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The stage is set. We’re just a few minutes away from kick-off!
Enzo Maresca has opened up about the bond he formed with his Leicester players last season, recalling the night they gatecrashed his house to throw a 2am party after winning the Championship title. The Italian explained: “It was probably the best present I got last season when we were promoted and at around two o’clock in the morning all the team arrived at my house. I was watching the [QPR vs] Leeds game and when it finished all the staff arrived. And then later, very late, the players arrived. They could be in different places to celebrate but they decided to come to my home. When I was a player I was lucky to win things but I never thought to go to the manager’s house.”
Looking ahead to this afternoon’s game, he said: “I will be thankful to the club, the players and the fans. Because it was a fantastic season. I cannot control how they are going to receive me. But I can control how I receive them.”
Jamie Vardy is back in the Leicester starting line-up today after recovering from a back issue. Enzo Maresca heaped praise on his former No9 ahead of this afternoon’s match, claiming he is the best striker of his generation. Maresca said: “Vardy is fantastic and people don’t realise how good he is. I know that England has been quite lucky with strikers, like Kane, Rooney and many others, but if you ask me he has been the best one.
“He can do many things, like run in behind and finish, but the best thing for me is his open mind. Last year he changed the way he was playing by dropping in, linking the play and he still wants to learn. But of course he still has the one thing that is most difficult to find, which is to score goals. He can be out for one week, without training, and play on the Saturday or Sunday and he’s the one who scores.”
One Chelsea fan has been in touch to say how thrilled they are with the club’s progress this season. However, they are not counting Leicester out today…
“#3 on the table is something that we, the Chelsea fans (yes, we are not yet extinct) have not been used to since a while. To be counted as a favourite for the top 4 and get back to UCL should be our target by May 25.
“Leicester is not a serious threat but then who saw the miracle of Forest when the season began. Anything is possible. We can win this 1- 4 or lose it by 5-0. We are Chelsea!”
Also in the Premier League today…
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Fulham vs Wolves
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Everton vs Brentford
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Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
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Bournemouth vs Brighton
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Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
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Manchester City vs Tottenham
Leicester also suffered a serious injury blow this week, with promising winger Abdul Fatawu ruled out for the rest of the season. The 20-year-old ruptured his ACL while playing for Ghana during the international break.
Manager Steve Cooper said: “He’s a young player and having an ACL injury can be quite common, it’s part of football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us. We’ve very much now got to support him in every way we can to make sure his rehab is as smooth and as productive as possible. We hope he can come back a stronger player and person.”
James’ injury nightmare
Chelsea full-back Reece James took to Instagram on Thursday after it was revealed that he suffered another injury setback. He wrote: “This message is to the people that understand & have respect for what I’m going through... I appreciate you so much, your support and kind words go further than you could ever imagine. And just to touch on me... I’m doing okay, been better and also been worse. Another challenge ahead accepted. Eventually I’ll come out on top. Against all odds.”
James has endured a torrid time with injuries over the last five years. He spent seven months on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring issue last season. The Chelsea captain has also endured knocks to his knee, ankle and thigh over the years.
His latest injury is his eighth hamstring issue in four years.
Reece James is not in the Chelsea squad today. The full-back suffered another hamstring injury this week, but Enzo Maresca has played down concerns regarding a long-term spell on the sidelines. The Chelsea manager said on Thursday: “We have just one injured player and that’s Reece who unfortunately felt something small in training two days ago and we don’t want to take a risk for the weekend.
“It’s a hamstring, muscular problem. We will see, we don’t know for how long, for sure [we want him fit for longer]. At the moment it is not happening but we hope it will happen soon. He is out this weekend but hopefully he can be back soon. It’s probably difficult that he can be available for the Conference League [next Thursday], but hopefully soon.”
I want to hear from you this afternoon! Feel free to message me with any score predictions, opinions, thoughts, feelings and all that jazz. Will Enzo Maresca be outfoxed by his former team? (sorry not sorry for the pun) Or will he get another win under his belt at the King Power?
Also, let me know if you’re braving Storm Bert to go and watch the football today…
Weather warnings have been put in place across England today amid the arrival of Storm Bert. Some EFL fixtures scheduled for this afternoon have already been postponed, including the Championship clash between Blackburn and Portsmouth as well as Accrington Stanley’s trip to Bradford in League Two.
Team news
Leicester starting XI: Mads Hermansen; James Justin, Wout Faes, Caleb Okoli, Victor Kristiansen; Harry Winks, Boubakary Soumaré, Wilfred Ndidi; Kasey McAteer, Bilal El Khannouss, Jamie Vardy (C). Substitutes: Danny Ward, Conor Coady, Luke Thomas, Hamza Choudhury, Oliver Skipp, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Stephy Mavididi, Jordan Ayew, Patson Daka.
Chelsea starting XI: Robert Sánchez; Wesley Fofana, Benoît Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella; Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez (C), Cole Palmer; Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Nicolas Jackson. Substitutes: Filip Jörgensen, Marcus Bettinelli, Tosin Adarabioyo, Renato Veiga, Roméo Lavia, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jadon Sancho, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku.
Preamble
The international break is over, the Premier League is finally back and normal business is resuming.
Hello and welcome to coverage of today’s Premier League clash between Leicester City and Chelsea. Enzo Maresca travels to his former home to face his former club for the first time since swapping Leicestershire for London in July. Maresca led the Foxes back to England’s top flight at the first time of asking last season. Now, he is seeking glory with Chelsea. A win today will put the Blues just one point behind Manchester City. Anything less could see them leapfrogged by Arsenal, Nottingham Forest or Brighton later today. As for Leicester, a much-needed win could give them a nice cushion above the relegation zone.
Kick-off is at 12:30pm GMT - join me!
