Enzo Maresca returns to the King Power Stadium on Saturday for the first time since his departure for Chelsea as his new-look Blues face Leicester City in the Premier League.
The Italian guided the Foxes to promotion back to the top-flight last term but jumped ship over the summer following the call from Chelsea. Maresca’s successor Steve Cooper will be keen to ensure it’s an unhappy return for his opposite number.
Chelsea find themselves third in the Premier League table as club football returns following the November international break. The Blues have impressed this term after a shaky beginning but have won just one of their last five league outings.
Leicester are fighting tooth and nail at the other end of the table but have shown glimpses of their potential under Cooper. Back-to-back wins either side of the October international period saw them rise up the table and they’re currently three points above the relegation zone.
Here is 90min’s guide to Leicester vs Chelsea.
Leicester vs Chelsea H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
| Leicester | Chelsea |
|---|---|
| Man Utd 3-0 Leicester – 10/11/24 | Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal – 10/11/24 |
| Ipswich 1-1 Leicester – 02/11/24 | Chelsea 8-0 Noah – 07/11/24 |
| Man Utd 5-2 Leicester – 30/10/24 | Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea – 03/11/24 |
| Leicester 1-3 Nottingham Forest – 25/10/24 | Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea – 30/10/24 |
| Southampton 2-3 Leicester – 19/10/24 | Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle – 27/10/24 |
| Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, discovery+ App |
| United States | fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
| Canada | fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
Leicester have struggled with injuries over the international period and the disappointing news for Cooper is Abdul Fatawu is sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. He will miss the remainder of the campaign.
Jordan Ayew is in contention for the weekend after picking up an injury with Ghana, while Jamie Vardy, who missed the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United last time out, could return from a back injury.
Bobby Decordova-Reid is being monitored ahead of the weekend and could make his comeback from an “awkward” injury. Striker Patson Daka could make his first appearance of the season as he nears a return.
Back-up goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk and right-back Ricardo Pereira are both still sidelined and Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Facundo Buonanotte is suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season before the international break.
Leicester predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-3-3): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Soumare, Ndidi, Winks; McAteer, Vardy, Mavididi.
There are a few former Leicester players in the Chelsea squad, although out-of-favour Ben Chilwell won’t be involved on Saturday. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall left the King Power over the summer and will likely be on the bench this weekend, while centre-back Wesley Fofana is a doubt with a knee injury sustained prior to the international break.
Maresca has revealed Reece James has picked up yet another injury and will be missing for the trip to Leicester at the very least. Fellow right-back Malo Gusto is also doubtful with an ankle injury and midfielder Romeo Lavia could miss out with a hamstring problem.
Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill both withdrew from the England squad over the international period but should feature in the East Midlands. Filip Jorgensen is unlikely to start on Saturday but is a minor doubt after withdrawing from the Denmark Under-21s squad.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez played in the early hours of Wednesday morning for Ecuador and Argentina, making them doubts to start on Saturday.
In better news, Jadon Sancho should be fit to feature after missing recent matches through illness.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Leicester (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
It remains to be seen what kind of reception Maresca is offered on his return to the King Power but he will care little providing his Chelsea side can get back to winning ways in the Premier League. That’s exactly what they should do against a Leicester outfit hamstrung by injuries and suspensions, especially in the final third.
Chelsea have the attacking firepower to unlock a stubborn and deep defensive block, while Leicester’s lack of creativity in the final third could prove a stumbling block.
These are not the kind of matches that will define the Foxes’ season and their performance at Old Trafford before the international break inspires little confidence of a shock result.
