Leicester City 0-3 Chelsea
If revenge is a dish best served cold, then this was certainly that.
Cold, clinical and ruthless in fact as Chelsea impressed from start to finish to stay top of the Premier League and gain a modicum of revenge for last season’s FA Cup Final.
From the moment Antonio Rudiger flicked home the opener after 13 minutes the result was never in doubt.
The Premier League 2021 highlights that followed all belonged to the west Londoners as they comprehensively won in the Foxes’ lair.
Highlights of the game
Last time out, they had drawn at Leeds, although the league leaders were also frustrated at home to Burnley.
Ahead of this game, a section of Chelsea supporters asked manager Thomas Tuchel to name United States international Christian Pulisic in his starting line-up.
He hadn’t started a game for the Blues since their Premier League opening weekend win at home to Crystal Palace and, after contracting Covid and enduring ankle damage whilst away on international duty, the 23-year-old had only played four times so far this term.
They didn’t get their wish as both sides made two changes apiece for this lunchtime kick-off.
Pulisic was named on the bench along with Timo Werner as the visitors welcomed back England midfielder Mason Mount, who has missed the Blues’ past three games due to dental surgery, and Trevoh Chalobah came in for Andreas Christensen.
Leicester City brought in Daniel Amartey and Marc Albrighton to replace injured pair of Youri Tielemans – out “for a few weeks” with the calf injury he sustained against Leeds – and Ricardo Pereira from the side that drew 1-1 at Leeds a fortnight ago.
This was the fourth meeting between Leicester and Chelsea this calendar year, clubs of differing resources whose fortunes nonetheless seem tangled together.
Leicester went top after beating Chelsea 2-0 at home in January, James Maddison scoring the second goal before cheerfully claiming: “We knew they switched off at set pieces,” an observation that felt terminal to then boss Frank Lampard’s employment.
Having played some part in Tuchel’s arrival, Leicester won the FA Cup final against him in May, before league defeat at Stamford Bridge three days later helped to ensure the Foxes would narrowly miss out on qualifying for the Champions League.
Chelsea are now European champions and one of the favourites with the SBOTOP Premier League 2021 betting odds.
This performance showed why.
Only a few minutes had elapsed when Ben Chilwell, the former Leicester full-back, drove forward and smacked the ball against the crossbar from a Rudiger pass.
The respite was brief as the German defender flicked in a Chilwell corner in the 13th minute.
But for Kasper Schmeichel keeping out an N’Golo Kante effort and Kai Havertz and Reece James seeing shots blocked, the lead would have been extended.
The match turned on three key minutes key midway through the first half.
Ademola Lookman had the ball in the net after good work by Jamie Vardy and Albrighton only to be ruled offside.
Then Kante rifled the ball into the top right corner from the edge of the box after good work by James and the lead was doubled.
With that the contest was over.
Sure, Edouard Mendy made a fabulous save to tip away a fierce long-range shot from Daniel Amartey, while Vardy headed over from close range.
But Chelsea could have had more but for Schmeichel and also had three goals of their own ruled out for offside before Pulisic, on as a substitute, slotted home from Hakim Ziyech’s cross.
Top of the table and in control.
Chelsea have now won four consecutive Premier League away games without conceding for the first time since 2008.
Key statistics
Rudiger has scored more Premier League goals against Leicester (four) than any other side, with four of his last five in the competition coming against the Foxes.
He only scored three goals in the whole of the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns and all three came against Leicester – two in a 2-2 draw at the King Power in February 2020 and one in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over the Foxes in May.
Chelsea have only lost twice in 21 competitive away matches under Thomas Tuchel.
As a Premier League manager, Brendan Rodgers’ lowest winning percentage (7.1%) and points-per-game ratio (0.71) against a single side are both versus Chelsea, winning only one of his 14 fixtures with the Blues (drawn seven, lost six).
Leicester have won just two of their past nine league fixtures (drawn three, lost four).
They have kept only one clean sheet in 18 league games.
What’s next?
This was the first of three home fixtures for Leicester City in a week.
On Thursday they entertain Legia Warsaw and then welcome title-winning boss Claudio Ranieri back as Watford are the visitors next Sunday (November 28).
Chelsea, meanwhile, host Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday evening before Manchester United come to town next Sunday.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
