Marc Cucurella hammered Chelsea back into the Premier League’s top four with the emphatic lone goal in the Blues’ 1-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday.
REACTION — Enzo Maresca speaks on Cole Palmer penalty miss, illness
Chelsea break out of a 3 wins in 11 slide to move fourth place with 49 points, two points ahead of the defending champions and two back of third-place Nottingham Forest.
WATCH – Chelsea vs Leicester full match replay
Leicester remains in the bottom three, six points back of 17th-place Wolves with 10 matches to play.
Chelsea, sick Cole Palmer gut out a win
Most of what was going to be said here was going to revolve around Cole Palmer lacking confidence in the midst of his cold streak in front of goal, as Palmer looked anything but enthusiastic while doing his usual bit in attack. But Maresca’s post-match words changed that train of thought as he revealed the player fought through an illness to play. So, in effect, the unfortunately visage he presented might’ve just been a desire to grab a win and get back in bed. Chelsea also had to fight through something — Leicester City’s surprise change in set-up. The Foxes played resolute defense and changed the combination to their formation, something that had seem them leak goals. If Leicester go down it won’t be on account of effort — the Foxes just have a lot of pre-prime and post-prime players mixed in with guys who aren’t difference makers. Ultimately, this was a show of composure from Chelsea that bodes well for their top-four push as well as a feather in the cap of Van Nistelrooy when it comes to tactical acumen and team spirit maintenance.
Chelsea vs Leicester City player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Leicester City player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Leicester City player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Chelsea will be back at the Bridge on Thursday in a bid to keep the lead over Copenhagen following a 2-1 Conference League first leg in Denmark. They return to the Premier League at Arsenal at 9:30am ET on Sunday.
Leicester City wait until 3pm Sunday to host Ruud van Nistelrooy’s old pals Manchester United.
How to watch Chelsea vs Leicester live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Sunday
Venue: Stamford Bridge
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch online via NBC.com
Chelsea vs Leicester final score: 1-0
Marc Cucurella 60'
Chelsea vs Leicester live updates — By Nick Mendola
Marc Cucurella goal — Chelsea 1-0 Leicester City
It only takes a moment of let-off in the midst of a committed defensive effort, and Leicester give Marc Cucurella space and time to lash a left-footed effort home.
Halftime — Chelsea 0-0 Leicester City
The Cole Palmer missed penalty looms over this fixture and his slump, and Leicester have settled into a more composed defensive unit.
The Blues have 70% possession and 10 of the game’s 11 shot attempts. Hermansen has the penalty save and another good stop amongst his three saves.
Leicester have attack options on the bench if they decide to go for three points, but right now they are prepared to battle for one.
Another clash of heads
No blood though, this time.
James Justin sweeps a cross toward goal and Tosin Adarabioyo’s clearance just misses own goal status, popping off the cross bar.
Levi Colwill leaps to clear it before Jamie Vardy can nod it home, and does so at the expense of taking Vardy’s hard head to the back of his. Both players are in pain but will play on.
0-0, 28'.
Cole Palmer penalty saved!
Mads Hermansen dives low to his left to stop Palmer’s low, decently-hit penalty from getting inside the far post!
It’s Palmer’s first unsuccessful Premier League penalty after 12-straight makes.
0-0, 22'.
Chelsea penalty!
Jadon Sancho is fouled in the box by Victor Kristiansen and there’s no debating the penalty.
Head clash delay
Maybe this break can help Leicester find their footing, but that’s a silver lining to a bloody problem.
Wout Faes and Pedro Neto went head-to-head and both players are being bandaged to stop blood from streaming down their faces.
Penalty shout highlights early Blues venom
Cole Palmer gets knocked in the box but there’s no penalty call and VAR does nothing to change it.
The Blues are pressuring Leicester early and the Foxes need to quiet them ASAP.
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez, Fofana, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Nkunku
Leicester lineup
Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Coady, Kristiansen, Thomas, Ndidi, Soumare, El Khannous, Daka, Vardy
Chelsea vs Leicester City preview — By Andy Edwards
Despite winning just three of their last 11 Premier League games, Chelsea still occupy (what we presume to be) a Champions League place with a chance to get right against relegation-threatened Leicester at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (10 am ET).
Somewhat encouragingly, all three of those wins came on home soil and against sides currently 15th or lower in the PL table, putting Enzo Maresca’s current side in prime position for three points against his former club. On the flip side, talisman Cole Palmer is without a goal or assist in his last six PL appearances, though Maresca insists he is not worried. “It is how you react. He is reacting perfectly,” the Italian said this week. “He is smiling and he is happy. We have no doubt he will score more goals. He’s a human being. All human beings, all big players, all the normal players, big club, big manager - we all go through a bad moment.”
As for Leicester, the situation is becoming as simple as it is dire: The Foxes need wins (in a hurry) if they are going to stay in the top flight. The gap to 17th-place Wolves might only be five points (and 17 goals), but that’s an incredibly tall task for a side with just four wins in 27 games. Since beating West Ham in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s debut as manager, Leicester have won just one of 13 games (1W-1D-11L) and they haven’t scored a goal in any of their last four PL games (400 minutes without scoring), while conceding 12.
Chelsea team news
OUT: Noni Madueke (thigh), Nicolas Jackson (thigh), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Omari Kellyman (thigh), Marc Guiu (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Malo Gusto (undisclosed), Romeo Lavia (thigh)
Leicester team news
OUT: Abdul Fatawu (knee - out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Ricardo Pereira (thigh)
Chelsea vs Leicester prediction
There won’t be a more perfect time for Palmer get find his groove and form as Chelsea prepare to make their end-of-season push. Don’t be surprised is he has multiple goals and/or assists in this one. Chelsea 3-0 Leicester.
