Leicester City stood firm after being reduced to 10 men to hold Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues' third-successive 0-0 stalemate could have been worse had the Foxes made the most of their first-half dominance in West London.
City lost Ben Chilwell to a red card with a quarter of the match to play, however, and from that point on they set out to hold on for the point that their performance deserved.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are looking to get back to winning ways in the top flight following a 2-2 draw with Arsenal last time out, while Leicester - on the up under Claude Puel - now find themselves eighth in the table on 30 points.
The home side can be forgiven for taking their eye off the ball, having had to contend with a couple of domestic cup fixtures over the past week, but they cannot afford to lose any further ground in the Premier League. Their title is surely heading to the Etihad Stadium, with leaders Manchester City's gap only growing by the week, though Manchester United are within touching distance in second place.
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger; Moses, Bakayoko, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard, Morata
SUBS: Caballero, Christensen, David Luiz, Zappacosta, Willian, Pedro, Batshuayi
Starting with a look at the home team, boss Antonio Conte has largely stuck with the group that laboured to a goalless draw against Arsenal here a few days ago. That means Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata continue their partnership up top, despite Willian, Pedro and Michy Batshuayi waiting in the wings, while Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses will offer support from wide positions.
Just the two changes made by Conte on the back of the stalemate against the Gunners, in fact, with former Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater being replaced by Tiemoue Bakayoko, and Gary Cahill takes over from the rested Andreas Christensen. Either side of Cahill the three-man backline remains the same, as Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta both start at Stamford Bridge.
No Drinkwater for Chelsea today, then, but another former Leicester player in N'Golo Kante does start - the Frenchman played 37 games in the Foxes' famous title-winning campaign in 15-16. A big call from Conte to stick with Morata up top, meanwhile, as the Spaniard has gone four games without a goal and has just two in his last nine. Batshuayi may not be in Conte's thinking, but Pedro and Willian will no doubt be disappointed to again be overlooked.
LEICESTER CITY TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Schmeichel; Amartey, Dragovic, Maguire, Chilwell; Mahrez, James, Ndidi, Albrighton; Okazaki; Vardy
SUBS: Hamer, Benalouane, Fuchs, Iborra, Gray, Iheanacho, Slimani
In terms of the visitors, Puel has been handed a big boost as star striker Jamie Vardy has recovered from a groin problem to feature from the off. The England international, who missed last week's stalemate with former club Fleetwood Town, boasts an unrivalled 22 Premier League goals in 41 matches against the established top six since making his top-flight debut in August 2014.
Leicester show three changes from their last league outing, having heavily rotated for that FA Cup clash at Fleetwood. Ben Chilwell and Aleksandar Dragovic join Vardy in returning to the starting lineup, while Wes Morgan, Christian Fuchs and Islam Slimani all make way. City skipper Morgan is absent from the squad entirely due to a groin strain picked up in the 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town, as is full-back Danny Simpson.
The January transfer window still has a little over two weeks left to run, and there has been no movement as far as silky Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez is concerned. The Algerian winger remains at the King Power Stadium for now, despite rumoured interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, but his form under Puel suggests that a big bid is surely incoming. Mahrez has scored or assisted a goal in seven of his last nine matches, including each of the last four.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has stuck with Alvaro Morata up top for this afternoon's Premier League game, despite the Spanish striker's recent struggles. Just two changes made on the back of the 0-0 draw with Arsenal a few days ago, seeing Gary Cahill and Tiemoue Bakayoko come into the side, while Claude Puel makes three changes from Leicester City's most recent top-flight outing.
It has been a strange campaign for Chelsea thus far in many ways, which could still go one of two ways. The Blues find themselves 16 points adrift of pacesetters Man City, effectively seeing them relinquish their title with half the campaign played, but they are just one point behind second-placed Man United and four ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. Finishing as runners-up is surely the target; finishing outside the top four the absolute worst-case scenario.
Conte knows that he must qualify a second-or-third-placed finish with some silverware, though, which could come via the form of the FA Cup, EFL Cup or Champions League. That's right - the Premier League is now out of reach, barring the biggest of collapses form a formidable Man City side, but they are still fighting on three other fronts. A Premier League title in season one and a cup in season two is certainly not bad going as far as Conte is concerned.
The problem, though, is that the Blues were held to successive goalless draws by Norwich City and Arsenal in the FA Cup and EFL Cup respectively this week. You would still back Conte's men to get the job done against second-tier Norwich in the third-round replay, with a meeting against Newcastle United awaiting the winners of that one, though they face a far tougher test overcoming the Gunners a week later.
That is not to mention that Barcelona are up next in the Champions League - arguably the toughest opponent Chelsea could face in the last 16. So the season is very much at a crossroads right now for Conte & Co, knowing that the mood around Stamford Bridge will change depending on the most recent result. Right now, following those back-to-back goalless draws and another stalemate at the Emirates Stadium, the Blues could do with a win in this fixture.
The festive and New Year period may also be over, but that does not mean a let up in the amount of fixtures Chelsea must cram in. That is the cost of advancing to the latter stages of competitions, of course, so Conte cannot complain as such, but his side did not help themselves by failing to break down Norwich at Carrow Road a week ago. In fact, the Blues face a potential run of 20 games in 75 days - no wonder the Italian is keen to bring in some new recruits!
Chelsea's Premier League fixtures are spread out for the time being, though, with Leicester, Brighton and Bournemouth to play before the end of January, before then taking on Watford and West Brom in the opening fortnight of February - a nice run of fixtures. The Blues will be hoping for, best case scenario, 15 points from 15 across those games, which would set them up nicely for their crunch clash with Jose Mourinho's Manchester United in a month's time.
On the topic of Mourinho, much of Conte's press conferences of late have been dominated by his war of words with the Portuguese. The Chelsea boss also said something else pretty interesting in Friday's pre-match press conference, though, as he hinted - not for the first time, it must be said - that he may be on his way out in the summer. Conte did later clarify to the written press, however, that he will only depart if his bosses sack him.
Chelsea's league form has been pretty decent since going down to successive defeats at the hands of Man City and Crystal Palace, winning 10 and drawing three of their last 14; their only defeat in that run coming away to West Ham. Most recently in the top flight, the Blues played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Arsenal in North London - a good result in its own right, even if they did concede late on - to end a two-game winning run.
Chelsea scored seven goals in seeing off Brighton, Stoke and then put two past Arsenal, while up the other end they have a pretty solid defensive record - four clean sheets in succession before heading to the Emirates Stadium for that blockbuster encounter. Even with those dropped points late on, it is still no defeat in six, taking 14 points from the last 18 on offer. Conte has to be happy with that.
DID YOU KNOW? Chelsea have won seven Premier League matches in a row at Stamford Bridge, keeping a clean sheet in five of those. Antonio Conte, meanwhile, has won 25 of his first 30 home top-flight matches in English football - joint with Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, both of whom failed to win their 31st home match in charge of Chelsea.
While Chelsea can be pleased enough with their current standing, the same is true of opponents Leicester. OK, they are not challenging for the title like two seasons ago, but they are also free of any relegation trouble - as was the case in the opening stages of the 2017-18 campaign - and are now looking up. A European berth is surely out of the question, trailing as they do by nine points with the games fast ticking down.
It is therefore difficult to work out what exactly a successful season would be for Leicester at this point; overhauling Burnley, four points better off, to finish in seventh would surely be seen as a brilliant achievement for Puel. A run of one win in their first eight left the Foxes in serious trouble, but full credit to the board for taking action - to the surprise of many - by bringing in underrated former Southampton boss Puel.
Puel will now be hoping to build some momentum again, which was the case before the festive period as his side won four matches on the spin, only to then lose against Crystal Palace, Watford and Liverpool, either side of a battling 2-2 home draw with Man United. Most recently, though, the Foxes claimed a comfortable 3-0 win over Huddersfield at the King Power Stadium, leaving them in a nice position ahead of the return of top-flight action.
Leicester now face away games at Chelsea and Man City in the space of a month, with Watford, Everton and Swansea City in-between - a mixed set of fixtures on the face of it. The Foxes' focus should probably be on the FA Cup now, knowing that victory over Fleetwood in next week's replay will set up a meeting with another lower-league side in Peterborough United. Win those, and all of a sudden they are in round five and Wembley is in sight.
The bad news for Leicester heading into this match is that they are winless in 12 Premier League away games against top-six opposition, losing each of the last five, including a 2-1 loss at Anfield at Christmas time after taking an early lead through Vardy. History is also against them today, meanwhile, as the Foxes have failed to win back-to-back top-flight games to begin a calendar year since 1984, which they can achieve here with three points.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Leicester City have lost 12 of their last 14 meetings with Chelsea in all competitions, with the only exceptions coming in their title-winning campaign a couple of seasons back when winning at home and drawing here. The Blues have lost just once in 26 league games against the Foxes at Stamford Bridge since 1965, in fact - a 2-0 reverse in September 2000.
With kickoff at Stamford Bridge now a little over five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match talk from both camps.
Antonio Conte: "I have another year of my contract with this club. But, as you know very well, everything is possible. In one moment you stay here, in another moment another person replaces you in your job. For the manager of this club it's normal to have this type of situation, even if last season you won the league and you reached the final in the FA Cup. This is the history of this club for the manager. I think in other clubs this doesn't happen."
Claude Puel: "We know Chelsea are the champions. We can cause them problems. We have great players also and quality in the squad and a great attitude all the time in training sessions on the pitch. I think in our games against the great teams, we have always had good situations and good possibilities - like against Manchester United and Tottenham. The ambition is not just for us to score but to continue to play after scoring and to always keep good ambition in our play."
Conte admits that he cannot be certain that he will still be Chelsea manager come the start of next season, though as pointed out a little earlier he did qualify those remarks by stating that he will not be the one to walk away. As pointed out by the Italian, the Blues won the Premier League title - with a record number of wins, too - while also reaching the final of the FA Cup last term. That, you feel, should give him some leverage if his side end this campaign trophyless.
Leicester boss Puel believes that his side are capable of causing Chelsea "problems" this afternoon, meanwhile, despite that terrible aforementioned record against the division's top-six sides. The Foxes have also lost successive away games in the Premier League, while also being held at Fleetwood Town last weekend, having previously gone unbeaten in seven. To end that mini run today will take quite the effort.
KICKOFF! Chelsea get us up and running in this clash between the last two Premier League champions. More than 17 years since Leicester City last tasted a league win here - can they end that run with a shock result this afternoon?
A couple of shots fired in from Chelsea, including one from Kante, which are both blocked away. Good play by the Blues, though, which culminates in a corner being swung into the area for Moses to hit into one of his own teammates.
Blues skipper Cahill is, as expected, occupying the central berth in that three-man backline. 2015-16 champions Leicester now knocking the ball around, though they are being pressed high by a Chelsea side that looks well up for this one.
The hosts started the game very well, pegging their opponents back in their own final third, but Leicester have slowly started to grow into things. Mahrez made a run down the right, but Amartey could not find him with the return ball.
CHANCE! The first big chance of the match falls Leicester's way, as Chilwell gets in behind and picks out Okazaki five yards from goal. The Japanese forward got his contact all wrong, scooping the ball over the crossbar.
SHOT! Jamie Vardy with a couple of half-chances for his side. The first came via a Chilwell ball over the top, which the English striker hooked into the side-netting, before then scuffing wide after being picked out by Matty James.
Leicester are dominating the game now. Chelsea's defence being pulled one way and the other, with Vardy having two bites at the cherry when attempting to pick out his teammates. Okazaki again, though, could not turn the ball on goal from close range.
SAVE! Courtois showing why he is reportedly so high on Real Madrid's wishlist, producing the first big stop of the match. Ndidi got on the end of a corner but Courtois produced a strong save to keep out the visiting midfielder.
SAVE! This has been an enthralling match so far. Moments after Courtois pulled off a big stop, Kasper Schmeichel was required to keep out Fabregas's drive from a tight angle. Not as good a chance as Ndidi's, which Courtois somehow kept out.
SAVE! Morata goes down just outside the box, with the referee correctly waving play to continue. Hazard was on the loose ball in a flash, sending a weak attempt down the middle for Schmeichel to collect. The easiest of the three saves to date.
Superb from Cahill, as he dives in front of Vardy's shot to prevent what may well have been the opening goal of a gripping games. The ball then comes back into the box for Mahrez to strike, but he can only send the ball into the top tier from 15 yards.
Eleven attempts already in the opening quarter of the match - seven for Leicester and four for their opponents. The Foxes have been the better of the two sides so far and really should be in front; Vardy and Ndidi both coming close.
Mahrez and Vardy looking very bright when they get on the ball. The former picks out his teammate, who again cannot get a shot away without a block coming in first. Chelsea more concerned about keeping City out for now, rather than finding a goal of their own.
Cannot take your eyes off this one at the moment - both teams giving as good as they get. Puel, whose side are the fresher, will be delighted by the manner of the Foxes' display in the opening third of this Premier League contest.
Can't remember the last time I saw Chelsea this stretched. Leicester looking so comfortable on the ball when they get bodies forward, which is every other minute at the moment. The Blues need to start taking control of the match.
Schmeichel plucks the ball out of the air before Moses could get his head to it. Leicester just quietened down a little over the last five minutes or so, and Chelsea just showing signs that they are about to grab some momentum.
Cahill has had plenty to do in this first half, but his afternoon looks certain to be over as he appears to have pulled his hamstring. Christensen, one of two players to be left out from the draw with Arsenal, has been sent to warm-up.
CHELSEA SUB! Cahill a little reluctant to come off, but it was a no-brainer as far as Conte is concerned - one comes Christensen, who will have to get up to full speed pretty quick. Morata gets in behind but Schmeichel stops the cross.
Leicester so positive and bright every time they get forward, which is not all that surprising when they have Mahrez in their ranks. The Algerian winger finds himself in a good position, only for his cross to go right through the box.
Albrighton with Leicester's latest attempt - I make that nine shots now - which is dragged wide of the post. Courtois had to dive across, but the long-drive drive lacked accuracy. City deserving of a half-time advantage in West London.
It is actually 12 attempt from Leicester, but just one - from Ndidi, forcing Courtois into a superb stop - has been on target. The Blues, yet to get going this afternoon, have actually tested Schmeichel on a couple of occasions.
SAVE! Good stop from Schmeichel to help Fabregas's shot over the bar. The Spaniard used the decoy run of Moses down the right to cut inside, before unleashing a shot that did not quite have enough accuracy to get the better of Schmeichel.
Fabregas with a clipped ball over the top that rolls out of play before Morata had any chance of getting to it. Pretty much sums things up for Chelsea in this first half - Leicester have been the better of the two sides and deserve to be in front.
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 0-0 LEICESTER CITY
The referee brings the first half to a close, with the two sides all square at 0-0. Yet to see a goal but it has been an entertaining afternoon of football at Stamford Bridge thus far - just the 17 attempts in that first half! Fingers crossed for a breakthrough in the second 45.
The first half may have ended goalless, but it was not for the want of trying as the sides manager a combined 17 attempts in an entertaining opening 45 minutes. Wilfred Ndidi failed to make the most of the best of the openings, heading a bouncing ball goalwards a little too close to Thibaut Courtois, who still had plenty of work to keep it out. Jamie Vardy also squandered two half-chances in quick succession, hooking one attempt into the side-netting and scuffing another wide.
Chelsea were very much second best in the first half, showing just two changes from their midweek draw with Arsenal here, though they did have openings of their own through Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas. The latter had an angled drive helped aside and a longer-range shot tipped over the bar by Kasper Schmeichel, who was also well positioned to keep out a weak Eden Hazard effort.
Leicester, who headed into this match on the back of successive away defeats in the top flight, continued to show more energy but were unable to find a way through before the teams went in for half time. Plenty for Conte to think about at the interval, then, with his side requiring a foothold in the match. Puel, meanwhile, will want more of the same in the remainder.
BENCH WATCH!
CHELSEA SUBS: Caballero, David Luiz, Zappacosta, Willian, Pedro, Batshuayi
LEICESTER CITY SUBS: Hamer, Benalouane, Fuchs, Iborra, Gray, Iheanacho, Slimani
RESTART! Leicester City get us back under way at Stamford Bridge, where no further changes were made at the break. Andreas Christensen on for Gary Cahill in the first half due to an apparent hamstring strain for the Englishman.
RESTART! Leicester City get us back under way at Stamford Bridge, where no further changes were made at the break. Andreas Christensen on for Gary Cahill in the first half due to an apparent hamstring strain for the Englishman.
So strange to see Pedro and Willian not only selected on the bench once again this afternoon, but also remain there for the start of this second half. Neither side yet to really get going since the restart, though Leicester have a free kick in a good position.
The free kick is an awkward one for Chelsea to deal with, but deal with it they do - just. Matty James gets on the end of a loose ball 18 yards from goal, which he drives into a sea of bodies. City now looking to refind their momentum.
It has got to the point where, having seen his side essentially control the flow of the game, Puel may well be disappointed if they leave Stamford Bridge without all three points. A third goalless draw on the bounce would be a terrible result for Chelsea.
Albrighton sends a free kick into the box, which Dragovic was inches away from connecting with. Leicester back in their groove now and closing in on that opening goal, perhaps tempting home boss Conte into making a second change.
PENALTY APPEAL! Chelsea just cannot keep control of the ball, with Leicester coming at them and at them. Mahrez has just gone down in the box, but he rather chucked himself at Christensen and may face retrospective action.
CLOSE! I have no idea how Leicester have yet to open the scoring here. Mahrez the latest to come close, cutting inside and getting a shot away that deflects off Christensen and no more than a yard wide. Courtois was beaten.
CHELSEA SUBS! Here come the cavalry - Pedro and Willian are on, taking over from Fabregas and Hazard. Interesting to see Morata remain up top, despite doing very little so far this afternoon - again! All three Chelsea subs now used.
YELLOW CARD! Conte has made his move by bringing on Pedro and Willian, then, and both men now have to find their feet. Okazaki is the third player to be cautioned, following Kante and James, for halting the run of Willian.
YELLOW CARD! Chelsea already looking a different team thanks to the introduction of Willian and Pedro. Chilwell becomes the second visiting player to be cautioned for halting the run of Willian, whose fresh legs are making a difference.
A far more balanced match on our hands now, which Chelsea are probably just about edging following their double change. Still awaiting the first attempt on goal of the second half, however, with neither side yet to find their shooting range.
The second half not quite as gripping as the first, but it still remains all to play for at Stamford Bridge so nobody will be leaving early at this rate. Chelsea no doubt the more desperate to find a goal - they do not want to lose further ground.
RED CARD! A big, big moment in the match as Ben Chilwell - booked just four minutes ago - is shown a second yellow card for a lunge on Moses. The full-back had eyes for the ball but went a little too high and the referee, in my opinion, had little choice.
So a little under 20 minutes of normal time to play in West London and Chelsea now chasing a goal against the 10 men of Leicester. I questioned whether City would stick or twist - that red card has no doubt made up Puel's mind!
SAVE! A rare attempt on target in this second half, via the boot of former Leicester player Kante. It was more about power than precision, forcing Schmeichel to collect at the second time of asking. Puel preparing a change...
LEICESTER CITY! Puel finally manages to bring on a replacement full-back, with Fuchs taking over from Okazaki for the remainder of the match. Leicester will stuck Vardy up top on his own now and ask Mahrez to bridge the gap.
SAVE! Chelsea beginning to rack up the shot count now, with Willian - good since he came on - cutting inside and testing Schmeichel with a tame shot down the middle. Can the Blues make their man advantage count in the remaining 12 minutes?
SHOT! Leicester definitely having to hold on a little more now, as Bakayoko blasts the ball over the crossbar when picked out unmarked 22 yards from goal. Puel still has two changes as his disposal, which he will no doubt use.
Bakayoko with a poor attempt, moments after blazing over the crossbar. Audible groans around Stamford Bridge, as supporters can sense two more points slipping away. May be a further sting in the tail if Leicester can put an attack together.
Christensen a little too keen to get the ball, barging through Vardy and conceding a free kick. Puel's charges will make the most of these stoppages, no doubt happy to leave here with the point now that they are down to 10 men.
LEICESTER CITY SUB! Vardy, perhaps dazed after being clattered into by Christensen, is replaced by the pacey legs of Demarai Gray - just what the Foxes need to see this one through. Not long left now for them to hold on.
Chelsea beginning to turn the screw a tad with a few shots being fired in. Not really putting their opponents under as much pressure as expected, however, with fatigue creeping in more and more on the back of their EFL Cup tie in midweek.
We are into the first of four added-on minutes at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are struggling to create much of anything. Yet another disappointing afternoon for Conte, whose side have now drawn four matches in a row - three of those goalless.
Home supporters urge their side on, with just two minutes of time left to play here. Leicester understandably going defensive since being reduced to 10 men, and they now have a third sub on the pitch - Iborra on for Matty James late on.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 0-0 LEICESTER CITY
Referee Mike Jones brings the match to an end, meaning that Chelsea have missed out on the chance to move into second place - they are level on points with Manchester United, who have a game in hand to play on Monday night. Leicester City, meanwhile, will be more than happy with the point, even if they did deserve a goal on the basis of the first half.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Stamford Bridge. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction from this and all the day's other top-flight games can be found elsewhere on the side in due course. Thanks for joining!
