Chelsea look to extend their unbeaten form as Graham Potter’s Blues visit Aston Villa at Villa Park in a Premier League clash.
Victory would move Aston Villa further away from the relegation zone, whereas a win would see Chelsea stay fourth.
Team News
Leon Bailey set to be available for Aston Villa following his recovery from a muscle injury.
Boubacar Kamara (knee), Ludwig Augustinsson (hamstring), Lucas Digne (heel) and Diego Carlos (Achilles) are ruled out.
Chelsea will be without Reece James after he suffered a knee injury during their midweek Champions League win at AC Milan.
Hakim Ziyech (illness) could return but Wesley Fofana (knee) and N’Golo Kante (hamstring) both remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa have claimed four points from their last five league meetings against Chelsea (W1, D1, L3).
- Chelsea have won four of their last five visits to Villa Park (W4, L1).
- Both teams have scored in four of their last five meetings at Villa Park – except for a 4-0 win for Chelsea in April 2016.
- Villa have kept just one clean sheet in four matches played at home this season (W2, D1, L1), which came in a 1-0 win over Southampton in September 2022.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in each of Chelsea’s two away matches under Graham Potter in all competitions (W2).
Prediction
Despite largely dominating Nottingham Forest on Monday evening, Villa were unable to break down a stubborn defence even after a quick-fire equaliser in another fairly wasteful attacking display, which is a worry because they often seem to lack end product which will be crucial here.
Chelsea meanwhile will definitely miss James at right-back but they’re currently in strong form with a real energy to their attacking play, of which I can see them continuing here if they turn up and quickly seize control of the game.
Villa though do have players capable of causing issues but unless they can find a clinical touch, I just can’t see them stopping Chelsea from getting another win.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea
Result: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea