Leicester vs Chelsea Bet Builder Tips: Jackson to get back on goal trail at the King Power

The Premier League returns this weekend and first up on the agenda are Leicester City and Chelsea, who meet at the King Power Stadium on Saturday lunchtime (12:30, TNT Sports 1).

Ahead of this match-up in the East Midlands, I have drawn up a four-legged Bet Builder, featuring a couple of Foxes and one Blues star. The four-fold comes to 22/1, and you can check out the selections and my reasoning for each down below in my Leicester City vs Chelsea Bet Builder Tips.

Leicester City vs Chelsea Odds

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Football Odds

Anytime Goalscorer - Nicolas Jackson (CHE)

Nicolas Jackson has enjoyed a strong start to the 2024/25 Premier League season with Chelsea, netting six times in his first 11 appearances, and looks on course to surpass the 14 he scored in his debut campaign.

However, after opening the scoring in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on October 27, Jackson has blanked in back-to-back 1-1 draws with Manchester United (A) and Arsenal (H). He also failed to fire in Senegal's 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in Bamako last week before remaining rooted to the bench in their 2-0 triumph at home against Burundi on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, I think he's worth backing in the anytime goalscorer market at the King Power Stadium as Leicester's defence should be easier to breach than the Red Devils and the Gunners who have each conceded 12 times in the Premier League this season, compared to the Foxes' 21.

Steve Cooper's side have kept just one clean sheet in their first 11 top-flight league games and will find it difficult on Saturday to shut out Enzo Maresca's men, who haven't been kept quiet in front of goal since losing 2-0 at home to Manchester City on the opening weekend of the season (August 18).

Four of Jackson's six Premier League goals this term have come away from home - one v Wolves, two v West Ham United, and one v Liverpool - and he scored against all three newly-promoted clubs (Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United) last season.

Both Teams to Score - No

Both teams to score has been a regular occurrence for both Leicester and Chelsea this season - only Brentford (10) have been involved in more Premier League games this season where BTTS - Yes has landed than Leicester (nine), who have seen 81.8 per cent of their 11 outings end with at least a goal on either side, and only Man United have denied them from finding the net so far.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have been involved in eight league contests where both teams have scored, which is 72.7 per cent of their total played, and like Leicester, only a Manchester club - City in their case - have stopped them scoring.

The Blues have scored in 10 consecutive Premier League games so it would be a real surprise were they not to breach the Foxes' back line on Saturday.

However, while Leicester have shown themselves to be a goal threat this season, it was last time out that they failed to fire and they are not helped this weekend by the absence of key winger Abdul Fatawu, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a "serious" knee injury.

Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Facundo Buonanotte has been another bright spark for the East Midlands club but the 19-year-old will sit out this weekend's visit of Chelsea through suspension, while Jordan Ayew is a slight doubt. Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka are only just on the mend, recently joining in training, and appear destined for substitute outings at best, so there will be a lot of pressure on Ayew - if fit - to lead the line on Saturday.

Clean sheets have been scarce for Chelsea this season but the two they have kept in the Premier League came away from home in back-to-back wins over AFC Bournemouth (0-1) and West Ham (0-3) in September, and they can add the Foxes to their list of victims this weekend.

Player Stats - Jordan Ayew (LEI) 1+ Shots

With Buonanotte and Fatawu both out, Leicester are left with just one forward who started last time out against Man United, and even he - Ayew - isn't guaranteed to play.

The summer signing from Palace picked up an injury on international duty with Ghana last week in the same game in which he scored a stunning free-kick. There were fears initially that he could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines but Cooper has moved to allay those fears and suggested he could even feature against Chelsea this weekend.

Given the lack of available forwards to Cooper, I think he will be tempted to start Ayew unless there is a serious risk of aggravating his issue.

As such, I believe Ayew is an obvious candidate to register at least one shot on Saturday.

The 33-year-old has scored two crucial goals for the Foxes this season, netting an added-time winner in a 3-2 victory at Southampton on October 19 and grabbing an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town a week later.

Ayew has only made five Premier League starts for his new club but is averaging 1.3 shots per game, so at least one effort against the Blues feels fairly safe as long as he is fit enough to go from the off.

Player to Receive a Card - Wilfred Ndidi (LEI)

Finally, I'm backing Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi to go into the referee's book.

The Nigeria international was good for a card in his early days with the Foxes, picking up 10 yellows and two reds in the 2017/18 Premier League season and six cautions in the following two campaigns.

Ndidi is already on three yellows after just 11 appearances this term and may well incur the wrath of the referee again on Saturday.

The Nigerian international is averaging 1.6 fouls per game in the Premier League this season and made two fouls in the FA Cup meeting between the two teams in March, which Chelsea won 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was fouled four times in that cup tie and has been fouled an average of 1.5 times in the 2024/25 Premier League, so he could cause Ndidi some problems in the engine room this weekend.

Offers

Build your own Bet Builder bet (3/1+) of 4+ legs on any Premier League game on Saturday and get 100% of your stake back in Free Bets up to £10 if you lose. (Credited within 24 hours)

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Place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Premier League or Championship game on Friday or Saturday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Sunday’s games. (Credited upon Bet Settlement)

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