The Premiership returns this Saturday, when champions Leicester City face top of the league Chelsea. The Foxes at this time last year were battling at the top of the table, whilst Chelsea were suffering from a huge slump, looking over their shoulder at the relegation battle and were looking for a new manager after sacking Jose Mourinho.

Fast forward twelve months and the situations have completely reversed, it is now Leicester who are looking over their shoulders at the drop zone, whilst this weekend's opponents Chelsea are at top of the league's summit. Despite Losing to Spurs last time out, the Stamford Bridge outfit sit pretty at the top, with a five point gap to chasers Liverpool.

Leicester have had the unfamiliar problem of combining European action whilst coping with their domestic schedule. The Midlands club have struggled both attacking wise and keeping clean sheets this season, a direct opposite to last season. Their title winning campaign was built on defensive solidity, which has been the cornerstone of Chelsea's stunning run of form, their defeat to Spurs stopped a run of fourteen game winning streak, in which they conceded just four goals.

Can Leicester put another spanner in the works? with two of their main men away at the African Cup of Nations with Riyah Mahrez and Islam Slimani, it looks tricky, and Chelsea will be desperate to dismiss the poor performance against Spurs with what looks like a relatively simple win.

The champions will need to start picking up points though, there next two games are against relegation rivals Hull and Liverpool, the longer they leave it to grab some much needed points before we head into another round of Champions League action, the more desperate their Premier League status will become.

LEICESTER CITY

(Form Guide WLDLWD)

Leicester City are the optimum of the win or bust mantra, their European adventures have seen them lose some serious ground in the league, to the extreme point where relegation is a real prospect should they continue to falter domestically.

Jamie Vardy, who has been missing due to suspension, returns to a side who are desperate for goals. The hero of last season has been quiet this campaign, the former Fleetwood Town man has hit just five goals this season, worrying when you consider that three of those goals came against Manchester City in the side's 4-2 win. He will need to repeat that kind of performance if his side are to get anything against the league leader's Chelsea. If Vardy can grab the first goal (8/1 with Skybet - Bet Here!) Leicester have a chance.

The Midlands club will need to stay in the game, going in level at half-time (5/1 with bet365 - Bet Here!) will give them the best chance of then going on to win the game (12/1 with Betfred - Bet Here!). There will need to be  massive improvement in Leicester backline, and if they are to get anything out of the game, considering they are struggling up front, keeping Chelsea shut out (9/2 with bet365 - Bet Here!) seems essential.

Leicester will come under immense pressure at the back and Robert Huth has been caught out a few times, his lack of pace has seen him struggle this season, increasing the possibility of him being carded (13/5 with Paddypower - Bet Here!) or even sent off (10/1 with BetVictor - Bet Here!)

Can Jamie Vardy recapture the form that saw him score a hat-trick against Manchester City when his side face league leaders Chelsea on his return from suspension?

CHELSEA

(Form Guide WWWWWL)

Spurs finally ended Chelsea's stunning run of results, beating them in what could possibly have been fourteen wins in a row last time. The league leaders will be desperate to avenge that defeat this time out against champions Leicester. Their run to the summit of the league came mainly from a drastic change of formation by manager Antonio Conte. The Italian switched to a back three at half-time in their 3-0 loss to Arsenal and didn't look back.

A return to form by talismanic striker Diego Costa has seen the 2014/15 champions look the real deal in front of goal, the Spanish forward has scored 14 times this season and looks destined to score first (3/1 with William Hill - Bet Here!), whilst a brace (5/1 with William Hill - Bet Here!) or even a hat-trick (22/1 with Paddypower - Bet Here!) is a distinct possibility, considering Leicester's defensive woes this season.

Chelsea will look to dominate from the off in order to ensure that they put the Spurs defeat to the back of their minds, the Blues to be leading after 15 minutes (17/4 with Coral - Bet Here!) wouldn't surprise anyone, and for them to be winning at half time and full time looks very likely here (13/8 with Coral - Bet Here!)

The whole team have been chipping in with goals though, Pedro (11/2 with bet365 - Bet Here!) Hazard (4/1 with Paddypower - Bet Here!) or Willian (7/1 with bet365 - Bet Here!) look likely candidates to score first should Costa fail to find his shooting boots.

Will Diego Costa add to his season's tally of 14 goals in a bid to get his Chelsea side back to winning ways following their 2-0 defeat to Spurs?

STATS

• Chelsea have scored 30 goals this season, but only nine away.

• Leicester have poor passing rate at home with 71%, whilst Chelsea have an impressive 83% away.

• Leicester have scored 20 goals at home, with eight coming by the way of a set-piece or penalty

• Leicester have an possession average of just 45% at home with Chelsea having a dominating 53% when away

SUMMING UP

Despite the team's contrasting league positions and performances, Leicester are desperate for points and could further derail what looks like Chelsea's march to the title. Their 4-2 win against Manchester City, although mainly due to dismal defensive performance by Man City, proves that they are up for the fight against stronger teams, and Claudio Ranieri is a task master at getting the best out of his side. On paper it looks an obvious win for Chelsea, but the Foxes will come out fighting and may give Chelsea a real battle.

CURRENT MATCH ODDS (BEST PRICED ODDS)

Leicester: 5/1 (with BetVictor - Bet Here!)

Draw: 16/5 (with William Hill - Bet Here!)

Chelsea: 4/6 (with Betfred - Bet Here!)

MY RECOMMENDED BETS

• A 2-2 draw (18/1 with William Hill - Bet Here!)

• Jamie Vardy to be the last goalscorer (9/1 with Paddypower - Bet Here!)

• Score draw (4/1 with bet365 - Bet Here!)

• Chelsea to win 1-0 (13/2 with bet365 - Bet Here!)

New Account Offer

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply

Click to Claim