**Date:** Sunday 9th March 2025
**Venue**: Stamford Bridge
**Kick-off:** 14:00 GMT
After an absolute eyesore of a game in Copenhagen midweek, today’s Premier League game sees us play host to Leicester City.
We beat Southampton 4-0 last time out in the Premier League, but given they are right at the bottom of the pile, it wasn’t a result to get ourselves excited about – and the game against Copenhagen was confirmation of that. We are so dull to watch its painful, yet we come into today’s game fifth in the table (more by luck than judgement) and with the chance to go fourth with a win after yesterday’s results.
Leicester arrive with just one win against us in 11 visits and they’re in a pretty poor run of form, so they’ll at least be glad its Maresca managing us now.
.
**MANAGER’S VIEWS**
Going into tonight’s game, Enzo Maresca says _“if you also analyse the Aston Villa defeat, what can you say? The performance was there, but in football you have to be clinical. We had so many chances we didn’t score. And when you don’t score at the end, it can cost you points. Winning games help. But our inside message has been always the same. We need to continue. We need to improve things. But for sure, when you win games, it helps._
_I still speak with many of Leicester’s players because we had a fantastic season last year and I’m very close to some of them. I’ve been in football for more than 30 years. You struggle to find people so, so, so nice, that they care about the family, about the kids, about everything. They are fantastic. But the most important thing, let me say, is that we need our fans on Sunday – 95 minutes, 100 minutes, we need to win the game. That is the most important thing.”_
Leicester City manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, meanwhile, says _“I watched their game \[against Copenhagen\], how they play, their approach, the squad they have, the quality they have, and the fight they are in to qualify for the Champions League. We know the task ahead is big for us, but we will do everything possible to get a result. We know that Chelsea will have a lot of the ball. We have to make sure we are ready for that. Defend well and see what we can do on the break, for example, to create chances.”_
**SQUAD NEWS**
For Chelsea, Marc Guiu (groin), Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke (both hamstring), are all injured. Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended) also remains out. Malo Gusto is expected to be fit despite limping off against Copenhagen. Benoit Badiashile (thigh) is available and Wesley Fofana, who was an unused substitute in our last league game, could play a part today. Romeo Lavia is also available but may not be risked.
For Leicester, Ricardo Pereira is back in training (hamstring) but is not expected to be available today. Abdul Fatawu is also absent, whilst Woyo Coulibaly is available after missing the defeat by West Ham with injury.
**TEAMS**
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; James, Enzo, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Nkunku
LEICESTER (Possible line-up): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Soumare; Buonanotte, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy
**LAST SEASON**
N/A
**CURRENT FORM (ALL)**
Chelsea: WLWLLW
Leicester: LWLLLL
**OTHER STUFF**
* Chelsea have won the last four meetings with Leicester City in all competitions.
* Leicester are without a win in their last seven games against Chelsea.
* Leicester have won one of their last 11 Premier League away games against Chelsea.
* Chelsea have lost two of their last three league games.
* Chelsea have won their last 2 games at home in the league.
* Leicester have lost 11 of their last 12 league games.
* Leicester have failed to score in their last four league games, conceding 12 goals.
* Leicester have kept just one clean sheet in their 27 league fixtures in this campaign.
**PREDICTION**
[Sportsmole:](Preview: Chelsea vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups - Sports Mole) Chelsea 4-0 Leicester