Chelsea head to Leicester City with no new faces in the squad. The old familiar faces will be in good shape if they can fight out a draw.
At least Chelsea didn’t sign another Radamel Falcao or Alexandre Pato in the window, right? We hear Salomon Rondon was available so it could have been worse. Right?? Anyway, predictions for today’s game.
Varun Dani: Leicester City 1 – 1 Chelsea. Saying that both these teams are not in the best form would be an understatement. Two clubs who had some purple patches seem to getting back to reality and are quite evenly matched, both with their hitmen upfront struggling for fitness while their teammates struggle for consistency. Two odd goals and a scrappy draw.
Scott Brant: 1 – 1. The Blues inspire no confidence they can go out and beat Leicester. One team will go up early and not finish the match off. I am hoping for a motivated Olivier Giroud to start and score, but Frank Lampard will probably roll Tammy Abraham in a wheelchair to the pitch and force him to try to get a win, all by his lonesome.
Barrett Rouen: 2 – 2. To be honest, I think the most likely outcome is that Chelsea lose this game. I just don’t want to. It’ll be an all-out affair, but I expect Leicester to bring their best and arrest their current slump.
Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 1 – 2. There isn’t much to suggest that Chelsea could come away with a win, other than the fact that it’s an away game. The players may take to the pitch desperate to prove that their club doesn’t need the transfer market to achieve their ambitions. But they need to be at the top of their game if they are even going to get a point from the game.
Leicester City will likely react to dropping out of the EFL Cup. Frank Lampard will need to do better when it comes to distribution of game time to avoid not having match-fit players when he needs them.
Olly Smith: 2 – 1. Chelsea can’t seem to escape their patchy form and they’ll be exposed by a clinical Leicester team, even with their slump. It will definitely be exciting, with plenty of end-to-end play, but I just don’t have the faith in the Blues right now. If there were fresh faces in the team, perhaps the rejuvenation would have had a positive effect. Alas…
Abhishek Pancholi: 3 – 1. Chelsea’s baffling inability to address their weaknesses in the transfer window will come back to haunt them as early as Saturday. As chance after chance goes begging and Olivier Giroud sits fuming on the bench, Frank Lampard will cut a frustrated figure on the touchline.
Leicester will go up by three goals within the first hour before letting one slip through Kasper Schmeichel’s fingers for the final scoreline.
Nate Hofmann: 2 – 2. Chelsea have had a few emotionally jarring results lately, but none compare to Aston Villa ripping Leicester’s heart out in the League Cup semifinal. Beyond the mental anguish, there should be some physical fatigue from the Foxes that could play into Chelsea’s hands.
Leicester’s previously airtight defense has started to soften a bit, and their form has generally dropped off since the turn of the calendar. That being said, they are still scoring goals, and Jamie Vardy is a nightmare matchup for any defense, not least of all Chelsea’s.
A fresh yet under-performing Chelsea side versus a tired yet clinical Leicester side. Smells like goals to me.
Kevin Peacock: 1 – 3. When the chips are down and defeat is looking likely, Chelsea do tend to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Barring they-who-shall-not-be-named, everyone else in the league is struggling with form, making any prediction tricky.
Chelsea did not secure any new signings, so those left at the club now know they are responsible for where they ultimately finish in the table. When the going gets tough… etc.
Chelsea dominate a Leicester side on the wane, with goals coming from a striker, Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho with a penalty.