Last season’s Premier League Champions Leicester host current leaders Chelsea today.
Both sides failed to win their previous league fixture, with Chelsea succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham – or more notably Dele Alli, who scored both of the Lilywhites’ goals – while Leicester were held to a 0-0 draw against an impressive Middlesborough side.
For the visitors, they will be hoping to put the defeat against their London rivals behind them and get back the form they showed just before the New Year when they won a record-equalling 13 straight Premier League games.
It’s a case of the opposites for Leicester, however, who, having defied all the odds to win the title last year, now find themselves back in more familiar territory as they sit a lowly 15th in the Premier League. While Claudio Ranieri’s side have excelled in the Champions League so far this term, they have been unable to reproduce that sort of form in domestic action.
All is set up for an interesting tie at the King Power Stadium, then and we think these THREE key battles could decide the result…
Diego Costa vs. Kasper Schmeichel
Spaniard Costa has been the main man for Chelsea this season having scored 14 Premier League goals already and put in some outstanding performances to remind everyone just why he is considered one of the best strikers in world football.
While it could the Leicester defence that stops him, it is almost a given that Costa will get chances, leaving only one man to prevent him from netting: Foxes shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel. His recent return from injury has been a huge bonus for Ranieri’s side, but does he have enough to keep the Premier League’s most deadly man at bay?
N’Golo Kante vs. Riyad Mahrez
What an interesting battle this will be. Last year’s dynamic duo for Leicester find themselves face-to-face this time around, and both will be out to prove a point.
Mahrez absolutely tore the Blues apart in this fixture last season, with Chelsea unable to handle his skill and fluid movement in the final third of the pitch. We expect N’Golo Kante to stick to him like Sean Paul does to his girl (like glue) in an effort to contain the unpredictable Algerian.
Kante has again been a focal point for his new club this year, and without a doubt the Foxes have struggled without him. It could be the little Frenchman that proves the difference between the two sides today.
Pedro vs. Christian Fuchs
It is starting to become clear why Chelsea snatched Pedro away from the hands of Manchester United at the back end of last summer’s transfer market. The Spaniard now has seven goals and five assists to his name this term, and will be looking to add to that tally against Leicester having put in a disappointing shift vs. Spurs. Willian breathing down his neck for a place in the starting XI is an extra incentive.
Leicester’s solid back four, arguably, won them the Premier League last year, especially during the latter stages of the season when 1-0 victories were the theme. Christian Fuchs was colossal at left-back for the Foxes but will have a big job on his hand to keep the fully flowing ex-Barcelona man quiet.
