Leicester City go head-to-head with Chelsea in a Premier League meeting on Sunday afternoon.
The Foxes are looking to avoid a swift return to the Championship in 2024/25, but so far, things are not going well.
Steve Cooper was sacked after 12 Premier League matches, and his replacement, Ruud van Nistelrooy, has not fared any better in getting the team firing.
In fact, the Dutchman has now overseen 11 defeats in his last 12 league games as Leicester City manager, seeing the Midlands outfit fall down the division to 19th place.
It’s still mathematically possible for the Foxes to avoid the drop, but their recent form suggests that is going to be very unlikely.
Next up for Leicester in their bid to avoid the drop is a meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, March 9th.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Leicester City team and injury news ahead of Chelsea
The Blues are fifth in the top flight and are predicted to beat Leicester when they face off this weekend.
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One of the few positives going into the game for Ruud and co. is the fact they don’t have a lot of injury concerns.
Abdul Fatawu posted an injury update recently, but the winger is still likely to be out for the remainder of 2024/25.
Elsewhere, Ricardo Pereira returned to training last month, though an exact timeframe on when he will be able to feature for the Foxes once more is not yet known.
In his absence, Leicester have been deploying James Justin and January addition Woyo Coulibaly at right-back.
Apart from said duo, the Foxes don’t appear to have any other fitness concerns going into the clash with Enzo Maresca’s side.
Photo by Angel Martinez - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Photo by Angel Martinez – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Jeremy Monga starts in Leicester City predicted XI vs Chelsea
Given the club are in such a dire run of form right now and performances, especially against West Ham United and Brentford recently, have been dire, Van Nistelrooy needs to change something up.
Limited spending in January has hampered the former Manchester United man and left him with an underperforming group of players.
So, given Leicester will probably lose to Chelsea no matter what happens, it could be time for Van Nistelrooy to start playing academy players.
The obvious option to come into the team is 15-year-old sensation, Jeremy Monga, who was named on the bench for the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United last month.
Manchester City are interested in Monga but it may help the Foxes keep hold of him if they are wiling to prove there is already a clear path to the first team at the King Power.
Elsewhere, after Jannik Vestergaard was woeful versus West Ham, he will likely be dropped for Caleb Okoli.
Image from GRV Media line up tool
Image from GRV Media line up tool
Stephy Mavididi could also come back into the side to offer some much-needed attacking threat on the other flank.