New tactics not working, Marcos Alonso a revelation and 3 other talking points from Chelsea’s win against Leicester City

The Blues managed to climb into the top 5 of the Premier League with an emphatic victory over reigning champions Leicester City

The build-up to the clash between the last two Premier League champions revolved around manager Antonio Conte. Chelsea were still reeling from two back-to-back defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal, and questions were being raised of the Italian manager.

However, his team silenced some of the critics with their 3-0 victory over the Foxes at Stamford Bridge. Here are five talking points from the game.

1. Marcos Alonso could be the answer to the Blues’ full-back woes

Chelsea's Spanish defender Marcos Alonso runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 15, 2016. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Spanish defender Marcos Alonso runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 15, 2016. (Photo courtesy Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

Branislav Ivanovic has often been the whipping boy for Chelsea fans, and the aging Serbian looked more out of sorts by the day. He was dropped for the game against the Foxes and it paid rich dividends, as 25-year-old Spaniard Marcos Alonso took his place in the team.

Regular left-back Cesar Azpilicueta moved to the right side of a three man defence, while Alonso played left wing-back. The deadline day signing looked very impressive, especially in attack. He was a constant menace on the left wing, but didn’t compromise on his defensive duties either.

2. Pedro looking good up front with Costa and Hazard

Leicester City's Nigerian midfielder Ahmed Musa (L) vies with Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Pedro during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 15, 2016. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)
Leicester City’s Nigerian midfielder Ahmed Musa (L) vies with Chelsea’s Spanish midfielder Pedro during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 15, 2016. (Photo courtesy Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

Former Barcelona striker Pedro notched up an assist for the Blues against Leicester City. The 29-year-old hasn’t exactly set the stage on fire at Stamford Bridge. He scored seven goals and made two assists for Chelsea last season after arriving from Camp Nou.

Pedro has started two games so far this season, against Watford and Leicester, and the Blues have won both. The Spaniard has linked up well with Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, but it remains to be seen if he can keep summer signing Michy Batshuayi out of the first team.

3. Ranieri’s tactical changes at Leicester City aren’t paying off

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Claudio Ranieri, Manager of Leicester City reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on October 15, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 15: Claudio Ranieri, Manager of Leicester City reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on October 15, 2016 in London, England. (Photo courtesy Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The reigning champions have won just two games this season. While 2016-17 wasn’t expected to be a stroll for Leicester, right now they’re barely even crawling. Three goal defeats to Liverpool, Manchester United and now Chelsea see them in 13th place on the table.

One major change has been in a tactical sense, as the Foxes threw bodies forward against Chelsea. There were four or five players in the opposition half during most of the game, a far cry from the counter-attacking football of last season.

Claudio Ranieri is trying out something new with the Foxes this time around, but it doesn’t seem to be working at all.

4. The clown is back — Luiz dazzles and stupifies

Chelsea's Brazilian defender David Luiz (R) vies with Leicester City's Nigerian midfielder Ahmed Musa during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 15, 2016. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Brazilian defender David Luiz (R) vies with Leicester City’s Nigerian midfielder Ahmed Musa during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 15, 2016. (Photo courtesy Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

The signing of David Luiz from PSG was definitely the shocker of transfer deadline day. The Brazilian returned to Chelsea after three years in Paris, and Blues fans didn’t know whether to rejoice or be horrified.

Luiz gave them reason to feel both emotions with his performance against Leicester City. A beautiful free kick in the first half was followed by a bizzare attempt at an overhead kick which almost injured the center-back.

The Brazilian made many good tackles in dangerous situations, and almost put the ball into his own net from a Luis Hernandez cross to Jamie Vardy. Stamford Bridge really didn’t know what to expect from Luiz, but he’s here to stay now and they can expect more madness.

5. Conte and his beloved three man defence

Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 15, 2016. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 15, 2016. (Photo courtesy Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

It has taken some time, but Antonio Conte is now finally fielding his preferred three-man defence system at Chelsea. Having started out with the regular 4-2-3-1 system, dipping results provoked a change, and that tactical change is now paying off.

With Luiz, Cahill and Azpilicueta playing in defence, Conte deployed Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses as wing-backs. Kante and Matic manned the midfield, as Pedro, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard went on the attack. The implementation of this 3-4-3 system is the real start of the Italian’s reign at Chelsea.

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