MARK O’HAIRE (@MarkOHaire) is in the hot-seat for Tuesday night’s third round EFL Cup tussle between Leicester and Chelsea.
Leicester v Chelsea | Tuesday 19.45 | Sky Sports 1
Goals could be on the agenda when Leicester welcome Chelsea to the King Power Stadium a third round EFL Cup clash in front of the live Sky Sports cameras on Tuesday night.
Premier League champions Leicester made a slow start to their title defence but the Foxes appear to be finding form following impressive back-to-back 3-0 wins over Burnley and against Club Brugge in the Champions League.
Claudio Ranieri saw record signing Islam Slimani mark his Premier League debut with two goals as he started to repay his £29m price tag against the Clarets last weekend and having taken four points from a possible six against the Blues last term, confidence is bound to be high in the home ranks.
However, with a daunting league and European schedule ahead, the hosts look likely to rest and rotate their squad this midweek and that could offer the visitors a real chance to bounce back from a nightmare Friday loss to Liverpool.
Antonio Conte’s charges were well beaten at Stamford Bridge and the Italian boss made no attempt to mask his annoyance at his team’s defending, particularly as it followed on from a disappointing 2-2 draw against Swansea.
Chelsea started with routine wins over West Ham, Watford and Burnley but the manner of their Liverpool loss has again raised questions over their defensive frailties with a number of key personnel set to miss out again.
The Blues shipped two goals when welcoming League One outfit Bristol Rovers to the Bridge in the second round meaning the guests have kept their sheets clean just once in six outings under Conte.
Indeed, the Blues have given up two goals in three of their past four games alone and with Leicester striking six in their past two, and twice in seven of their past nine at the King Power, another goal-filled match looks our likeliest route for profit.
The Foxes haven’t shut out any of their most recent eight visitors in League Cup competition and with the past nine meetings between these two clubs producing 37 goals, backing Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals makes most appeal at odds of evens with Coral.
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Leicester v Chelsea – Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals (1/1 Coral)
