As a substitute of conventional Boxing Day fixtures, this yr we get video games on the day after. However they could be well worth the wait — or no less than we had one additional stress-free day to benefit from the vacation season — as Chelsea tackle high-flying Aston Villa on Saturday night time at Stamford Bridge. Yours really shall be in attendance as properly (and the day delay actually helps with logistics!), which hopefully will make it an excellent grander event as Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers resume their pleasant private rivalry.
And Palmer’s going to have to provide one thing traditional as soon as once more, similar to final yr, if we’re to have an opportunity. Villa have gained seven (7!) in a row within the league, together with one towards Arsenal, and ten (10!) in a row in all competitions. They’ve inserted themselves firmly into the title-challenge dialog, as solely three factors separate them, Manchester Metropolis, and Arsenal on the high of the desk. Chelsea are properly off the tempo at this level, although a win right here might assist make issues attention-grabbing within the second half of the season.
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It’s promising to be a season-defining stretch over this festive interval, with video games towards Villa, Bournemouth, and Manchester Metropolis in fast succession. Are we contenders, or simply pretenders?
Date / Time: Saturday, December 27, 2025, 17.30 GMT; 12:30pm EST; 11pm ISTVenue: Stamford Bridge, SW6Referee: Stuart Attwell (on pitch); Paul Howard (VAR)Forecast: Considerably gentle, dry, breezy
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Chelsea workforce information: The rarity of a match-free midweek, mixed with a two-day Christmas break for the gamers, ought to have the workforce properly rested — actually for this time of yr! — and raring to go. The return from harm of Estêvão and Liam Delap ought to present additional enhance as properly, with our absentee listing diminished to simply three: Levi Colwill, Dário Essugo, and Roméo Lavia.
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After all, Enzo Maresca may also be absent, serving his second one-match suspension for some sideline antics. (This time, they have been barely much less celebratory than towards Liverpool.) It’s not a spot he likes to be, so hopefully the gamers can ship for his, and our sakes as properly.
Although we’ve had a pair creditable attracts in there, we’ve simply two wins in our final seven in all competitions. The consistency that we’d want for a title problem is actually eluding us, however we are inclined to play our greatest towards the perfect. And Villa are actually up there among the many league’s greatest to date this season.
Aston Villa workforce information: After a sixth-place end final season, failing to win any of their 5 league video games this season (accumulating simply two factors) was actually disappointing, however as talked about above, Villa have now rattled off a bunch of wins in a row and put that rocky begin firmly within the rear view. They’re going robust each domestically and in Europe (Europa League), and Unai Emery would possibly simply finish Villa’s trophy-drought this season.
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Jacob Ramsey’s departure to Newcastle United in the summertime was a giant loss, however Villa did handle to hold on to Ollie Watkins, which, because it seems, possibly wasn’t such a giant deal in any case. The likes of Donyell Malen, Emiliano Buendía, and leading-scorer Morgan Rogers have emerged as the important thing figures of their assault with well timed contributions. Villa have scored fewer objectives and conceded greater than Chelsea have, but are seven factors forward of us.
Among the many few gamers lacking for Villa is ex-Chelsea preseason hero Ross Barkley, whereas defenders Tyrone Mings (seemingly perpetually injured) and Pau Torres are each out. Different ex-Chelsea pals Ian Maatsen and Jadon Sancho (on mortgage right here this yr from Manchester United) are each accessible, and the latter ought to actually get a pleasant reception on his return to the Bridge.
Beforehand: We gained this fixture 3-0 final season. Fairly good, although it was no 8-0 from the 2012-13 festive season!