Goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez helped Chelsea to a 2-1 Premier League win at Leicester City on Saturday that would have been much more comfortable if Blues winger Noni Madueke had not blocked team-mate Cole Palmer's goalbound shot.
Jackson punished Leicester for not clearing their lines in the 15th minute, taking a touch and flicking the ball past Foxes keeper Mads Hermansen with the outside of his right boot as Chelsea dominated their hosts.
Chelsea should have gone two up in the 54th minute, but Madueke ran ahead of the play and could not get out of the way of Palmer’s close-range shot at an empty net, deflecting his effort wide before Chelsea captain Fernandez spared his blushes by scoring with a 75th-minute header. Jordan Ayew's stoppage-time penalty for Leicester came too late to prevent Chelsea from sealing a win that moved the third-placed Blues up to 22 points in the table.
Leicester vs Chelsea latest updates
- GOAL! Ayew scores late penalty
- GOAL! Fernandez heads home a second
- GOAL! Jackson fires home early opener
Colwill is still down and receiving treatment on the pitch.
Full-time!
14:32 , Alex Young98min: That’s it! Chelsea survive!
95min: Seconds left for Leicester to find a second!
GOAL!
14:28 , Alex Young94min: Ayew makes no mistake!
LEICESTER PENALTY!
14:27 , Alex Young93min: De Cordova-Reid fouled!
91min: Dewsbury-Hall gets some minutes against his former club. Jackson off.
90min: Five minutes added on.
89min: Chelsea’s defence have had plenty of pressure today but have rarely looked uncomfortable.
Malik Ouzia at King Power Stadium
14:18 , Alex YoungThey’ve just shown the replay of that challenge on the big screen, which feels unwise…
85min: Sancho is on for Madueke.
84min: Big screams for a Leicester penalty as Mavididi goes down in the area under pressure from Fofana.
Referee says no and VAR agrees.
81min: First Chelsea changes as Felix and Caicedo are replaced by Nkunku and Lavia.
79min: Vardy makes way for Daka.
77min: Daka is warming up for Leicester.
GOAL!
14:08 , Alex Young75min: That should be that!
Hermansen does brilliantly to deny Jackson’s header from point-blank range, but can do nothing about Fernandez’s follow up.
Malik Ouzia at King Power Stadium
14:06 , Alex YoungWe are very much into “while it’s still only 1-0…” territory here.
I’m a bit surprised Enzo Maresca hasn’t made a change in midfield yet given both Caicedo and Fernandez were late back from South America on Thursday.
71min: McAteer and Ndidi make way for Mavididi and Ayew.
70min: Leicester about the roll the dice with some attacking changes.
68min: Cooper in the book now for complaining about a Leicester free kick. He smiles at the ref.
64min: Chelsea still far from winning this. Vardy seeing far more of the ball than in the first half.
59min: Faes clears.
58min: Palmer doesn’t appear too fussed, at least.
He’s won a corner.
55min: Oh my word, Madueke! What are you doing?!
Palmer is on hand to sweep home a second goal, but his team-mate cannot get out of the way and blocks it on the line!
53min: Palmer whips in the corner delivery, which is headed away by Skipp.
52min: Palmer with a half-hearted attempt at a low cross into the area from out wide. He’s not quite got going yet.
49min: A slower start to the second half as Leicester sees more of the ball.
Second half!
13:38 , Alex Young46min: Back underway.
Leicester have made Chelsea wait a bit, but here they emerge.
Here come the players for the second half.
Joe Cole in the TNT Sports studio is not happy with Ndidi’s foul on Palmer at all.
Don’t blame him, lucky to avoid a red.
You wonder if Cooper will be tempted to make changes. All three midfielders on bookings is far from idea.
One goal, another disallowed, four yellow cards and two big misses from Leicester.
It’s been quite the first half.
Half-time!
13:21 , Alex Young50min: That’s your lot for the first half!
47min: Maresca is cutting a frustrated figure on the sidelines.
46min: Four minutes added on.
45min: Straight up the other end, Madueke misses a golden chance for a second with a flying attempt at a volley!
Been great entertainment, this.
Malik Ouzia at King Power Stadium
13:14 , Alex YoungUtterly bizarre. For 40 minutes here this looked as big a mismatch as anything Chelsea have enjoyed in the Conference League but suddenly they’re the team that needs half-time.
42min: Oh, Ndidi!
The ball sits up for him inside the area after fine work from Kristiansen down the left, but gets it all wrong and fires wide.
41min: The corner lands right on Sanchez’s head, and the keeper punches away.
40min: Leicester win a corner after Soumare pressures Caicedo inside the Chelsea area.
Vardy really liked that, and Caicedo gets a booking!
38min: Fantastic chance for Leicester!
McAteer, on his first start, cuts inside and bends a shot less than a yard around the post.
A warning for Chelsea.
37min: The free kick comes in and the wind clearly catches it as it sails out of play, but not before worrying Sanchez.
36min: Gusto is late on Okoli to concede a free kick about midway inside their half. A rare chance for Leicester.
NO GOAL!
13:04 , Alex Young32min: Madueke has the ball in the back of the net, but Cucurella is offside in the build-up.
Beautiful pass from Palmer to create the chance.
31min: Skipp now booked - completing the midfield set. It’s been a tough opening half an hour.
30min: Corner comes in from Palmer and it flies straight out of play.
29min: Madueke with a fierce drive which is palmed away, but Felix is upended in the build-up by Soumare - and he gets a booking.
25min: Leicester finally get the ball out of their own half as they win a throw-in about a yard inside Chelsea territory.
Doesn’t come to much.
Malik Ouzia at King Power Stadium
12:55 , Alex YoungLeicester look a side in a real mess.
There are boos from the home crowd for some of their defending and use of the ball and now Ndidi’s gone in with a ridiculous challenge on the back of Palmer’s ankle.
23min: Oof, that is nasty from Ndidi as he catches Palmer on the Achilles.
It’s a booking and VAR says no more.
22min: Leicester still just sitting back as Fernandez tries to slip in Felix, and finally Faes does something right by sitting a foot in to intercept the pass.
Malik Ouzia at King Power Stadium
12:50 , Alex YoungBrilliant determination from Jackson, who had Faes in trouble from the minute he failed the first clearance.
But what about the touch past the defender and finish off the outside of the boot? A young man who is really progressing this season.
18min: Leicester keep giving Felix time and space on the ball to run at them. Not a good tactic.
GOAL!
12:47 , Alex Young15min: It’s been coming!
Such slack defending from Leicester, as Faes fails three times to clear and Jackson just bundles through and scores inside the area.
Malik Ouzia at King Power Stadium
12:43 , Alex YoungOliver Skipp on for Harry Winks. Presumably Ryan Mason’s on standby in case anything happens to him.
10min: Tough break for Winks as he’s forced off early, replaced by Skipp.
7min: Colwill with a slightly slack pass almost plays Leicester in, but Felix is back to defend.
3min: Fast start by Chelsea, on top from the off.
Kick-off!
12:32 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Malik Ouzia at King Power Stadium
12:30 , Alex YoungPlenty of boos for Wesley Fofana but it’s not exactly rocking in here this lunchtime.
An early start, post-international break, in the cold, wind and rain. Not exactly a recipe for raucousness.
Here come the teams.
Very intrigued to see Palmer and Felix play together, and how they link up with Jackson.
Madueke needs to improve after a frustrating few weeks.
Right, all the players are back in the dressing room. Almost time for kick-off.
Malik Ouzia checks in
12:03 , Alex YoungOur man at the King Power.
Finally a chance for Joao Felix and others to impress in the Premier League.
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) November 23, 2024
Here's @MalikOuzia_ with more.#LEICHE pic.twitter.com/Xa7MBhrq2o
Match oods
11:57 , Alex YoungFull steam ahead for Chelsea, according to the bookies.
- Leicester – 11/2
- Draw – 15/4
- Chelsea – 4/9
(Odds via Betway.)
Gusto and Neto absence explained
11:45 , Alex YoungSome clarity over Gusto and Neto.
Malik Ouzia reports that Gusto is unavailable due to illness and Neto picked up a knock during the international break.
So, and interesting line-up from Chelsea. There is no Neto or Gusto and two keepers on the bench.
Felix appears the replacement for Neto, while Fofana could shift to right-back with Badiashile alongside Colwill in the middle.
A late injury to Neto? Maresca will surely lift the lid to TNT Sports soon.
Team news in full
11:22 , Alex YoungChelsea XI: Sanchez, Fofana, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Joao Felix, Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Bettinelli, Adarabioyo, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Lavia, Mudryk, Nkunku, Sancho
Leicester City XI: Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen, McAteer, Soumare, Winks, El Khannouss, Ndidi, Vardy
Subs: Ward, Coady, Thomas, Choudhury, Skipp, DC-R, Mavididi, Ayew, Daka
Leicester XI
11:18 , Alex Young...and the hosts!
Our team news is in! 📝#LEICHE pic.twitter.com/TmQyZGGfUa
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 23, 2024
Chelsea XI
11:15 , Alex YoungHere’s how the Blues look!
Maresca’s Blues.#CFC | #LEICHE pic.twitter.com/K5IcrvfBRS
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 23, 2024
Team news is imminent. Palmer is expected to be fit.
Maresco on Leicester spell
10:57 , Alex YoungEnzo Maresca has lifted the lid on Leicester's promotion celebrations and revealed Jamie Vardy & Co. still know how to party.
Maresca recalled: "The best present I had from last season was when we got promoted and they arrived at my home. All the team.
"This showed the connection between the players; they could go for a party at a different place but they all arrived at my home. It was a fantastic connection and I will always be thankful for them.
"I was at home celebrating with my staff and my family and about two o'clock in the morning all the squad was there. We celebrated all together.
"When I was a player and I won things I never thought to go to the manager's home. That shows the connection."
Steve Cooper on Enzo Maresca
10:46 , Alex YoungLeicester boss Steve Cooper only had nice words to say about his predecessor when addressing the media on Friday.
He added: "Enzo did a brilliant job last season getting the club back into the Premier League and it isn't an easy task for anybody, regardless of the expectation around the team at the start of a season, and it has to be respected.
"He's gone on and had a strong start in his tenure at Chelsea, a very different challenge, but we know we are coming up against a talented team with a good coach and big club.
"It's a game which is going to be a real test but one we have to embrace and be ready for. We have to make sure we are ready to go."
New injury blow for James
10:40 , Alex YoungA horrible new blow for Chelsea captain Reece James this week, who has suffered a fresh hamstring injury setback.
The right-back has only recently returned after missing the start of the season but he is now facing another spell on the sidelines.
Maresca said: "“Unfortunately he felt something small and we don’t want to take any risks this weekend. He’s the only one who for sure is unavailable this week.
“It’s a hamstring. It’s a muscle problem. We don’t want to take any risks for this weekend.”
He added: “He is out for sure this weekend and then we’ll see. Hopefully [he can be] for the next one.
“Now we start to play every three days so it is difficult that he will be available for the Conference League. Hopefully he can be available soon.”
Score prediction
10:29 , Alex YoungLeicester have arguably exceeded expectations during the early stages of the season but do appear to have hit a slump recently. With that in mind, it’s difficult to look past Chelsea – who will no doubt be strong favourites anyway.
Chelsea to win, 2-1.
Leicester team news
10:21 , Alex YoungLeicester will be without winger Abdul Fatawu after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on international duty with Ghana.
Striker Patson Daka is available for selection to Steve Cooper for the first time since returning from injury, while Jamie Vardy and Bobby Decordova Reid also trained following minor issues.
Chelsea team news
10:11 , Alex YoungEnzo Maresca will today assess his players returning from international duty before pondering a potential midfield headache.
Romeo Lavia missed both of Belgium’s games during the break, while both Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez only arrived back at the club on Thursday following matches in South America.
While all three have every chance of being available, Chelsea boss Maresca will also be wary of managing their fitness heading into a hectic part of the season.
The Blues are certain to be without captain Reece James, who has had another hamstring injury setback to continue his nightmare fitness run, but Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill look set to be available despite pulling out of England duty last week.
How to watch Leicester vs Chelsea
10:05 , Alex YoungTV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.
Coverage starts at 11am GMT ahead of a 12.30pm kick-off at the King Power Stadium.
Live steam: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Discovery+ app.
Welcome
10:00 , Alex YoungGood morning and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Leicester and Chelsea.
It’s a first return to the King Power Stadium for Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who guided the Foxes to the Championship title in his sole term in charge last season.
He ruffled a few feathers during his tenure with this style of play, but those same methods appear to be working at Chelsea with the club sitting pretty in third so far this campaign.
Can the Foxes hamper the Blues’ run? Kick-off is at 12.30pm GMT. Stick with us.
