Chelsea and Leicester City had drastically different campaigns last season, with one team enduring one of the worst title defences in history and the other going on to clinch one of the best title wins of all-time. This season, though, both teams have struggled – to convince that they are title contenders or indeed top-four worthy.
With three points essential for both, this Premier League match will carry a lot of importance, and neither Chelsea nor Leicester will want to walk out of Stamford Bridge with their heads down. To ensure that does not happen, though, both teams need to improve in their defence, while also finding a bit more cutting edge up front.
Get the confirmed lineups of the teams HERE
Apart from Diego Costa, all the rest of the Chelsea attackers have been quite poor. For a team that boast the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian, who will miss this match, Oscar and Cesc Fabregas, that is, or at least should be, unacceptable.
Antonio Conte has the job of motivating his players, to work as a team, and make sure everyone is on the same page.
That is something that cannot be said of the Chelsea defence so far this season, with the Blues already leaking in nine goals. It could have been a lot worse had Liverpool and Arsenal, in particular, not take the foot off the pedals in their respective matches, and Conte will hope the improvement shown in the victory over Hull City, in the last round of fixtures when he went with three central defenders, will bring about that solidity at the back. John Terry's expected return will also help.
If it doesn't, the likes of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani will look to take advantage. Leicester were given a guard of honour the last time they played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but this match will be different.
For instance, one Leicester's best players from last season – N'Golo Kante – will be playing for the home team, and while Chelsea have improved in midfield with the Frenchman, the champions have found it far more difficult to cope without the 25-year-old's engine.
That protective screen that Kante provides and the quick counter-attacks he instigates by pinching the ball from the opposition is not quite as prevalent anymore and that makes Leicester a much more vulnerable team.
Chelsea will look to pounce on that vulnerability, but if the home team have another one of those matches where only Costa seems bothered, this could prove to be a further step back for Conte's side.
Where to Watch Live
The match is set to begin at 12.30pm BST (5pm IST, 7.30am ET).
India: TV: Star Sports 4 and Star Sports Select HD1. Live Streaming: Hotstar.
UK: TV: Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD1. Live Streaming: Watch Sky Sports.
USA: TV: NBCSN and Telemundo. Live Streaming: NBC Sports Live.
Thailand, Middle East: TV: Bein Sports. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
Australia: TV: Optus Sport. Live Streaming: Optus Online.
Canada: TV: TSN 1. Live Streaming: TSN TV.
Malaysia: TV: Astro SuperSport3.
Singapore: TV: 102 mio Stadium.
