Leicester City’s struggles continued on Saturday as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the King Power Stadium, marking their sixth loss of the Premier League season. The game was a reminder of the Foxes’ ongoing issues, with Nicolas Jackson punishing sloppy defending from Wout Faes to give Chelsea the lead, before Enzo Fernandez added a second. Jordan Ayew’s late penalty provided a mere consolation, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
This result deepens Leicester’s woes, a downward spiral that began with their loss to Nottingham Forest. Since their 1-0 win over Southampton on October 19, Leicester have managed just one point from a possible 15, highlighting their ongoing inconsistency. Their most recent draw came against Ipswich Town, courtesy of Ayew’s last-minute goal, but overall, the Foxes’ form has been worrying.
By the time the final whistle blew on Saturday, there was an overwhelming sense of inevitability around the King Power. While a loss to Chelsea, who were in third place at the time, wasn’t entirely surprising, the manner of the performance left many fans with little hope. As Leicester heads into a crucial festive period, they now find themselves firmly in a relegation battle—a scenario that manager Steve Cooper predicted, but one that remains hard to accept.
A key issue for Leicester this season is their inability to avoid mistakes, particularly at the back. In the Premier League, even small errors are ruthlessly punished, and Leicester have made far too many. Against Chelsea, Faes’ failure to deal with a bouncing ball allowed Jackson to score, echoing a similar defensive blunder in the loss to Nottingham Forest. The second goal came from a set-piece after James Justin went down injured. Leicester took too long to reorganize, allowing Fernandez the freedom to head home from a rebound.
While defensive fragility is expected for a team battling relegation, Leicester’s repeated mistakes are proving costly. However, it’s not just the defense that’s causing concern—Leicester’s attacking woes are just as glaring. Despite creating opportunities in their draw against Ipswich, Leicester have struggled to convert chances in recent matches. Their lack of precision in the final third is a major issue, with few shots on target and little cutting edge to break down opponents.
The absence of Abdul Fatawu has only compounded Leicester’s attacking problems. The 20-year-old’s flair and creativity had been a bright spark for the team, but without him, Leicester have lacked the dynamism to pose a serious threat going forward. In comparison, Cooper’s Nottingham Forest side last season had key players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Brennan Johnson, while Leicester are now relying too heavily on Jamie Vardy, who struggled against Chelsea’s defense.
With the season hanging in the balance, Cooper faces a tough task in turning things around. Leicester’s upcoming fixtures are crucial, starting with a trip to Brentford next Saturday, followed by a home match against fellow relegation contenders West Ham. The challenges are clear, and if Leicester are to avoid another season of struggle, they must find a way to address their defensive errors and attacking deficiencies before it’s too late.
