Leicester City vs. Chelsea: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info
Chelsea will try to bounce back from their first Premier League defeat since September when they take on champions Leicester City on Matchday 21.
The Foxes have not been at their best during the 2016-17 season so far, but they often reserve their top football for the major teams and are always a difficult outfit to break down.
The Blues need momentum after their defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on January 4, and a win over the champions would provide just that.
Date: Saturday, January 14
Time: 5:30 p.m. GMT
Venue: King Power Stadium, Leicester, England
TV Info: BT Sport 1 (UK), NBC Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: BT Sport app, NBC Sports Live
Team News
Per Tom Doyle of the London Evening Standard, Chelsea are free of injuries entering Week 21, but defender John Terry is suspended after his dismissal in the FA Cup third round against Peterborough United. Nathan Ake has been recalled from a loan to Bournemouth and could make the squad.
For the Foxes, Jamie Vardy should be available after some recent struggles with illness. Ahmed Musa scored twice in the FA Cup win over Everton and will be pushing for a spot in the team. Daniel Amartey, Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez are on international duty.
Possible Leicester XI: Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Christian Fuchs, Nampalys Mendy, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton, Wilfred Ndidi, Ahmed Musa, Jamie Vardy.
Possible Chelsea XI: Thibaut Courtois, Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Victor Moses, N'Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Marcos Alonso, Pedro, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa.
Preview
Chelsea's incredible winning run had to come to end at some point, and it finally did in Week 20, as Tottenham proved too much for the league leaders. It will now be up to Blues manager Antonio Conte and his men to bounce back from that setback―a true test of their title credentials.
Teams have taken a hit and not recovered in the past, and the Blues' ability to put the loss in the rearview mirror and carry on could decide the outcome of the title race. Chelsea have a significant five-point lead at the top of the table heading into Week 21.
Conte has been known as a fantastic motivator since his time with Juventus, and he was at it again earlier this week, talking up Michy Batshuayi for his efforts in the FA Cup win over Peterborough, per the team's official Twitter account:
The Italian is fantastic at keeping his players sharp and motivated―in all likelihood, he'll have them ready to bounce back from the Spurs defeat.
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has also gained a reputation for preparing his players for big matches, and the Foxes need a win just as much as Chelsea. They sit six points above the relegation zone, and that's far from a safe buffer.
The loss of N'Golo Kante has played a big role in their struggles this season, and Leicester will come face-to-face with their former star on Saturday. The France international has been impeccable for the Blues and will again play a big role in winning the midfield battles and shutting down counter-attacks.
Limiting balls over the top will be the key to victory for the Blues, who have been solid against the counter-attack this season but will face arguably the best in the business in Leicester.
Final prediction: Leicester City 0-2 Chelsea
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