Chelsea opened their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over Everton but from there onwards, it’s all been downhill for them.
They were held to a 2-2 draw in gameweek two by Spurs and last weekend, they went down 3-0 to Leeds United meaning they have picked up just four points from their first three matches.
While this tally isn’t bad but in recent seasons the league has been really tough and close so every point is going to count by the end of May. Leeds United highlighted a lot of issues in the Chelsea side which still need to be addressed and one of them is the signing of a new centre-forward.
Next up, the Blues will take on Leicester City and given how poorly the Foxes have started their campaign, Chelsea should be winning this one. Leicester are yet to pick up even a single point and this is the perfect game for Tuchel’s side to get some confidence under their belt.
Chelsea team news & injuries vs Leicester City:
Koulibaly made a superb start to his life at the club but he had a nightmare game against Leeds picking up two red cards so he will be unavailable for the Foxes game.
With the summer signing missing, it’s a massive headache for the manager because now he will have to rely on Azpilicueta to play on the left-hand side of defence.
Tuchel also has Ben Chilwell who can play in that role so there’s a possibility that Chilwell comes into the first XI to partner Reece James and Thiago Silva in central defence.
😡 Red cards shown to players in the Premier League so far this season:
Darwin Nunez
Kalidou Koulibaly😶 Two big money summer signings… pic.twitter.com/LxOnFIQl65
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) August 23, 2022
The midfield area is another area of concern for the manager because N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic are both out injured and neither of them will be fit in time for the Leicester game.
Jorginho and Gallagher paired up in the middle of the pitch last weekend and the manager might have to rely on the same pair this time as well.
Pulisic and Ziyech have fallen down the pecking order this season so neither of them is going to start and with Armando Broja out injured, the front three are going to remain the same. Broja could be fit in time before Saturday’s game but we don’t think he will be ready to come straight back into the first XI.
Sterling and Kai Havertz were both underwhelming against Leeds United but there’s a very slim chance that the manager will risk dropping either of them.
Chelsea predicted line up vs Leicester City:
Predicted Starting Line up(3-4-2-1): Mendy; Thiago Silva, Azpi/Chilwell, Reece James; Jorginho, Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Cucurella; Mount, Sterling; Havertz.
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Stats via Fotmob
