Dugout Discussion

Vardy and Abraham start in early Gameweek 25 kick-off

Jamie Vardy (£9.9m) makes an instant return to Premier League action following his glute injury in Gameweek 24.

Having been used as a substitute in Leicester’s defeat to Aston Villa in the EFL Cup semi-final, the Foxes hitman returns to lead the line for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Chelsea can also call on their number nine as Tammy Abraham (£7.7m) manages to make Frank Lampard’s XI despite an ankle problem that was causing the striker pain in training. The Chelsea boss said pre-match:

Yeah (I’ve cleared Abraham to play). Sometimes you have to play with a bit of pain.

The type of injury it is, it’s not a muscle injury so you’d hope it’s pain he can deal with and there’s no worries about what might come.

He also appears to have lost patience with Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m), as Willy Caballero (£4.8m) begins in goal after starting for the Blues in their FA Cup fourth-round victory over Hull. Lampard added:

It’s a decision I make. With keepers, you don’t take those ones lightly. They train together, they are are close and it’s one I thought I’d make for this game. I trust in Willy [Caballero], he’s very professional.

Reece James (£5.0m) is another injury returnee at right-back, while Mason Mount (£6.1m) is preferred ahead of Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) in midfield and Pedro (£6.8m) earns a rare start as Willian (£7.2m) drops to the bench. Asked about the latter decision, Lampard explained:

Yeah, a little bit (benching Willian is to keep it fresh). With Willian he’s had some big moments for this club and it’s time for Pedro to have some.

On the opposite flank, Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.3m) starts for the fourth league game in a row. The winger also played 68 minutes in that cup win.

For the home side, Wilfred Ndidi (£5.0m) was set to start but a knee issue means the midfielder is not part of Leicester’s matchday 18 at the King Power stadium. On the Nigerian, Rodgers said:

He’s felt a pain in his knee, he recently had an operation but was alright against Villa.

We had him in to play but it’s become very sore. Rather than him go out in the warm-up we thought we’d leave it. We don’t want any long-term problems.

Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m) has been brought in by Rodgers to take up Leicester’s defensive midfield spot.

Leicester XI (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Chilwell, Evans, Soyuncu, Ricardo Pereira; Choudhury; Barnes, Maddison, Tielemans, Perez; Vardy.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Caballero; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James; Mount, Jorginho, Kanté; Pedro, Abraham, Hudson-Odoi.

1,280 Comments Post a Comment
  1. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tammy whoops

  2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Chelsea to score soon

  3. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who to sell for Stephens?

    A) Kelly
    B) Holgate
    C) Lundstram

    1. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe B), but in a week’s time perhaps

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Kelly

    3. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'm considering c)

  4. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Leicester looking very ordinary at the moment. Ndidi is so important for them.

    Tammy close twice

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      They have been since Christmas

      Time for a clear out

  5. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tammy close twice..

  6. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    BREAKING NEWS
    Abraham on the floor, again

  7. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Chelsea do need a good centre forward

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Pukki

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Giroud says scorpion kick 😉

  8. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    C'mon Maddison let's gooo!!

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Has barely touched the ball so far

  9. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Regret starting Soy now…

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Add some egg fried rice....

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Maybe some chicken

      2. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Haha!

    2. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I regret benching him

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Why? Chelsea looking like the most dangerous side so far.

  10. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Guess the star sign

    Abraham
    Batshuayi
    Giroud

    1. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Abraham would be Vertigo

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        😀

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      All Libra, randomly

      1. Scoring freely
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Good balance in the squad then. *Badum tish*

  11. Supersonic Marv'
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    If this is a penalty I give up.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Me too

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It's not.

  12. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tammy, belly flop

  13. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tammy with a dive

  14. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    jorgi owners robbed..

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      My ML rival bought him on a WC lol

  15. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Good. Never a pen.

  16. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    That’s a YC for diving right?

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Should be.

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      VAR should have said.....’Give him a YC’

    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Apparently not

  17. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Has Vardy touched the ball? #uninspiring

  18. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy looking hungry 😎

  19. Skalla
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Since when can you have no penalty and no YC for a dive after zero contact 🙂

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      When player trips accidentally

      1. Supersonic Marv'
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        That isn't what happened.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Just giving an example of when the happenstance the OP stated can occur

      2. Skalla
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Sure but can't be an accident if you are asking for the pen afterwards.

  20. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Tielemans and Periera shots blocked. Leicester waking up a little

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    When will Ndidi actually start again?!

    1. Skalla
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He was due to start today but felt some pain in training so should be close.

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      N’dini know mate...

  22. Zladan
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Reece James is good, but he’s completely overrated by Chelsea fans.

    Barnes enjoying the match up today.

    1. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think he's really poor defensively

  23. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Soyuncu getting a CS now I’ve finally sold

    1. Mambino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      less than half the game gone...

  24. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Chelsea needs Hazard..

  25. Fantasy Gold
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Playing Pedro Pony over Willian is a strange one.

  26. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What a miss by Vardy

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Ffs

    2. Skalla
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Great save by Willy!

  27. PL Ball
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Oh cmon Jamie

  28. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Kepa would have let that in.

  29. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy close

  30. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Huge miss!