Leicester 1-2 Chelsea (Ayew 90+5’ pen | Jackson 15’, Fernandez 75’)
Shortly after the half-hour mark at the King Power Stadium, Chelsea were a goal up and in cruise control having recorded seven shots to Leicester’s zero.
At the same time, Leicester had committed seven fouls to Chelsea’s zero, with the feisty Foxes picking up three yellow cards along the way and Wilfred Ndidi arguably lucky to escape a red after scraping Cole Palmer’s ankle.
It was a match going only one way, therefore, with the frustration already mounting among the home fans before Nicolas Jackson’s goal in the 15th minute bubbling over into whistles and jeers shortly after.
Wout Faes’ calamitous attempts to clear the ball before Jackson’s goal compounded this miserable start for Leicester, while the fact three of Jamie Vardy’s four touches in the opening third of this match came in his own half told its own story too.
In a flash, though, the tone changed, with a well-worked move from Leicester resulting in Kasey McAteer, making his full Premier League debut, firing their first shot just wide after 39 minutes.
Thus followed a nervy finish to the first half for Chelsea, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez almost single-handedly responsible for lifting the mood inside the stadium, his passes putting his own side under needless pressure.
On one occasion, a minute after Leicester’s first shot, Sanchez sold Moises Caicedo short, and after the midfielder was bundled over and conceded a corner, he was cautioned for protesting what he deemed was a foul.
Caicedo’s grievance was with referee Andy Madley, but it could easily have been with his own goalkeeper, who created a storm when all was seemingly calm.
It turned what had been a training session into an actual Premier League match, restoring belief among Leicester’s players and fans.
Half time came at a good time for Chelsea, and though they rarely left second gear in the second half, order was restored and composure maintained as Enzo Fernandez eventually put the game beyond Leicester in the 75th minute – Jordan Ayew’s late, late penalty proving merely a consolation.
That 95th-minute goal ended hopes of a clean sheet for Sanchez, who was on his knees as Ayew’s spot-kick sailed close by, but the win ultimately strengthened Chelsea’s top-four aspirations, moving them within a point of second-placed Manchester City – who play later on Saturday – and six points behind leaders Liverpool, who face Southampton on Sunday.
A Champions League return is on the cards, but as they sit in third, it is difficult to shake the feeling Chelsea will remain the best of the rest in this league unless they address their most obvious flaw.
Sanchez is simply not a calming presence in goal. On this occasion his brief lapses in concentration did not come back to haunt Chelsea, but against sterner opposition they might have, and it feels as though the Blues are getting their transfer priorities all wrong.
A club blessed with attacking talent – there are eight forwards pushing for four starting roles – are targeting another striker, with i reporting on Friday of their interest in Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.
The 21-year-old has rated exceptionally highly on Chelsea’s advanced transfer metrics, and heading into Sunday’s match with Manchester United, Delap has scored six times in 11 league games.
Having started all but one of Ipswich’s league matches so far, Delay is undoubtedly crucial to their survival chances, and while it is likely he is flattered by Chelsea’s interest, he would perhaps be wise to stave off any advances until the summer.
Jackson’s form is one reason, the striker second only to Erling Haaland (18) for league goals since the beginning of May (11). Another is Christopher Nkunku’s reported discontent, the Frenchman having failed to secure a spot in Enzo Maresca’s starting XI.
Delap would be heading into a crowded pond at a time when he is benefiting from being the big fish, and though his age also fits the Chelsea profile of having one eye on the future, in the here and now he is better off where he is.
It would take some effort for Delap to break into this XI, but that would not be the case for goalkeepers largely warming benches elsewhere.
Liverpool back-up Caoimhin Kelleher has been linked with Chelsea this week, and the Republic of Ireland international could see value in a move where he is more likely to claim the No 1 jersey than he is with Alisson for company at Anfield.
Chelsea also have Filip Jorgensen on the bench, the 22-year-old who arrived from Villarreal in the summer and has been getting game-time in the Conference League and Carabao Cup.
Both are viable options, and if this puzzle really is one or two pieces away from title contention, then surely goalkeeper is the most pressing concern.
Nabbing Kelleher from a rival would take some effort, but could Jorgensen now be knocking on the door for a Premier League start? Only Maresca will know, but a shake-up may not be the worst thing after Sanchez orchestrated the Chelsea jitters during a win that should have been far more routine.
