Enzo Maresca has lost a few old friends after leaving Leicester but it hardly matters when the Italian is busy making new ones at Chelsea, who tightened their grip on third place after cruising to victory at a muted King Power Stadium thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernández.

The final score felt deceptive. There was a late consolation for Leicester, Jordan Ayew coming off the bench to score from the spot after Roméo Lavia fouled Bobby De Cordova-Reid deep into stoppage time, but Chelsea had not been required to extend themselves.