Chelsea host Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in the race for European qualification.
Victory could see Chelsea go second in the table for at least a few hours, whilst Villa could go sixth if Nottingham Forest and Tottenham lose elsewhere this weekend.
Team News
Malo Gusto (illness) and Pedro Neto (unspecified) are set to return for Chelsea
Reece James and Omari Kellyman (both hamstring) are still out ruled out, whilst Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer are available – having been ineligible for the midweek trip to Heidenheim.
Villa could welcome Amadou Onana back in midfield if he passes a late fitness test on a foot injury, which has kept him out of their last two matches.
Jacob Ramsey remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Chelsea host Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 1 December at 1:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have won three of their last six league meetings against Villa (W3, D1, L2).
- Villa are unbeaten in three of their last four league trips to Chelsea (W2, D1, L1).
- Ollie Watkins has scored in each of Villa’s last two league visits to Stamford Bridge (W2).
- Chelsea are yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the league this season.
- Villa have won two of three trips to London-based clubs this season (W2, L1).
Prediction
Following their clinical but hard-earned win at Heidenheim, Chelsea now need to refocus on their domestic duty because they will need to show similar grit and composure if want a win here.
Villa meanwhile grinded out a draw at home to Juventus in midweek Champions League action, yet lacked the decisive end product to snatch a winner but a clean sheet is a positive for them to take to Chelsea.
Nevertheless this feels like a tough game to call given the attacking quality within both teams, but Villa’s extra rest and less midweek travel should help them nick a draw.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa
Result: Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa
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