The stage is set. We’re just a few minutes away from kick-off!

Enzo Maresca has opened up about the bond he formed with his Leicester players last season, recalling the night they gatecrashed his house to throw a 2am party after winning the Championship title. The Italian explained: “It was probably the best present I got last season when we were promoted and at around two o’clock in the morning all the team arrived at my house. I was watching the [QPR vs] Leeds game and when it finished all the staff arrived. And then later, very late, the players arrived. They could be in different places to celebrate but they decided to come to my home. When I was a player I was lucky to win things but I never thought to go to the manager’s house.”

Looking ahead to this afternoon’s game, he said: “I will be thankful to the club, the players and the fans. Because it was a fantastic season. I cannot control how they are going to receive me. But I can control how I receive them.”

Jamie Vardy is back in the Leicester starting line-up today after recovering from a back issue. Enzo Maresca heaped praise on his former No9 ahead of this afternoon’s match, claiming he is the best striker of his generation. Maresca said: “Vardy is fantastic and people don’t realise how good he is. I know that England has been quite lucky with strikers, like Kane, Rooney and many others, but if you ask me he has been the best one.

“He can do many things, like run in behind and finish, but the best thing for me is his open mind. Last year he changed the way he was playing by dropping in, linking the play and he still wants to learn. But of course he still has the one thing that is most difficult to find, which is to score goals. He can be out for one week, without training, and play on the Saturday or Sunday and he’s the one who scores.”

One Chelsea fan has been in touch to say how thrilled they are with the club’s progress this season. However, they are not counting Leicester out today…

“#3 on the table is something that we, the Chelsea fans (yes, we are not yet extinct) have not been used to since a while. To be counted as a favourite for the top 4 and get back to UCL should be our target by May 25.

“Leicester is not a serious threat but then who saw the miracle of Forest when the season began. Anything is possible. We can win this 1- 4 or lose it by 5-0. We are Chelsea!”

Also in the Premier League today…

• Fulham vs Wolves

• Everton vs Brentford

• Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest

• Bournemouth vs Brighton

• Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace

• Manchester City vs Tottenham

Leicester also suffered a serious injury blow this week, with promising winger Abdul Fatawu ruled out for the rest of the season. The 20-year-old ruptured his ACL while playing for Ghana during the international break.

Manager Steve Cooper said: “He’s a young player and having an ACL injury can be quite common, it’s part of football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us. We’ve very much now got to support him in every way we can to make sure his rehab is as smooth and as productive as possible. We hope he can come back a stronger player and person.”

James’ injury nightmare

Chelsea full-back Reece James took to Instagram on Thursday after it was revealed that he suffered another injury setback. He wrote: “This message is to the people that understand & have respect for what I’m going through... I appreciate you so much, your support and kind words go further than you could ever imagine. And just to touch on me... I’m doing okay, been better and also been worse. Another challenge ahead accepted. Eventually I’ll come out on top. Against all odds.”

James has endured a torrid time with injuries over the last five years. He spent seven months on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring issue last season. The Chelsea captain has also endured knocks to his knee, ankle and thigh over the years.

His latest injury is his eighth hamstring issue in four years.

Reece James is not in the Chelsea squad today. The full-back suffered another hamstring injury this week, but Enzo Maresca has played down concerns regarding a long-term spell on the sidelines. The Chelsea manager said on Thursday: “We have just one injured player and that’s Reece who unfortunately felt something small in training two days ago and we don’t want to take a risk for the weekend.

“It’s a hamstring, muscular problem. We will see, we don’t know for how long, for sure [we want him fit for longer]. At the moment it is not happening but we hope it will happen soon. He is out this weekend but hopefully he can be back soon. It’s probably difficult that he can be available for the Conference League [next Thursday], but hopefully soon.”

I want to hear from you this afternoon! Feel free to message me with any score predictions, opinions, thoughts, feelings and all that jazz. Will Enzo Maresca be outfoxed by his former team? (sorry not sorry for the pun) Or will he get another win under his belt at the King Power?

Also, let me know if you’re braving Storm Bert to go and watch the football today…

Weather warnings have been put in place across England today amid the arrival of Storm Bert. Some EFL fixtures scheduled for this afternoon have already been postponed, including the Championship clash between Blackburn and Portsmouth as well as Accrington Stanley’s trip to Bradford in League Two.

Team news

Preamble