Leicester City 0 - 3 Chelsea FC: Chelsea brush aside the poor defending champions

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2017 by PA

Chelsea moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League as they made light work of Diego Costa's absence with a routine victory at Leicester.

Marcos Alonso's double helped the leaders brush aside the poor defending champions as Antonio Conte's side clinched a 3-0 win.

Pedro added a third as the visitors exorcised any demons at the King Power Stadium following the defeat which cost ex-boss Jose Mourinho his job during last season's disastrous campaign.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

It was one of those days in the Premier League...

https://twitter.com/PAdugout/status/820348195771445248

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Marcos Alonso's second goal. Coming so soon after half-time it dashed any hope Leicester may have had of getting back into the match and gave Chelsea some breathing space - not only in the game but at the top of the Premier League table.

TALKING POINT

The main talking point was off the pitch. Diego Costa dominated the build up to the match, with the striker's future at Chelsea appearing in doubt after he was left out of the squad at the King Power Stadium.

Reports emerged this week that he had a disagreement with manager Antonio Conte and his coaching staff and has been training alone in recent days, amid rumours of a big-money offer from a Chinese Super League club.

Prior to kick-off on Saturday evening Conte tried to play down Costa's absence by claiming the striker has a back injury.

STAR MAN

Marcos Alonso. It is not every week your left-back scores two goals. The Spaniard actually operated more as a wing-back and was always an option in attack. He took his goals well, both clean strikes, and was unlucky not to have a hat-trick when he sent a volley narrowly wide with the outside of his left foot. Competent in his defending duties too.

PLAYER RATINGS

LEICESTER

Kasper Schmeichel 6 (out if 10)

Wes Morgan 5

Robert Huth 5

Ben Chilwell 5

Christian Fuchs 5

Marc Albrighton 4

Nampalys Mendy 4

Onyinye Ndidi 4

Danny Drinkwater 5

Ahmed Musa 5