Leicester City vs Chelsea: 6 things to look out for

The final international break of the year is over, and Chelsea will return to action immediately. The Blues visit the King Power Stadium for an early 12:30 pm kickoff against Leicester City in Round 12 of the Premier League. With just one win in their last five league matches, Enzo Maresca’s side will be eager to get back to winning ways against the promoted team. Here's what to look forward to:

1. Enzo Maresca Returns to the King Power

Before taking charge at Chelsea, Enzo Maresca enjoyed a successful year as Leicester City manager. Under his guidance, the Foxes secured promotion to the Premier League as Championship champions at the first attempt. While Leicester fans respect Maresca for his contributions, some may still feel disappointed that he departed after just one year, especially when the club seemed to be building for a promising future.

For Maresca, this match holds extra significance as he aims to prove himself with Chelsea. He’ll hope to leave his former home with all three points, but Leicester’s fans will be just as eager to see their team frustrate their ex-boss.

2. Will Robert Sanchez Retain His Place?

Chelsea’s last league match, a 1-1 draw against Arsenal, left questions about Robert Sanchez’s reliability as a goalkeeper. Gabriel Martinelli’s goal from an acute angle was one that most competent keepers would have stopped, highlighting Sanchez’s ongoing struggles.

Sanchez also had a rough outing during Spain’s international fixtures, conceding two goals after coming on as a substitute in the second match. One of those goals showcased poor goalkeeping fundamentals, further intensifying doubts about his starting role at Chelsea.

In his limited minutes in cup competitions, Filip Jorgensen has proved to be more reliable between the sticks than Sanchez.

3. Pedro Neto’s Preferred Position

Pedro Neto has recently claimed the left wing as his own, despite his preference for playing on the right. It was a switch to the right side that saw him score Chelsea’s equalizer against Arsenal in their last league outing. His brilliance in the right wing was also on display during the international break, where he scored a stunning goal for Portugal against Poland.

Meanwhile, Noni Madueke’s underwhelming performance against Arsenal has led to growing calls for Neto to start in his preferred position. The improved form of Mykhailo Mudryk and Jadon Sancho’s return to fitness also give Maresca flexibility to shift Neto back to the right while filling the left wing with other options.

4. Midfield Dilemmas

Chelsea’s midfield selections this season have frequently included Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Romeo Lavia. However, Lavia suffered a hamstring injury during Belgium duty, cutting his international break short. Though Maresca has declared Lavia available for selection, caution is essential given his history of prolonged injury absences.

Caicedo and Fernandez, on the other hand, returned late from South America after national duty. While both have trained since arriving back at Cobham, concerns remain about their fitness levels and the risk of overexertion. Chelsea cannot afford further injuries to either player.

This situation could open the door for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to make an appearance against his former club. History is on Chelsea’s side in such scenarios, as N’Golo Kanté often excelled against Leicester after leaving them for Stamford Bridge.

5. Other Injury Concerns

Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer, who missed their international commitments, are expected to be fit for Saturday’s early kickoff. However, Maresca delivered disappointing news regarding captain Reece James, who has suffered another setback. While the coach is optimistic about James returning next week, his history of hamstring problems necessitates caution.

6. The Blues Must Keep the Pressure On

Chelsea are currently third in the league table, tied on 19 points with three other teams but ahead on goal difference. The gap between Chelsea and Aston Villa in ninth is just one point, while 11th-placed Brentford trail by three. Remarkably, only four points separate Chelsea from Manchester United who are 13th, highlighting how tightly packed the standings are.

With nine league games to play between Saturday and January 4, Chelsea must maximize their points haul. Facing a promoted Leicester side poses its challenges, but these are the matches Chelsea must win to secure a top-four finish. Even though the Blues have only one victory in their last five league games, they faced tough opponents during that stretch.

Starting this weekend, there can be no excuses. A convincing win against Leicester, ideally with a strong goal difference, will maintain Chelsea’s current position and apply pressure to their closest rivals.