Chelsea vs Leicester Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

It is a repeat of the 2021 FA Cup final and Matthew O’Regan  has his prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview. With only one win separating these slides from Wembley, it should be an interesting encounter as Premier League mid-table side Chelsea host current Championship leaders Leicester City at Stamford Bridge. Our Chelsea vs Leicester prediction is for Chelsea to win the match 4-0.

1. Chelsea vs Leicester Tip 1: Chelsea win and BTTS
2. Chelsea vs Leicester Tip 2: Mykhalio Mudryk to Score
3. Chelsea vs Leicester Tip 3: Moises Caicedo Over 2.5 Tackles

Chelsea vs Leicester Prediction 1: Foxes to show bite – but not enough

England, FA Cup, 17th March 12:45

After spending hundreds of millions of pounds in recent summer windows, Chelsea have flattered to deceive and currently sit in the bottom half of the Premier League. Mauricio Pochettino is bound to be feeling the pressure – especially since losing the Carabao Cup final to a depleted Liverpool side.

He will see a home tie against a Championship side as the perfect opportunity for another Wembley trip, and with no game for 13 days after that, it would not be a surprise to see the Argentine go full strength.

This season, the Blues have scored 47 goals and conceded 45, with BTTS landing in 18/27 (67%) of their league games. In fact, its landed in eight of their last nine, with the exception being the Carabao Cup final – a notoriously low-scoring affair.

In the last 16 of the FA Cup, Chelsea hosted second in the Championship. Leeds, who ran Chelsea close, before a 90th minute Conor Gallager winner, secured a 3-2 victory.

Leicester were looking like runaway leaders in the Championship, but a recent stutter in form has seen the chasing pack close in, and Enzo Maresca’s side are not just three points clear of Leeds and four clear of Ipswich. The league is undoubtedly their priority but with no game for 12 games, expect a strong side again.

The Foxes have scored in their last 24 games, including against Premier League side Bournemouth, but have only failed to score on three occasions this season.

Against a Chelsea side that conceded six in their last three games, Leicester will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet. However, with three losses in their last five league games, Leicester will struggle to avoid defeat against Chelsea.

• Chelsea vs Leicester Prediction 1: Chelsea win and Both Teams to Score
• Best Odds: 2.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

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Chelsea vs Leicester Prediction 2: Mudryk keen to impress

Mykhaylo Mudryk is another player signed for a large transfer fee that has failed to impress, with the Ukrainian having just ten goal contributions in 46 appearances.

However, he has shown moments of brilliance, most recently scoring a fantastic solo goal in the 3-2 win over Newcastle on Monday night.

His last start came in the last round against Leeds so he is expected to start again. The 23-year-old was deployed just off the striker and even scored a goal, recording two shots in an impressive performance.

His game time has been limited but Mudryk has shown willingness to shoot, averaging 1.69 shots and 0.50 shots on target per 90. This data will be skewed as a lot of his appearances have been late cameos but his performance against Newcastle and against Leeds gives me confidence in this bet.

• Chelsea vs Leicester Prediction 2: Mykhaylo Mudryk Over 1.5 shots and Ove 0.5 Shots On Target
• Best Odds: 2.05
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

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Chelsea vs Leicester Prediction 3: Tough Tackling Caicedo

Much has been made of Moises Caicedo’s start to his Chelsea career after his mouth-watering £115 million move from Brighton in the summer.

The Ecuadorian has come in for a lot of criticism for his performances but Caicedo has seemed to improve as the season has progressed and is showing glimpses of his form that saw him win Brighton’s player of the season.

The 22-year-old is an all-action midfielder, as evidenced by his ten yellow cards this season already. On top of this, over his last nine games he has hit an average of 3.66 tackles per game, hitting at least three tackles in seven of these. In the fixture against Leeds he hit five tackles.

Away from home, a centre midfielder has had at least three tackles against Leicester in six of their last seven. With Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drifting in the pockets between defence and midfield, Caicedo will be tasked with stopping the talented 25-year-old.

• Chelsea vs Leicester Prediction 3: Moises Caicedo Over 2.5 Tackles
• Best Odds: 2.20
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

Chelsea vs Leicester Prediction odds via bet365 as at 00:00, March 14th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

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Chelsea vs Leicester Team News and Possible Lineups: Full Strength Expected

Chelsea have a long list of absentees. Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashilie, Christopher Nkunku, Lesley Ugochukwu, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana are expected to miss out.

Pochettino will likely field the same defence and midfield that played against Newcastle, while rotating his attacking options.

Leicester are missing Dennis Praet, Kasey McAteer and Ricardo Pereira through injury. Jakub Stolarczyk is expected to start in goal again after starting the previous three cup games.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Sanchez, Gusto, Diassi, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Mudryk, Madeuke; Jackson

Leicester possible starting lineup: Stolarczyk; Choudhury, Vestergaard, Faes, Justin; Winks, Ndidi; Dewsbury Hall, Mavididi, Issahaku; Vardy.

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Match Stats: Happy Hunting For Chelsea

• Leicester have failed to beat Chelsea in their last five matches.
• BTTS has landed the last three meetings.
• Leicester have the joint most goals in the Championship (74).
• Chelsea have the worst home record of any of the top six this season.

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Chelsea Fixtures: 4 home games in five for Chelsea

• Vs Leicester (H)
• Vs Burnley (H)
• Vs Manchester United (H)
• Vs Sheffield United (A)
• Vs Everton (H)

Leicester Fixtures: Pressure on for Foxes

• Vs Chelsea (A)
• Vs Bristol City (A)
• Vs Norwich (H)
• Vs Birmingham (H)
• Vs Millwall (A)

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