Putting in an eye-catching display on Saturday afternoon and extending on their recent resurge, Chelsea picked up a 3-1 victory against Leicester at the King Power.
Booking their Champions League quarter-final ticket in midweek after eventually edging their way past German giants Borussia Dortmund, it was ex-Leicester star Ben Chilwell who opened the scoring after just 11 minutes here.
Riding what has been a recent wave of momentum over the past week, Graham Potter’s side didn’t let their heads drop despite Patson Daka pegging them back just six minutes before the interval.
Heading into the half-time break with a 2-1 lead as Kai Havertz made it back-to-back strikes just seconds before the interval, Chelsea also piled more pressure onto a Leicester side who are firmly looking over their shoulder at the drop zone.
With Mateo Kovacic wrapping up all three points and helping Chelsea secure three consecutive victories across all competitions, the Foxes are now in the midst of a five-match losing run and there is growing pressure on Brendan Rodgers’ position.
On an afternoon that could prove to be a career-making victory for Potter, what did we learn from Saturday’s showdown at the King Power?
A corner turned for Potter
Shocking many as it was announced back in September that Potter would be replacing Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge, it is fair to say that the ex-Brighton boss has endured a real nightmare in SW6.
However, while a large section of the Chelsea fanbase have made it clear over recent weeks that they are desperate for a change in the dugout, Potter’s side have claimed what could be a crucial resurge over the past week.
Edging past relegation scrappers Leeds last weekend as they clinched a 1-0 victory on home soil, the former European champions have now won three consecutive appearances for the first time since back in October.
Claiming what was an eye-catching win at the King Power here and appearing to have finally found a clinical edge in the final third, Chelsea have certainly taken some real momentum from their Champions League success in midweek.
Picking up a second-leg 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge and eventually putting their name in the hat for the quarter-finals, Potter has also eased some of the mounting scrutiny that he finds himself under in west London.
Top-four will still require a minor miracle
While Potter might have been filled with praise for his side’s performance on Saturday afternoon, the former Brighton boss will be more than aware that he still faces a huge uphill struggle if the Blues are to claim a top-four finish this season.
Although Liverpool might have once again been at their inconsistent worst earlier in the day as they were hit with a shock 1-0 loss away at Bournemouth, Chelsea still end Saturday’s fixtures sitting 11 points adrift of fourth-place Tottenham.
With it now looking like Potter will be putting all of his eggs in the Champions League basket after punching their quarter-final ticket earlier in the week, that appears the only way that the Blues will be able to secure a spot in Europe’s elite club tournament for next season.
With Potter stating that all his side can do is try and keep themselves in the top-four race for as long as possible, Saturday’s guests will be looking to keep up their recent charge when they return to Stamford Bridge next weekend.
Finally picking up their first away victory since opening 2023 here, Chelsea will be next seen when they welcome Everton to west London.
The pressure on Rodgers is reaching a boiling point
While Leicester might have found what was a much-needed boost when opening February, the Foxes have come crashing back down to earth in some style.
Crashing out of the FA Cup on February 28th as they fell to a shock 2-1 loss at home against Championship outfit Blackburn, the pressure on Rodgers’ shoulders is once again starting to reach a boiling point.
Coming under a huge amount of scrutiny as they were hit with a toothless 1-0 defeat at the hands of Southampton, Leicester now find themselves at the heart of a relegation scrap.
Gaining a reputation for their issues in the final third over the past six weeks, the one-time Liverpool boss is more than aware that he faces a growing backlash at the King Power.
Finishing this weekend’s Premier League fixtures holding just a two-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, Saturday’s hosts have now lost each of their last five domestic appearances across all competitions.
With the home support making their feelings heard at the full-time whistle, Rodgers must find a way to steady Leicester’s sinking ship or he could be heading for the King Power exit.
Match Report
Leicester: Ward, Pereira, Souttar, Faes, Castagne, Armartey, Mendy, Maddison, Dewsbury-Hall, Daka, Ihenacho
Subs: Barnes, Soumare, Tete, Vardy, Evans
Chelsea: Kepa, Fofana, Kolibaly, Cucurella, Chilwell, Kovacic, Fernandez, Loftus-Cheek, Felix, Mudryk, Havertz
Subs: Badiashile, Chalobah, Pulisic, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka
Goals: Leicester: Daka (39′) – Chelsea: Chilwell (11′), Havertz (45+6′), Kovacic (78′)
Yellow Cards: Leicester: Faes, Pereira – Chelsea: Chilwell, Cucurella
Red Cards: Faes
Referee: Andre Marriner
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