Chelsea continued their strong start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 over Leicester as Blues boss Enzo Maresca enjoyed a happy return to the club he guided to promotion last season.
Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez found the net at the King Power Stadium for the visitors in a game they largely dominated.
Substitute Jordan Ayew pulled one back from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time but it proved too little too late for Steve Cooper’s team.
The result keeps Maresca’s side third and on the tails of Manchester City in second.
Leicester’s miserable run of form – winless in five games in all competitions – continues.
ALL THREE POINTS! 💪#CFC | #LEICHE pic.twitter.com/Q7CbO0MWyf
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 23, 2024
How it happened
Somewhat predictably, it was Chelsea who enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, with much of the action taking place in Leicester’s defensive third.
Cooper was forced into an early change when Harry Winks hobbled off after just ten minutes, replaced by Oliver Skipp.
And it went from bad to worse for Leicester as, just five minutes later, the visitors struck.
Jackson, enjoying a rich vein of form in front of goal this term, put the retreating Wout Faes under immense pressure.
Jackson’s persistence paid off as Faes failed to clear the ball, allowing the Senegal international an effort on goal which he duly took, sending a right-footed strike into the far corner of the net.
Chelsea were beginning to purr, with Cole Palmer and Joao Felix picking up increasingly-dangerous pockets of space between the lines of Leicester’s low block.
Meanwhile, the hosts’ frustrations were threatening to boil over as both Palmer and Felix were on the receiving end of several crunching challenges.
Another of Maresca’s danger men, Noni Madueke then stung the palms of Mads Hermansen when he cut inside from the right and bent an effort towards goal.
Madueke, so impressive on England duty last week, had a goal chalked off for offside before a rare venture forward for Leicester ended with Kasey McAteer, making his first Premier League start, curling a strike inches wide of the far post.
The chance appeared to give Cooper’s side a surge of confidence, and despite seeing very little of the ball all half, went into the break the stronger of the two sides.
Nicolas Jackson opens the scoring for Chelsea!
It’s one the Leicester defence won’t want to watch back in a hurry 😖
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/XFCnQ4oEl5
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 23, 2024
On a blustery day in the East Midlands, it would be all-too tempting to describe Leicester’s first-half resurgence as the winds of change beginning to blow. But it was Chelsea who came out firing in the second 45.
In a moment destined for the end of season blooper reel, Jackson’s strike was pushed out towards the oncoming Palmer. Just yards out and with the goal at his mercy, Chelsea’s star man hit the ball against the legs of teammate Madueke, who had jumped to try and get out of the way, before trickling out for a goal kick.
🫣 It’s a great block from Noni Madueke… unfortunately it’s on his teammate!
He shares a laugh with Cole Palmer after 🤝
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/a6SmXDLi1K
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 23, 2024
Both players were quick to see the funny side but, thankfully for Maresca, it was a missed chance Chelsea would not eventually come to rue.
With less than 15-minutes remaining, Marc Cucurella’s cross found Jackson whose header was palmed out by Hermansen into the path of Fernandez who nodded home to double the lead.
From there, Chelsea looked largely comfortable. Leicester had a penalty appeal waived away when, with five minutes left, substitute Stephy Mavididi went to ground under a challenge from former Foxes player Wesley Fofana.
Another former Leicester player, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, received a warm reception when he came on in stoppage time before the hosts were awarded a late penalty.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid was clipped as he charged down on goal. Offside had originally given before being overturned by VAR and a spot-kick awarded, which Ayew dutifully slotted home.
