Chelsea travel to Leicester this Saturday as Antonio Conte's men look to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to rivals Tottenham in their last Premier League fixture.

The Blues had previously won 13 league games running, but were denied a record 14th by Spurs' Dele Alli, who scored both in a 2-0 victory for the Lilywhites at White Hart Lane.

Despite the defeat, Chelsea remain five points clear of closest rivals Liverpool at the top of the table and are still favourites for the Premier League title come May.

Last season's champions Leicester sit in a miserable 15th place in the Premier League, having entirely failed to replicate their terrific form of 2015/16 in all competitions bar the Champions League, in which they have surpassed all odds and qualified for the knock-out stage by winning their group.

Conte will know the importance of a bounce-back win following the defeat to Tottenham, so is likely to make a few changes to the side that collapsed in north London last time out.

One decision on that night that shocked many was the exclusion of Cesc Fabregas, who was omitted for Nemanja Matic despite his brilliant form as of late. If Chelsea are to get back on the right track against the Foxes, Fabregas must start, and here are THREE reasons why ...

Matic not always needed...

Chelsea set up with three at the back these days, so it is understandable that Conte often goes for two deep-lying midfielders in order to help protect his back line.

The reality is that he doesn't need to, though. The one-man running machine that is N'Golo Kante is more than capable of covering the back three alone, and more often than not Nemanja Matic finds himself in the same position as his French counterpart, as he is a like-minded player.

Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso are also terrific at covering down the flanks in order to effectively make it a back five, so Matic's defensive role in midfield becomes semi-redundant. Fabregas can occupy that space and bring something new to the side.

Foxes Set-Up

How Leicester will set-up in midfield is fairly predictable. Danny Drinkwater will sit alongside either Nampalys Mendy, Daniel Amartey or new man Wilfred Ndidi in a deep-lying pair that will break-up play and look to hit the Blues on the counter-attack, as they did so effectively last season with Kante in the side instead.

Chelsea playing Kante and Matic against the Foxes as defensive midfield duo sets up for a stalemate and will leave a large area in the middle of the park unoccupied, meaning the Blues, and indeed Leicester's, front and wide men will become isolated.

Popping Fabregas in that hole creates the link between Chelsea's defence and attack, and will provide the Blues with a chance to get in behind Leicester.

Creativity

The Blues have creativity in abundance out wide, up front and even from the full-back positions. In the centre of the park, however, they can at times, especially without Fabregas, lack that inventiveness.

As the fastest player to ever reach 100 assists in the Premier League, the Spaniard can certainly provide that spark. His link-up from deep with Diego Costa is fantastic, and his sublime range and accuracy of passing in and around opponents' defences can be devastating.