Kai Havertz dazzles as Leicester labour in front of Gary Lineker - 6 talking points
LEICESTER 1-3 CHELSEA: Graham Potter's side are now firmly on the charge after putting on a show in the East Midlands against relegation candidates Leicester as Gary Lineker watched on from the stands
Chelsea made it three consecutive victories as they dismissed Leicester 3-1 in front of under-fire Gary Lineker at the King Power Stadium.
Ben Chilwell volleyed the Blues into the lead against his former club as his effort zipped past Foxes stopper Danny Ward after latching onto a cross at the far post. Patson Daka then equalised for the hosts with his own driven shot from the edge of the area.
The goal of the game arguably came from Kai Havertz' as he combined with Enzo Fernandez to devastating effect to chip home a glorious strike. Mateo Kovacic then sealed the three points ten minutes from time with a brilliant, acrobatic effort with Wout Faes receiving a late red card to make things even worse for the hosts.
Here are the talking points from the King Power Stadium:
READ MORE: Leicester fans make Gary Lineker feelings immediately clear vs Chelsea amid BBC rowREAD MORE: John Terry furiously hits back at David Baddiel over Gary Lineker Match of the Day jibeChilwell's dream Leicester return
Ben Chilwell was certainly not the most popular man in Leicester ahead of his King Power return. His name was met with a chorus of boos after the teams were read out - and that continued with every touch of the ball.
That was until he gave the Blues the lead with the game barely 12 minutes old. After Leicester had dealt with a corner, Kalidou Koulibaly put the ball back into the box and Chilwell struck with a driven volley.
He then duly ran to the supporters that used to chant his name to cup his ears as he toasted a goal that will arguably rank among one of the most satisfying of his career particularly after seeing his strike in the 2021 FA Cup final struck off due to the most marginal offside decision.
Who is your man-of-the-match from Chelsea's victory over Leicester? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Unfortunate Felix
Chelsea dominated large swaths of the first-half and it looked as though they would be heading into the break with a two-goal advantage as Joao Felix prodded home Loftus-Cheek's low cross. The goal itself was wonderfully worked as Mykhaylo Mudryk swept the ball out to the right.
The Chelsea academy graduate then spun an expert low cross into Felix who had the simple task of passing home. Unfortunately, VAR ruined his fun as he was adjudged to have been ahead of the ball, allowing Leicester to breathe a sigh of relief.
He then played a huge role in the hosts' equaliser before being taken off at half-time in what was a disappointing afternoon all around.
Daka returns Rodgers faith
Speaking of the Leicester equaliser, the VAR call appeared to reinvigorate the Foxes and they were very quickly back on level terms with what was pratically their first opportunity of the game. Felix was guilty of dawdling on the ball and eventually robbed by Ricardo Pereira.
The Portuguese played the ball inside to Daka who swerved around a couple of challenges before spearing home a great effort from outside of the penalty area. Given it was the Zambian's first Premier League start since December, it was certainly a way to repay Brendan Rodgers' faith.
Fernandez and Havertz dazzle
Given Havertz and Fernandez cost Chelsea almost £200m between them, there is reasonable assumption that the pair should be among the best players in the Premier League. Whilst the German has not shone nearly enough - and it being too early to judge the midfielder - they certainly stepped up to the plate as Chelsea reclaimed the lead.
The World Cup winner chipped a wonderful ball beyond the Leicester defence that Havertz barely had to break stride to control. With his next touch, he lifted the ball beyond the advancing Ward. Bizarrely, not many of their teammates or the fans camped in the Chelsea away end celebrated what was a stunning goal.
If the duo can replicate that sort of play throughout the remainder of the campaign though, Blues fans will certainly be getting off of their seats a lot more often.
Chelsea hit treble to end run
Such has been Chelsea's wastefulness in front of goal this season, their win over Leicester is just the second time in the league this season that they have scored three times in one game and the first since November. Their third goal came in equally brilliant circumstances.
After Leicester failed to deal with a ball into their box, Kovacic reacted first to stab home an acrobatic volley. The quality of the strikecertainly followed the tone of the rest of the goals in the game.
Whilst they might not need stunners every week, Graham Potter will certainly be satsified to see his side finally in their groove.
READ MORE: Man Utd discover Mason Mount transfer fee as Chelsea star added to three-man wishlistREAD MORE: Chelsea and Newcastle possess shared vision seen as "material threat" to footballLineker watches on as Leicester lose again
Given the circumstances that both Leicester and their prodigal son Gary Lineker currently find themselves in, it is ironic that their paths crossed once more on Saturday. The former striker has been pulled from Match of the Day after his comments about the government's asylum policy.
He spent his new-found free time at the King Power Stadium as Leicester's malaise goes on. Defeat at the hands of Chelsea is their fourth in a row in all competitions and leaves them firmly in the relegation mire.
They are now just one point above the drop zone. Rodgers - like Lineker - will hope that there is a resolution to the current conudrum he finds himself in sooner rather than later.
