Chelsea predicted line-up vs. Leicester City: Premier League

Premier League action resumes after the final international break of the year as Chelsea visit Leicester City to kick off matchweek 12.

Enzo Maresca returns to the King Power Stadium, where he led Leicester City back to the top of English football a season ago. After a tough run of games, Chelsea’s schedule is now becoming considerably friendlier on paper. Leicester City will be Chelsea’s first match against a newly promoted side this year.

The Blues are third despite a tough schedule to start the season, albeit nine points behind leaders Liverpool and just one point ahead of ninth-place Aston Villa. The pack has gathered in the battle for the top four in the Premier League, so Chelsea must string together wins in this lighter part of the schedule if they are serious about challenging for positions in the UEFA Champions League.

Maresca announced that captain Reece James will miss the match due to yet another hamstring problem. Other than that, the squad is healthy, although Romeo Lavia did experience a bit of discomfort while playing for Belgium. Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo made a long journey back after their participation in the South American World Cup qualifiers, leaving Maresca with some interesting decisions to make about which players would be in his midfield.

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GK: Robert Sánchez—The Spaniard’s performances have left Chelsea in need of a goalkeeper in the future as his shaky performances continue to come under heavy scrutiny. He remains the preferred option for now.

RB: Malo Gusto—Without James, Gusto has been Chelsea’s starting player for over a year now. His ability to drift into a central, attacking pocket almost as a number eight was highlighted by Maresca.

CB: Wesley Fofana—Fofana will face his former team and hope to help achieve Chelsea’s first EPL clean sheet since the end of September.

CB: Levi Colwil—Colwill was one of eight England players to withdraw from the squad during the international break. With two weeks to return to full fitness, he should return to teaming up with Fofana, as they have done for most of the season in the EPL.

LB: Marc Cucurella—Cucurella was very impressive in dealing with Bukayo Saka in the last game before halftime. Although he was dropped from the starting line-up last month, it has been a very solid season for the Spanish left-back.

CM: Moises Caicedo—Caicedo has been fantastic this season and played up to the standards of his $147 million transfer price. He will once again anchor Chelsea’s midfield

CM: Enzo Fernández—Fernández has four assists in his last two games for Chelsea and was arguably Argentina’s best player in the final qualifiers. His rise in form and weaker opposition should make him preferable to Lavia.

RW: Pedro Neto—Neto took over on the right flank against Arsenal and scored the equalizer from that position. Ahead of the season, Maresca said he considered him a right winger and with Noni Madueke’s last goal for Chelsea coming on October 6, Neto could take over the starting role for his favorite side.

AM: Cole Palmer—Palmer has been quiet lately compared to his early-season standards. He hopes the two-week break has helped him get back to his best as Chelsea’s most threatening player.

LW: Mykhaylo Mudryk—Mudryk’s performances in Chelsea’s midweek matches recently warranted him a chance to start in the EPL for the first time since August 25.

ST: Nicolas Jackson—Christopher Nkunku is Chelsea’s top scorer in all competitions this year, but Jackson remains Maresca’s preferred option to start as a striker in the EPL.

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