Chelsea v Leicester: Premier League predictions, free tips and team news

TV: Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 4.30pm

Stamford Bridge will be rocking for Frank Lampard’s homecoming, although the new Blues boss could well find himself upstaged by another Chelsea old boy.

Brendan Rodgers’ four years as youth coach at the Bridge weren’t anywhere near as celebrated as Super Frank’s 13 seasons but the Northern Irish coach has won plaudits - and trophies - galore since leaving west London on the management trail.

Since arriving at Leicester he’s improved the Foxes no end and they can round off a difficult first week back in the top flight for Lampard by denying Chelsea three points.

It’s certainly been a tough first seven days for Lampard with trips to Manchester to take on United and Istanbul to take on Liverpool.

The 4-0 drubbing they were meted out at Old Trafford doesn’t reflect the way they played, more the way they defended, and they weren’t that bad either against Liverpool in the Super Cup, a match they lost on penalties.

That two-hour workout was the last thing Lampard needed, however, given his squad isn’t the deepest courtesy of a transfer ban and injuries.

He thinks his side will be okay physically but Rodgers couldn’t have hand-picked a better time to be going back to the Bridge.

The best bet looks a lay of Chelsea, who may take a bit of time to adjust to life under Lampard.

The new gaffer has already made personnel and formation tweaks in his first two games in charge and it’s clear he’s going to be investing an awful lot of faith in the likes of Foxes old boy N'Golo Kante, Jorginho and Christian Pulisic to bring stellar performances to the table week after week.

They look short of top quality at the back, although it’s questionable whether Leicester are the sort of team who can punish them.

Leicester weren’t particularly expansive in last week’s 0-0 draw at home to Wolves, a match in which they struggled to come to life.

Defensively they were magnificent with Caglar Soyuncu putting in a supreme shift alongside Jonny Evans just a few days after Harry Maguire had left for Manchester United.

The Turk needs to follow that up but looks a solid stopper at the heart of an accomplished back four.

Rogers will doubtless deploy three across the middle and look at the defensive sides of Ayoze Perez and James Maddison out wide and this could turn into a frustrating afternoon for those connected to the hosts.

Leicester signed off last season with a 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea and picked up where they left off.

This fixture doesn’t have a look of goals about it, especially with Jamie Vardy isolated and Chelsea struggling to break down an obdurate visitors’ back line.

Recommendation
Leicester or draw double chance
1pt 11-10 general

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Team news
Chelsea
Antonio Rudiger is back training but unlikely to be involved. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James are out, Willian is fit. Andreas Christensen is a doubt.

Leicester
Brendan Rodgers has a fully fit squad to select from.

Key stat
Only one goal has been scored in the last three league clashes between the teams.

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