With 37 league games under our belt, a Champions League place guaranteed next season and a Europa League Final to look forward to, you may think that the 38th and final Premier League game at Leicester, could be a simple knock about with not a lot at stake. Well, if we’re to finish as London’s top team, then we’ll have to match Tottenham’s result against Everton and if we do, we’ll finish third. So the pride stakes are very high – I mean, who in their right mind would ever want Tottenham to finish third?
Extra time and penalties will take their toll after the Eintracht game; there were a few running on empty in the second half, so rotation will be required. Andreas Christensen might well be a casualty of Thursday evening after hobbling off in the 74th minute; his replacement was Davide Zappacosta, which puzzled a fair few considering that Gary Cahill was on the bench. Cahill may get a run out on Sunday considering that this will be his last in a Chelsea shirt. If Cahill doesn’t start, then Azpilicueta will partner David Luiz, with Zappacosta playing at right-back – who knows what Sarri thinks, except maybe another B&H around the back of the bike sheds.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, or “Loftus” as Maurizio Sari calls him, may also be rested after Thursday; Ross Barkley could be waiting in the wings to start depending if Ruben’s cramp has abated. Leicester could finish between 9th and 11th this season; since Brendan Rodgers has taken over, he’s stabilised the club and has made them difficult to beat. Just recently they beat Arsenal 3-0 at home, thanks to Tielemans and two late goals from Jamie Vardy. In the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge back in December, Leicester came away with all three points, this again via a Vardy strike during the last few weeks of the Claude Puel reign.
My Prediction: Well, I’ve not got many right, but what really matters today is finishing the 90 minutes ahead of Spurs. It could be a tight game at Leicester with a single goal separating the teams. I’ll go for a 0-1 with 2018/19 player of the year, Eden Hazard scoring from a contentious penalty.
