Chelsea vs. Leicester City EPL week 8 punting tips & specials

Table position:
Chelsea: Seventh
Leicester City: 12th

Season record:
Chelsea: 4-1-2
Leicester City: 2-2-3

Last five match results:
Chelsea: WLLDW
Leicester City: DLWLW

Win Draw Win odds:
Chelsea: $1.61 with Sportsbet.com.au
Draw: $4 with Sportsbet.com.au
Leicester City: $5.50 with Sportsbet.com.au

IS this two teams who have completely switched identities this season?

Chelsea played last season as the reigning champion and was absolutely woeful, while Leicester City went from almost being relegated to the summit of the Premier League.

By stack contrast, Leicester City started this season as the champion and is has been terrible, winning just twice in seven games, while Chelsea has rejuvenated itself under new manager Antonio Conte, sitting seventh.

While neither side looks a genuine challenger for the title at this early stage, Chelsea has certainly shown far more chops than the Foxes.

Last season’s clashes, where Chelsea went winless in both games (a draw and a loss) are well and truly in the past here.

They had claimed full points in each of the previous six matches before last season and regular transmission is expected to be resumed.

After starting off the season on fire, Chelsea went three match days without a win, including being pumped 3-0 by Arsenal, but they got back on the good side of the ledger with a 2-0 win over Hull and will look to take that winning form another step further against the Foxes.

Against Hull City, Chelsea took time to get going, but when it did, boy was it blistering.

First it was William firing in a brilliant curled strike that gave the keeper no chance on 61 minutes.

And then Diego Costa cleaned up a Nemanja Matic strike that was deposited into the net by the Premier League’s Golden Boot leader Diego Costa.

It was an easy win after a rough run and leaves Chelsea primed for the struggling title-holders.

Despite a 3-0 win over Burnley, Leicester City was thumped 4-1 by Manchester United, and then had to settle to a 0-0 draw against a staunch Southampton last time out.

These two teams are no strangers to each other, having already met in the League Cup, where Cesc Fabregas fired in a pair of extra time goals that consigned the Foxes to a 4-2 defeat.

An early brace by Shinji Okazaki had the Foxes looking home and hosed, but defender Gary Cahill grabbed one back before the break.

Then Cesar Azpilicueta equalised, forcing the game into extra time.

Fabregas finished them off in stunning fashion.

Let’s hope this match up is as thrilling as the last and there are goals galore.

Possible team line ups

Chelsea: Thibaut COURTOIS, John TERRY, Gary CAHILL, David LUIZ, Cesar AZPILICUETA, N’Golo KANTÉ, Nemanja MATIC, Marcos ALONSO, WILLIAN, DIEGO COSTA, Eden HAZARD

Leicester City: Kasper SCHMEICHEL, Danny SIMPSON, Robert HUTH, Wes MORGAN, Christian FUCHS, Riyad MAHREZ, Danny DRINKWATER, Daniel AMARTEY, Marc ALBRIGHTON, Islam SLIMANI, Jamie VARDY

First goal scorer picks

Chelsea:

Diego Costa ($4.20 with Sportsbet.com.au)

There is no doubting here that Costa is the out and out danger man. He already has six goals on the season, more than any other player in the Premier League. He is a rejuvenated man under Conte and is fast coming back to the player he was before a series of soft tissue injuries curtailed his considerable influence. The way Leicester has been defending, he may even have a hat-trick in him.

N’Golo Kante ($17 with Sportsbet.com.au)

It would be a bittersweet first goal for Kante against the side he led to an improbable title last season, but it would also be glorious and add so much more to the story. Has not yet scored for Chelsea, but has been a beast since crossing over in the transfer period and we reckon he would love to get on the scoresheet.

Branislav Ivanovic ($21 with sportsbet.com.au)

Ivanovic used to be a lock for a couple of booming goals every season, but age might have wearied him slightly. He still has a more than dangerous long boot and is a brute when he gets in the box, but there’s a reason he is $21. Worth a small flier if you’re looking for someone from the Pensioners at longer odds.

Leicester City:

Islam Slimani ($7.50 with sportsbet.com.au)

Finding avenues to goal has not been an easy thing for this season’s Foxes unit, but they busted out with three against Burnley a last month. New man Slimani looks the liveliest of their attacking unit, bagging a quick fire double in his Premier League debut against Burnley. But It’s been tough going since then and, while Jamie Vardy got himself on the scoresheet against the Swans well over a month ago, we like the new man to open the Foxes’ account first in this one.

Match predictions

Match result: Chelsea to win ($1.61 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Correct match score: Chelsea to win 4-1 ($23 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Total match goals: Over 2.5 goals ($1.65 with Sportsbet.com.au)

It’s no surprise Chelsea is the favourite to win this match up. Leicester City looked like it had slightly turned things around, bagging a 3-0 win over Burnley, but they have been leaking goals galore, conceding four each to Liverpool and Manchester United, both away. We’re going for a three from three 4-1 loss to a big club to pour further mire on their sputtering season. And the over 2.5 goals feels like a monty with the way Chelsea have been banging them in.