Chelsea 0-1 Leicester, 3 reasons why Chelsea lost | Premier League 2018/19

For the first time since Maurizio Sarri took charge, Chelsea suffered a loss at home. A sole Jamie Vardy goal was the difference between the two sides as Leicester took all three points at Stamford Bridge.

This result means that the Blues are now 11 points behind league leaders Liverpool in fourth place. Both Chelsea and fifth-placed Arsenal are on equal points. This is a result which puts Chelsea's chances to finish in the top four in massive doubt.

The Blues had 17 shots on goal in the match but not one was good enough to find the back of the net. Ultimately, Claude Puel's men pulled of a massive heist by emerging victorious in West London.

Here are three key reasons behind Chelsea's failure to beat the 2015/16 Premier League Champions:

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#3 Poor finishing

The one thing that Chelsea failed at the most on Saturday evening was finishing. Both Eden Hazard and Marcus Alonso hit the post from situations where one would expect them to score. Further Willian, Antonio Rudiger, and Marcus Alonso missed extremely easy chances to get a goal.

Not for the first time in the last couple of years, Chelsea has been hurt by poor finishing. It is clear to anyone who follows the team that the team really lacks conviction in the final third. One can talk about tactics, formation and a "Plan B", but the responsibility to put the ball in the back of the net will remain with the players.

One can debate how well Chelsea played, but despite that, Sarri's men could have easily scored four or five goals had they taken all their chances. It's evident that Chelsea needs a change in personnel to find goals in the team. The club cannot wait any longer to invest in a couple of goalscorers.

#2 The lack of intensity after conceding

Vardy finishes past Kepa

While Leicester's extremely compact and organised set up made it hard to create clear-cut chances, Chelsea's first-half performance was largely impressive. The Blues kept the ball for large periods and were extremely efficient in winning it back. However, everything changed the minute Leicester scored.

There was a visible lack of intensity as Chelsea tried to find an equaliser. The reaction to trailing was extremely similar to the one in the defeat to Wolves earlier this month. On both occasions, Chelsea lost their organisation and did not look anywhere close to Sarri's philosophy. The team's negative reaction to an adverse moment is slowly becoming an issue of big concern.

Whether it's an issue of mentality or just about learning the system is something for Sarri to recognise. But the responsibilities lie with players, and they need to have a look at themselves and step up their game. The lack of urgency while chasing the game is simply unacceptable.

#1 Sarri's questionable team selection

Sarri perhaps missed a trick

Maurizio Sarri's impact at Chelsea is something the footballing world has taken note of. His impact in transforming the club's style of play is remarkable. However, there remain issues for him to work on and the biggest is arguably his team selection.

If there was one fault of his today, it was in that department. The decision to stick with Marcos Alonso at left back left a lot of people surprised, considering his extremely poor form over the last couple of months. The Spanish international's performances in both the defensive and offensive aspects of the game have left a lot be desired.

The same applies to Willian, who continues to almost start every game despite barely creating chances in the final third and missing a host of chances. If Sarri continues to stick with underperforming players, these results are bound to happen.

On the other hand, the decision to not start Ruben Loftus-Cheek was another questionable move. Over the last few weeks, Loftus-Cheek has been Chelsea's best player along with Eden Hazard.

The Chelsea academy starlet has done more than enough to deserve a spot in the starting line up. He is also someone who has goals in his game and that is something this Chelsea team is crying out for. Moreover, Chelsea desperately needed his characteristics against a team like Leicester who were sitting deep.

Another debatable decision is the midfield combination. While Jorginho, Kovacic, and Kante make a formidable pair, it might not what Chelsea need against teams like Leicester. In these types of matches, Chelsea needs more from their midfielders in the final third, and one might think that Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Ross Barkley are more suited to the job.