Aston Villa face Chelsea in a huge Premier League encounter in the top-four race.
Victory could lift Villa up to seventh if Fulham lose elsewhere, whilst Chelsea can go fourth if Bournemouth lose in the mid-afternoon kick-offs.
Team News
Axel Disasi is ineligible for Villa in this game due to being on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of this season.
Ezri Konsa (muscle), Leon Bailey (knock) and Ross Barkley (calf) could be available but Boubacar Kamara (muscle), Amadou Onana (thigh) and Pau Torres (metatarsal) remain sidelined,
Chelsea will be without Noni Madueke after he suffered a hamstring injury during their 3-0 loss at Brighton last weekend.
Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Marc Guiu, Romeo Lavia (both muscle), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Wesley Fofana, Nicolas Jackson and Omari Kellyman (all hamstring) are still ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Villa meet Chelsea at Villa Park on Saturday 22 February at 5:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Villa have won two of their last seven league meetings against Chelsea (W2, D1, L4).
- Chelsea have lost one of their last five league trips to Villa (W3, D1, L1).
- Ex Chelsea midfielder, Conor Gallagher scored in the Blues’ last two visits to Villa in all competitions.
- Two of Ollie Watkins’ 12 league goals this season for Villa came from the penalty spot.
- Chelsea are winless in their last six away matches in all competitions (D2, L4).
Prediction
Currently four points behind Chelsea after having played a game more in a wide-open fight for fourth, Villa need to play with the same quality which nearly saw them beat Liverpool in midweek if not for an unlucky deflection as they can’t afford to drop more points if want to push for a top-four finish again.
Chelsea meanwhile looked creatively beaten at Brighton with little attacking ideas to break down the Seagulls’ resilient defence once Madueke went off the pitch, so a huge improvement is needed but he will be a loss with only Cole Palmer in decent league form within their forward line.
I certainly do expect a tough if scrappy contest here but if Villa can build on the positives of their draw against Liverpool in midweek – especially with Marcus Rashford now settling quickly, I fancy them to nick this as Chelsea do look like they’re in a rut at the moment.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
Result: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
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