last as the leaders going into the latest round of matches – Leicester, will look to regain top spot when they host the champions Chelsea at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester have seen both Man City and Arsenal go back above them in the Premier League table this weekend but a win will see them rise back to the summit. Chelsea are now just a point above the relegation zone and will be eager to pick up the win themselves to give them some breathing room.
The Foxes have been a breath of fresh air this season with Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez surely PFA Player of the Year candidates whatever happens from here on in but you would have to say their fixture list has been fairly kind to them and we’ll find out a lot more about them over the next 2-3 weeks.
Chelsea have struggled all season long but there have been signs recently, particularly in the Champions League that they might just be beginning to get it right again. One thing Chelsea are synonymous with under Jose Mourinho is keeping clean sheets and they’ve now only conceded three goals in their last seven matches in all competitions and have four clean sheets in five.
Thibaut Courtois’ return from injury has been a large reason for that. The Belgian stopper has a commanding presence which the Chelsea back line seem to feel comfortable with and if the Blues can sort out their attacking prowess and get the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa firing again the second half of the campaign could yet yield some rewards.
Leicester will have Swansea loanee Nathan Dyer back for this match. He had to miss last week’s win as Leicester played his parent club. Ritchie De Laet misses out with an ankle injury.
Chelsea have no new injury problems but Radamel Falcao is likely to be on the sidelines with a knock so Loic Remy will be the back up to Diego Costa should Chelsea need another attacking option at any point.
Back at the start of the season if you could get Chelsea on a -0.25 Asian line at odds against you would think the world had gone mad but that is the prospect that awaits us here.
The reason why Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side has been so good over time has been the results they have got against the top six sides in the division and I would think he will set his side up here like it is one of those matches.
He’ll look to stifle Leicester’s space to attack in and he’ll know that Leicester are vulnerable at the back. The Foxes have only kept one clean sheet all season at home and that was against a Crystal Palace side who had two stonewall penalties turned down so Chelsea won’t have a better chance to score.
Leicester have been a little more circumspect in the few big teams they’ve faced this season. They were held here by Spurs and were cautious against Man Utd at the King Power recently and it might be that they are a bit intimidated in this match.
This is the sort of match Mourinho usually thrives in and with Chelsea’s defence tightening up and their attacking potential much better given Leicester’s goal concession here I think the odds against on that Chelsea handicap is just too tempting to turn down.
Back Chelsea (-0.25AH) to beat Leicester for a 4/10 stake at 2.05 with BetVictor
