Chris Sutton predicts Leicester City’s match against Chelsea and makes a controversial team selection statement.
The victor will advance to the competition’s semi-finals, where they will face off in a rematch of the 2021 championship.
With a 1-0 victory over the Blues back then, the Foxes won the FA Cup for the first time under Brendan Rodgers. However, they will start Sunday’s match as the second division underdogs.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team will be hoping to build on their remarkable cup run this year. They have already advanced to one domestic final this season, where they lost to Liverpool in the EFL Cup at Wembley Stadium.
Although getting back to the Premier League will be Leicester’s top priority for the upcoming season, fans would also find it exciting if their team made it to the semi-finals.
Sutton thinks Chelsea will defeat the Championship team at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, winning 3-0.
Given the team’s recent decline in performance and their entire attention being directed toward the league’s promotion battle, the former striker has hinted that Maresca might even decide to rest players this weekend.
Through the BBC, Sutton stated, “I just wonder how Leicester manager Enzo Maresca will approach this game, and Chelsea have home advantage here.”
“His team is still atop the Championship, but they have lost their last five league games, and they have been struggling lately.
“Maresca will undoubtedly concentrate on their automatic promotion bid, which will be determined by the results of the nine league games they play from March 29 to May 4.
“Of course, they have the international break as well, but he will be considering his team’s final stretch ahead of schedule, which could affect his choice of players at Stamford Bridge.
“In the previous round, Chelsea had to fight to defeat Leeds, another formidable Championship team, but I think they will win this one fairly easily.”
Due to their lack of league games, Leicester could drop out of first place in the Championship table this coming weekend.
Daniel Farke’s team would lead if Leeds United won by two goals because they would have a better goal differential.
If Ipswich Town defeats Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon, they too could get within one point of the Leicestershire team.
Russell Martin’s team, Southampton, is also vying for automatic promotion spots, but their recent poor performance has seen them fall nine points behind Leicester.
The Saints still have a game in hand over their rivals for the top two spots, though.
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