Enzo Maresca set for Leicester return as Chelsea look to close in on Premier League leaders – predicted line-ups and talkSPORT commentary

Enzo Maresca will return to Leicester for the first time since leaving for Chelsea this weekend as his side aim to close in on the Premier League’s top two. The Blues travel to the King Power Stadium following a draw against Arsenal, with the chance to put some pressure on title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool. Chelsea drew with Arsenal last time out and they are competing at the topGetty Maresca won the Championship with Leicester City last season, masterminding their promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking. But now he’s back in charge of a potential title challenger while the Foxes sit dangerously close to the relegation zone under Steve Cooper. Leicester were beaten by Manchester United in their last game before the international break and they will now need to get a positive result after it to lift spirits. Leicester vs Chelsea: Enzo returns Maresca will likely get a great reception at the King Power. After a dismal 2022/23 campaign ended in relegation, Leicester desperately needed to get back in the big time straight away. And that’s exactly what the former Man City assistant delivered, implementing his dominant tactics instantly and leading the Foxes to promotion. His performance in his first managerial role in England expectedly led to some high-quality suitors and one of those was Chelsea. With a points deduction looming and the opportunity too good to turn down, Maresca made the jump from the East Midlands to London in the summer. Of course, the deduction never came after Leicester won their appeal, but that was not predicted, and not many blame him for making the move after only a year. So, fans are likely to say their thanks for an enjoyable and crucial campaign last season when the Italian steps out into the dugout for the first time since leaving. Maresca won the Championship title with Leicester last seasonGetty After a six-game unbeaten run against Chelsea in the Premier League between 2018 and 2021 (W2 D4), Leicester have now lost four of their last five against the Blues (D1). Chelsea have lost just one of their last seven Premier League away games against Leicester (W4 D2), winning their last two visits by an aggregate score of 6-1. Leicester vs Chelsea: Predicted line-ups Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu both returned early from international duty with potentially serious injuries and they are expected to miss out for Leicester. Jamie Vardy is also carrying a problem but he has been training this week and could be set to make a return to the line-up. The Foxes legend will be leading the line should he be fit but in-form Facundo Buonanotte is suspended and won’t feature. Stephy Mavididi is expected to play on the left while due to Ayew’s injury and Buonanotte’s ban, Bilal El Khannouss will likely start. Cooper may opt to change his system though, with Wilfred Ndidi, Harry Winks and Boubakary Soumare potentially starting as a midfield three, just as they did against Man United. In defence, Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard will likely start at centre-back with James Justin and Victor Kristiansen at full-back and Mads Hermansen in goal. As for Chelsea, they could be forced into a couple of changes. Robert Sanchez is the clear No.1 while former Fox Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill take up the centre-back roles in front of him. Captain Reece James may come in at right-back for Malo Gusto, who withdrew from international duty, meaning Marc Cucurella will be on the left. In midfield, Moises Caicedo has starred this season and Romeo Lavia has come into his own, but the latter is a doubt through injury. So ex-Leicester star Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could feature against his former club, although it’s likely to be Enzo Fernandez sitting behind the in-form trio of Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke. Jadon Sancho is back fit, while up front, Nicolas Jackson continues to keep Christopher Nkunku out of the team. Chelsea duo Cole Palmer (12 chances created) and Noni Madueke (5) have created more chances for each other than any other pair of teammates in the Premier League so far this season (17). Wilfred Ndidi has had more touches in the opposition box (33) and provided more assists (4) in the Premier League than any other Leicester player this season. His four assists have come from just nine chances created. Leicester vs Chelsea: What has been said? Before the international break, Maresca spoke of his delight at Chelsea sitting in third place and potentially challenging for the title. After their 1-1 draw with Arsenal last time out, he said: “It’s nice, especially for the fans after the last year has not been great – or at least what this club is used to. For sure, it is something nice.” The Blues boss also compared recent league finishes for his side to the Gunners’ who have come close to glory in recent seasons. He added: “For me, we are behind t

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Enzo Maresca set for Leicester return as Chelsea look to close in on Premier League leaders – predicted line-ups and talkSPORT commentary

Enzo Maresca will return to Leicester for the first time since leaving for Chelsea this weekend as his side aim to close in on the Premier League’s top two.

The Blues travel to the King Power Stadium following a draw against Arsenal, with the chance to put some pressure on title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

Chelsea drew with Arsenal last time out and they are competing at the top

Maresca won the Championship with Leicester City last season, masterminding their promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

But now he’s back in charge of a potential title challenger while the Foxes sit dangerously close to the relegation zone under Steve Cooper.

Leicester were beaten by Manchester United in their last game before the international break and they will now need to get a positive result after it to lift spirits.

Leicester vs Chelsea: Enzo returns

Maresca will likely get a great reception at the King Power.

After a dismal 2022/23 campaign ended in relegation, Leicester desperately needed to get back in the big time straight away.

And that’s exactly what the former Man City assistant delivered, implementing his dominant tactics instantly and leading the Foxes to promotion.

His performance in his first managerial role in England expectedly led to some high-quality suitors and one of those was Chelsea.

With a points deduction looming and the opportunity too good to turn down, Maresca made the jump from the East Midlands to London in the summer.

Of course, the deduction never came after Leicester won their appeal, but that was not predicted, and not many blame him for making the move after only a year.

So, fans are likely to say their thanks for an enjoyable and crucial campaign last season when the Italian steps out into the dugout for the first time since leaving.

Maresca won the Championship title with Leicester last season

After a six-game unbeaten run against Chelsea in the Premier League between 2018 and 2021 (W2 D4), Leicester have now lost four of their last five against the Blues (D1).
Chelsea have lost just one of their last seven Premier League away games against Leicester (W4 D2), winning their last two visits by an aggregate score of 6-1.

Leicester vs Chelsea: Predicted line-ups

Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu both returned early from international duty with potentially serious injuries and they are expected to miss out for Leicester.

Jamie Vardy is also carrying a problem but he has been training this week and could be set to make a return to the line-up.

The Foxes legend will be leading the line should he be fit but in-form Facundo Buonanotte is suspended and won’t feature.

Stephy Mavididi is expected to play on the left while due to Ayew’s injury and Buonanotte’s ban, Bilal El Khannouss will likely start.

Cooper may opt to change his system though, with Wilfred Ndidi, Harry Winks and Boubakary Soumare potentially starting as a midfield three, just as they did against Man United.

In defence, Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard will likely start at centre-back with James Justin and Victor Kristiansen at full-back and Mads Hermansen in goal.

As for Chelsea, they could be forced into a couple of changes.

Robert Sanchez is the clear No.1 while former Fox Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill take up the centre-back roles in front of him.

Captain Reece James may come in at right-back for Malo Gusto, who withdrew from international duty, meaning Marc Cucurella will be on the left.

In midfield, Moises Caicedo has starred this season and Romeo Lavia has come into his own, but the latter is a doubt through injury.

So ex-Leicester star Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could feature against his former club, although it’s likely to be Enzo Fernandez sitting behind the in-form trio of Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke.

Jadon Sancho is back fit, while up front, Nicolas Jackson continues to keep Christopher Nkunku out of the team.

Chelsea duo Cole Palmer (12 chances created) and Noni Madueke (5) have created more chances for each other than any other pair of teammates in the Premier League so far this season (17).
Wilfred Ndidi has had more touches in the opposition box (33) and provided more assists (4) in the Premier League than any other Leicester player this season. His four assists have come from just nine chances created.

Leicester vs Chelsea: What has been said?

Before the international break, Maresca spoke of his delight at Chelsea sitting in third place and potentially challenging for the title.

After their 1-1 draw with Arsenal last time out, he said: “It’s nice, especially for the fans after the last year has not been great – or at least what this club is used to. For sure, it is something nice.”

The Blues boss also compared recent league finishes for his side to the Gunners’ who have come close to glory in recent seasons.

He added: “For me, we are behind this kind of club [Arsenal] because they work every day with the last nine years with the same manager.

“It doesn’t mean when we face them, we are not going to compete. We tried to win the game.

“Very soon we will win these kind of games.”

Maresca’s side are third and will believe they can challenge the best

Leicester are winless in their last 13 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top four of the table (D3 L10) since a 1-0 win against Liverpool in December 2021. They’ve conceded 35 goals in these 13 games, an average of 2.7 per game.
Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games immediately following an international break (D3 L3), beating Bournemouth 1-0 earlier this season.