After losing the UEFA Super Cup on penalties to Liverpool, Chelsea turn their attentions to the Premier League where Blues hero Frank Lampard will walk out of the tunnel at Stamford Bridge for the first time as Chelsea head coach.
Leicester are the opponents and the Blues will aim for the maximum points against a side led by a man who has never beaten Chelsea in the 12 games he has faced them as a manager.
Getting ready for Leicester! đź’Ş#CHELEI pic.twitter.com/BxdxB8QWt9
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 17, 2019
Lampard, the London club’s record scorer, will be desperate to record his first win in charge. His charges lost scandalously to Man United last weekend but there were plenty of positive signs so far, particularly in Istanbul during the week.
In the opposite dugout will be a familiar face as Brendan Rodgers returns to the club where his coaching career began.
Rodgers, who has never managed to get the better of any Chelsea team as manager, leads an exciting Leicester team who have a good record at the Bridge.
A Chelsea loss will see Lampard become the first Chelsea boss to lose his first two Premier League games in charge since Gianluca Vialli 21 years ago.
What the Managers say
Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard on his home debut in charge: “I’m proud to manage this club. I’ve been back a few times and had great support so it will be an emotional, special day for me but the important thing is that we win the game.”
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has spoken out against the racist abuse Tammy Abraham received in the wake of the European Super Cup… đź‘Źđź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/Ag0lUdoDo5
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) August 16, 2019
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers: “It’s a long season. For us, it’s step by step. We made a solid start last weekend and we were defensively very good.
“The competition is very tough, but we’ve got a talented squad that we’re developing over time.”
Team News
Chelsea are sweating over the availability of defender Andreas Christensen, who limped off during the midweek Super Cup defeat by Liverpool.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has hinted that Antonio Rudiger and Willian could both return after recovering from knee injuries but Callum Hudson-Odoi is still out with an Achilles problem.
Leicester defender Filip Benkovic is still sidelined with an ankle problem but there are no other reported injury problems for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Midfielder Dennis Praet could make his debut following his summer move.
Match Thread: Chelsea FC vs Leicester City FC #CHELEI
Match Date: Sunday, 18 August, 2019
Match KO Time: 16:30 (BST) / 21:00 (IST)
Tournament : Premier League (Gameweek 2)
Ground: Stamford Bridge, London
Match Referee : Graham Scott
VAR Referee : Mike Dean pic.twitter.com/7cW233rzpZ— ChenseaFC (@chenseafc1) August 16, 2019
MATCH FACTS
Leicester won the corresponding fixture last season, with Jamie Vardy scoring the only goal to inflict a first home defeat of 2018-19 on Chelsea.
That victory is one of only five occasions Leicester have won a league match at Chelsea (D12, L33).
Chelsea have won their opening home league match of the season in 14 of the past 16 seasons. Their only defeat during that period came against Burnley in 2017-18.
The Blues have only lost one of their last 22 home league games (W13, D8) – but that defeat came against Leicester last December.
Chelsea haven’t begun a top-flight season with two straight defeats since 1973-74, when they finished 17th.
They have only once previously failed to score in both of their opening two fixtures of a Premier League season. That was in 1995-96.
Leicester scored 27 goals away from home in last season’s Premier League, three more than they did at the King Power Stadium.
However, they have failed to score in each of their past three games.
This will be Leicester’s 500th Premier League game – they are the 16th team to reach that milestone.
Brendan Rodgers has never beaten Chelsea in the 12 games he has faced them as a manager (D6, L6).
