Chelsea vs Leicester City. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance41,547.
Saturday 15 October 2016 12:28, UK
John Terry has recovered from an ankle injury and is in contention to return to Chelsea's starting line-up for Saturday lunchtime's Premier League clash at home to Leicester.
The Blues captain could form part of a defensive back three for the Blues, with Branislav Ivanovic likely to miss out again after being dropped for the win at Hull prior to the international break.
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri hopes to have midfielder Danny Drinkwater fit and available for the trip to his former club.
Drinkwater was not available for selection for England's recent World Cup Qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia due to a groin injury,but he has since resumed training and will be assessed on Friday.
For Chelsea, Willian is absent, on compassionate leave following the death of his mother, while defender Kurt Zouma continues his rehabilitation from his long-term knee injury.
Leicester's Nampalys Mendy has been absent since limping off during the goalless home draw with Arsenal on August 20 and it seems his ankle injury is likely to keep him on the sidelines for another week.
Chelsea are without a win in their last two Premier League meetings with Leicester (D1 L1), after winning the six before that.
Leicester have registered just one win in their 10 Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge (D3 L6), with that win coming in September 2000 via a 2-0 scoreline.
This will be Ranieri's third top-flight clash with Chelsea, with each of those meetings coming against a different manager (2-1 v Mourinho, 1-1 v Hiddink and this game against Conte).
Cesc Fabregas has netted three goals in Chelsea last two meetings with Leicester in all competitions, including a double in a 4-2 EFL Cup win for the Blues in September.
Leicester City have lost on just one of their last five top-flight trips to London (W3 D1), this after losing 17 and drawing three of their previous 20.
Leicester City have lost all three of their away league games this season. The last reigning top-flight champions to lose their opening four away games of the season were Blackburn in 1995-96 (also Liverpool in 1964-65 - 4, and Arsenal in 1953-54 - 4).
Jamie Vardy has averaged a goal every 281 minutes in the Premier League this season (two goals in seven games), a significant drop from 2015/16's 131 minutes per goal average (24 goals in 36 games).
Since he joined Chelsea in July 2014, only Sergio Aguero (55) and Harry Kane (48) have scored more Premier League goals than Diego Costa (38).
Eight of Chelsea's last 13 top-flight games at Stamford Bridge have ended in a draw (W3 L2).
Excluding penalties, Chelsea are one of just two sides yet to score a goal from a set-piece situation this season (also Sunderland).
It's a big game for both teams. For Chelsea, they need to get back into the race for the top four, and for Leicester, if they lose it will be one of the worst ever starts to a title defence.
I wouldn't say a win puts Chelsea back in the title hunt, I have seen plenty of them this season and I'd be shocked if they won the league from this position. But it could get them back in the race for Champions League qualification.
I think opponents have sussed out Leicester. When Liverpool ripped them to shreds, they squeezed hard and were nicking the ball for fun.
Leicester are not going to pass around you, and when you are organised at the back, it's difficult for them to create. I don't see anything other than a Chelsea win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (Sky Bet odds 10/1)
Chelsea are warm 4/7 favourites with Sky Bet for Saturday's lunchtime clash with defending Premier League champions, who are 9/2 to kick-start a stuttering domestic campaign with a win at Stamford Bridge.
It's 16/5 for the game to end all square.
Chelsea ended a four-game winless run with a 2-0 win at Hull last time out, and are 13/2 to win by the same scoreline here, while Costa is a clear 3/1 favourite to score the first goal of the game.
