The Premier League is back with its fourth gameweek and it is London giants Chelsea who will be under the microscope on Saturday when they host Leicester City at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were hammered by Leeds United in their previous league match with a humiliating 3-0 defeat and will look to bounce back.
On the other hand, visitors Leicester City were also handed a defeat in the previous week by Southampton and find themselves at the 19th spot on the standings.
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Both sides are hoping to get back to the winning ways as a tough month awaits them in September.
Team news:
Chelsea has had somewhat of a strange opening to their season, winning, drawing and losing one each in the first three league games. They have scored only three goals in as many games in the new season, something that will keep Thomas Tuchel concerned. But they have also conceded five goals in the Premier League this season, a stat much worrying for the Blues faithful.
Chelsea is missing as many as three first-team regulars for suspensions and injuries. New signing Kalidou Koulibaly picked up a red card in the loss against Leeds, whereas N’Golo Kante will be missing after a hamstring injury. Marcos Alonso is expected to leave the club soon and will remain unavailable for picking.
However, Mateo Kovacic and Armando Broja have returned to the squad and will be available for picking.
Marc Cucurella is expected to replace Koulibaly, along with Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta in defence. Ben Chilwell is likely to replace Cucurella as the left wing-back with Reece James on the right side.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to start with Jorginho in the midfield while Kai Havertz leads the attacking lines with Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling on the flanks.
On the other hand, Leicester City’s luck has been terrible, as the Foxes are yet to register their first win of the new season. They drew against Brentford at the opening weekend, outgunned by Arsenal and Southampton in the subsequent weeks.
Similar to Chelsea, Leicester City will also be missing three first-team players on Saturday. Brendan Rodgers will be missing Ricardo Pereira with an Achilles injury, Ryan Bertrand with an injured knee and Wesley Fofana, who is likely to join Chelsea.
Meanwhile, James Maddison has returned and is available to make an appearance against the Blues.
Daniel Amartey will start with Jonny Evans in the heart of the defence. Timothy Castagne and James Justin are likely to be the full-backs with Danny Ward in the goal.
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Kieran Dewsbury-Hall and Wilfried Ndidi are expected to start in the midfield with Maddison in the advanced playmaker position. Ayoze Perez and Harvey Barnes are expected to retain their positions in the wide areas and can profit against relatively slow Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta. Jamie Vardy will be spearheading their attack.
Predicted lineups:
Chelsea: Mendy (GK), Azpilicueta, Silva, Cucurella, James, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Chilwell, Mount, Sterling, Havertz
Leicester City: Ward (GK), Castagne, Amartey, Evans, Justin; Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall, Perez, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy
