Reality has completely set in for Leicester City. The Foxes might be the defending Premier League champions, but they have run out of magic and are going to be fortunate jut to avoid the drop this year. After getting blasted 3-0 earlier this year by Chelsea, they have to try to figure out how to stump the Blues once again, though it definitely should be noted that King Power Stadium was a house of horrors for the big time teams in England a campaign ago.
At 12:30 p.m. ET, tune into NBC Sports Network for live television coverage of this Barclays Premier League match on Saturday, January 14, 2016, at King Power Stadium.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Leicester City +485
Chelsea -175
Draw +305
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
It's certainly going to be an uphill battle for Leicester City in this one. The team is set at +485 on the moneyline and is a comfortable 1-goal under on the Asian Handicap. Chelsea is a -175 choice to win this match and start a new winning streak after it crashed against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in Match Day 20.
The total in this one is fairly standard at 2.5 with -120 vig on the over.
Key Injuries
The Africa Cup of Nations is a big deal and is quite poorly placed on the docket in relation to the European schedule. Perhaps no team is going to be hurt quite as much as Leicester City. The Foxes have lost Daniel Amartey, Islam Slimani and most importantly, Riyad Mahrez for the next couple weeks at least. At least Leicester City isn't dealing with any substantial injuries, though it's worth remembering that Jamie Vardy did sit out of the team's FA Cup match with Everton due to illness just last week.
Chelsea has nothing to worry about on the injury front, though it should be noted that John Terry won't be available in this fixture after picking up a red card against Peterborough in the FA Cup that has landed him on the ban list for this duel.
Recent Form
Chelsea certainly didn't have any hangover from its first loss in quite some time against Tottenham. The team came out four days after that defeat and silenced Peterborough in the third round of the FA Cup, a result that virtually had to be had to ensure there wouldn't be a bit of a slip up coming into a couple matches that really should each yield three points against Leicester City and Hull City.
Leicester City has its work cut out for it over the course of the next month or so, as the team will have to play in the FA Cup fourth round against Derby County after dismissing Everton on the road last weekend as well as getting at least two more matches in the UCL against Sevilla and perhaps more beyond that. The Foxes have only scored a total of one goal in their last three EPL fixtures, though the good news is that the one was good enough to pick up a 'W' against West Ham at home. The team is just 1-1-1 in its last three, though if that was the ratio acquired for the rest of the term, there's a good chance the team would stay up.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
That magic from last year just isn't here any longer for Leicester City in spite of the fact that so many of the top names remain from the club. That said, the Foxes are certain sellers during the transfer window, and they aren't getting any better from here, while Chelsea only stands to get stronger.
The rich will continue to get richer in this one, and we think the result is going to be emphatic just as a 3-0 victory at home was when these teams met earlier this year.
Barclays Premier League Odds: Chelsea 2, Leicester City 0
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