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Are Aston Villa within the Premier League title race? Frankly, who cares so long as Unai Emery’s crew hold all of us on the sting of our seats for a short time longer.
Serving a touchline ban, head coach Enzo Maresca appeared indignant as he perched on the sting of his seat after watching throw away the lead from his place within the stands.
And Maresca needed to hearken to ’s followers serenade Stamford Bridge with a rendition of “We’re going to win the league” after they noticed a double from substitute Ollie Watkins safe an eleventh successive victory and hold their crew simply three factors behind leaders Arsenal.
Villa are undoubtedly the feel-good story of the season up to now and the supporters are consuming all of it in. They celebrated like Emery’s males had really gained the league on the full-time whistle and who may blame them?
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It was no shock that Emery was way more measured, as he mentioned: “In fact we’re performing very properly, we’re in a row profitable matches, we’re competing unbelievable. We competed first half unbelievable and we had been struggling. However the second half roughly like this season we’re progressively getting higher and being humble.”
Requested immediately if he believes his crew are within the title race, Emery added: “No, 38 matches. If it finishes tomorrow then Arsenal is profitable the league. There are nonetheless one other 20 matches to play.”
Not less than his touchline ban spared Maresca from a verbal volley from Cole Palmer, who made dissatisfaction at being substituted with the rating degree clear to the house bench.
Palmer let his anger out at one in every of Maresca’s coaches earlier than taking his seat within the dugout. He needed to watch from the touchline as Watkins headed Villa’s winner six minutes from full time.
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Third-placed Villa have now crushed Arsenal, second-placed Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea throughout the first half of a marketing campaign during which they didn’t win any of their first 5 video games. The comeback win at Stamford Bridge means Emery’s crew have gained a staggering 18 factors from shedding positions.
Subsequent up for Villa is a visit to the Emirates to face Arsenal, who they may tackle with out right-back Matty Money and sensible midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who will serve one-game bans after each amassing their fifth yellow playing cards of the season. However this Villa crew simply retains discovering methods to win.
Chelsea at the moment are 10 factors behind Villa and can surprise how on earth they didn’t at the very least take some extent from a sport which they fully dominated for the opening 45 minutes and took the lead by João Pedro.
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Regardless of serving a touchline ban, Maresca may talk with the Chelsea bench and he spent the primary half passing voice messages to teach Danny Walker, who was sat subsequent to the Italian’s assistant, Willy Caballero, within the dwelling dugout.
Maresca was stationed simply behind the media seats inside Stamford Bridge and could have presumably simply been telling Walker to maintain Chelsea on the entrance foot in a primary half during which they might have had the sport gained.
Chelsea made their stress depend eight minutes earlier than the break in weird circumstances and Maresca remained unmoved in his seat, subsequent to teach Roberto Vitiello, whereas supporters round him celebrated.
Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez spent a lot time wrestling together with his Argentina team-mate Enzo Fernández at a nook that he misplaced the flight of Reece James’s supply that hit Pedro and went in. Pedro acknowledged his luck by laughing together with his team-mates in celebration.
Villa had didn’t register a correct shot on aim within the first half and Emery’s resolution to start out with Donyell Malen over Watkins and Emi Buendía as a substitute of Amadou Onana regarded to have backfired.
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But when Emery received it incorrect from the beginning, then he greater than made up for it with a treble substitution simply forward of the hour mark that fully modified the sport.
Watkins, Onana and Jadon Sancho, who spent final season on mortgage at Chelsea, revived Villa and the house followers who had chanted “you’re only a s— Cole Palmer” at Morgan Rogers had been left to eat their phrases.
There had already been a warning, when Watkins had slipped the ball by for Kamara and Robert Sánchez rushed from his line to make a very good save. However Benoît Badiashile rapidly gifted the guests one other probability and this time they took it.
Badiashile’s poor clearance was simply minimize out and the ball was performed to Rogers, who was given far an excessive amount of time and area. He performed in Watkins and the striker noticed the ball rebound off Sánchez, again off him and into the web.
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Swiftly, having come again to win at Brighton and Hove Albion, West Ham United and Leeds United in latest weeks, Villa smelled blood. Sancho pressured a wise save at his close to put up from Sánchez, whereas Watkins examined the Chelsea goalkeeper once more right down to his proper.
Along with his crew threatening to go behind, Maresca ordered a treble change earlier than changing Palmer with Estêvão Willian. First, Palmer stood together with his arms outstretched when his quantity was proven and when he went off, he paused to let Walker know precisely what he considered the choice earlier than taking his seat.
Cole Palmer was changed by Estêvão Willian halfway by the second half – Reuters/David Klein
Along with his hood pulled low over his head, Palmer watched from the sidelines as Watkins grabbed Villa’s dramatic winner within the 86th minute. Youri Tielemans swung in a nook and Watkins rose highest to plant a superb header previous Sánchez and into the web.
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Watkins had solely scored three objectives this season earlier than Saturday night time’s sport and if his double in opposition to Chelsea can convey out his greatest type, then Villa may actually be capable of maintain their unlikely title problem.
The Villa bench was showered in water from . Who is aware of whether or not or not it will likely be champagne on the finish of Could, however, for now at the very least, Emery’s crew are displaying their sticking energy.
07:56pm
What subsequent for Chelsea?
Chelsea have solely gained one in every of their final six within the Premier League. The power is there: they had been so promising and incisive within the first-half. However they might not put the sport out of attain, and paid badly for just a few errors. Badiashile handed to Kamara for Villa’s opener and Watkins shrugged off Malo Gusto far too simply for his headed winner. They misplaced menace after bringing off the likes of Garnacho and Palmer too. Did they miss Maresca’s presence on the touchline?
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They’re fifth within the league, 13 factors down on leaders Arsenal and ten behind Villa. Subsequent up is Bournemouth on Tuesday, who’re having a very woeful run of type.
Chelsea’s younger squad have been inconsistent this season – Offside/Jacques Feeney
07:51pm
The Villa juggernaut rumbles on
They proceed to impress and handed this check of their title credentials. Subsequent up, maybe the last word one: Arsenal on the Emirates on Tuesday.
They can even be with out Matty Money and Boubacar Kamara, who will probably be suspended after receiving yellow playing cards at present. A tough activity turns into much more troublesome.
07:47pm
Aston Villa: down, however hardly ever out
One other statistic for you from the nice people at OptaJoe to go together with this one: Ollie Watkins is the primary participant in Premier League historical past to attain the profitable aim on three separate events at Stamford Bridge in opposition to Chelsea (April 2023, September 2023, December 2025).
07:45pm
‘Groups are anxious about us’: Ollie Watkins’ post-match ideas
“Wonderful win, wonderful is the phrase to sum it up. For me personally, to return on and rating two objectives is a good feeling however to maintain up this run and beat Chelsea, a troublesome place to return, wonderful is the phrase to sum it up.
[On Emery’s substitutions] He modified it as a result of Chelsea had been going man-for-man however had the additional centre-back once we had been going lengthy. Once I got here on within the second half, he introduced Sancho on the wing and Morgan [Rogers]. I believe it gave us a bit bit extra space after which put Youri in quantity 10. We had an additional physique up there. Tactical genius, I might say.
[I have not been] the place I need to be. As a striker, you need to be scoring each sport … I really feel like I’ve had some good performances this 12 months, however perhaps not the requirements I set myself. The highs and lows of soccer. I haven’t been the place I wished to be, however I can use this as a marker now and push on for the again finish of the season.
I really feel like groups are anxious about us, they’re considering ‘we’ve received Villa subsequent.’ Even when we’d not play the prettiest soccer at instances, we are going to ultimately trigger them issues once we string just a few passes collectively and develop into the sport.
[Winning the title?] That’s a good distance away, we’re jut specializing in the subsequent sport.”
07:36pm
Watkins the match winner
The England worldwide was electrical throughout his 30-minute cameo. Quick, fearless and fierce within the air. Matty Money and Emi Buendia confirmed their gratitude post-match.
Tremendous substitute Ollie Watkins (centre) gained the match for Villa with two well-taken objectives – Reuters/David Klein
07:32pm
Chelsea v Aston Villa match statistics
Working the numbers, I’m reminded that Stuart Attwell was not shy to get his e book out. Eight yellow playing cards in a tetchy affair, with Chelsea displaying some sick self-discipline within the ultimate ten minutes because the match received away from them.
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Possession 63% – 37percentShots 14 – 11Shots heading in the right direction 3 – 8xG 2.14 – 1.05Corners 6 – 7Passes 523 – 320Yellow playing cards 5 – 3
07:29pm
This spherical of Premier League fixtures
Peculiarly, the highest 4 groups all gained 2-1 this afternoon.
Friday:Manchester United 1 Newcastle 0
At this time:Nottingham Forest 1 Manchester Metropolis 2Arsenal 2 Brighton 1Brentford 4 Bournemouth 1Burnley 0 Everton 0Liverpool 2 Wolves 1West Ham 0 Fulham 1Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 2
Sunday:Sunderland vs LeedsCrystal Palace vs Tottenham
07:27pm
Full-time: Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 2
Ollie Watkins, the person who delivered double hassle, punches the chilly London air as the ultimate whistle goes. Villa gamers run to have fun this unlikely comeback triumph with their followers. They’ve their eleventh victory in a row, equalling the membership’s all-time document and staying third within the Premier League desk, three factors adrift of leaders Arsenal.
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Having supplied the sq. root of sod all within the first 45 minutes, they had been revitalised by three well-timed substitutions from Unai Emery. Watkins gave the impression to be in every single place. They scrapped and overwhelmed Chelsea in the long run, who regarded drained on the finish.
Enzo Maresca and his gamers will really feel sick. They need to have made their high quality depend within the first half, however someway this sport received away from them.
07:22pm
90+4 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 2
A yellow card for Enzo Fernandez for a foul in midfield and he nearly receives one other for a histrionic response. Frustration writ giant from the Chelsea gamers. Martinez thumps lengthy in the direction of the nook flag.
07:20pm
90+2 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 2
Lucas Digne shoots laborious and low, Sanchez dives and blocks.
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Down the opposite finish, Malo Gusto can solely loop a cross into the arms of Emi Martinez. Chelsea wouldn’t have lengthy left to equalise.
07:19pm
90 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 2
You don’t see this so usually: Robert Sanchez slips as he runs to the sting of his field earlier than kicking the ball, subsequently dealing with the ball outdoors the field as he falls ahead. Similar to that, Villa have a free-kick in harmful territory.
5 minutes of added time between Villa and an eleventh consecutive victory.
07:17pm
88 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 2
Ollie Watkins has been in impressed type since approaching. Chelsea look drained and practically concede a 3rd. As Villa pour ahead, a Sancho shot is palmed away by Sanchez for a nook.
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“We’re going to win the league,” sing the Villa followers. What a turnaround: till the hour mark, the guests posed no risk.
07:14pm
GOAL!
Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 2 (Watkins) That is the epitome of what Aston Villa do that season: begin very ponderously then shock their opponent. Ollie Watkins rises highest at a nook, working from the penalty spot, shedding his marker and nodding the ball past Sanchez’s despairing dive into the underside nook.
He had gained that nook too, testing Badiashile together with his trickery. Villa are the crew that have no idea when they’re crushed.
My oh my… a reminder: Chelsea had been so dominant in that first-half. Villa’s xG was 0.0.
07:11pm
82 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 1
A few Chelsea corners wafted in by captain Reece James. Onana and Money rise up excessive on the entrance put up to clear the strains. Neto sends in one other ball from the opposite flank, however Lindelof jumps acrobatically to dam it.
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Bogarde → KamaraDigne → Maatsen
07:07pm
78 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 1
No: straight into the wall and Villa clear their strains on the second time of asking, after giving the ball straight again to Chelsea initially.
Morgan Rogers performs the ball in opposition to the legs of James and will get his skates on to trace again and block an Estevao cross for a nook.
Yellow card for Kamara too for a earlier problem, which means he’ll miss Villa’s subsequent sport in opposition to Arsenal, becoming a member of Matty Money as a suspension absentee. Ay yay yay, Unai Emery might be considering.
07:03pm
75 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 1
A deft Morgan Rogers free-kick hits the netting above the crossbar. Not dangerous in any respect, however Sanchez had it lined. Villa’s in-form participant has been much more outstanding within the second half.
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Now, it’s Chelsea’s flip for a free-kick in a harmful place. Tielemans catches the ankles of Enzo Fernandez after he receives a ball from Gittens on the left. Reece James territory, methinks, 25 yards out. Can he get it up, down and into the again of the web although?
07:01pm
72 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 1
A one-man band surging ahead, Ollie Watkins someway finds his approach by just a few challenges and will get a shot away. Sanchez is alert, getting down low to his shot. The Devonian has been filled with working since approaching.
Onana finds Tielemans in midfield, who’s fouled by Caicedo as he makes tracks in the direction of the field. The referee provides him a yellow card, then turns and brandishes it within the face of Liam Delap for a reckless problem seconds earlier. And now, Palmer comes off. That could be a shock, and he doesn’t look blissful about it, sitting down on the bench with a humph.
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Estevao → Palmer
06:57pm
69 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 1
Ringing within the modifications labored for Emery, will it have an identical galvanising impact for Enzo Maresca? I’m shocked to see that trio trotting off, they’ve all been influential this afternoon.
Gusto → Cucurella
Delap → Joao Pedro
Gittens → Garnacho
06:56pm
67 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 1
Now, it’s all Villa. They swarm ahead, taking pictures in the direction of the tip with their bellowing followers. Boasting numbers on the left, Maatsen finds a gap and lashes straight at Sanchez from 15 yards.
This sport has swung, it may go both approach.
06:53pm
GOAL!
Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 1 (Watkins) What do I do know? A poor cross from Badiashile goes straight to Kamara. He finds Rogers who performs Watkins in. He spins and holds off the problem of Chalobah. The onrushing Sanchez dives at his ft to save lots of his shot, the ball rebounds up, off Watkins’ leg and into the empty internet. Not a reasonably aim, however all of them depend.
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Villa are again on this and have renewed thrust and power from the three substitutions.
06:50pm
62 minutes: Chelsea 1 Villa 0
Out of nowhere, Kamara misses an opportunity to equalise. Breaking quick, Villa have three on two. Watkins held up the ball and slipped in his team-mate. Quick to return out of his aim, Sanchez narrowed the angle and received his physique in the way in which. A sliver of hope for Villa followers. They’ve made it a behavior of getting back from troublesome situations to win this season, however this could take the biscuit.
06:47pm
59 minutes: Chelsea 1 Villa 0
Villa win a nook from a blocked Buendia shot. James and Rogers are wrestling within the field, inflicting a number of referee pauses and interventions. Stuart Attwell ultimately has sufficient and provides yellow playing cards to each of them. Very avoidable ones too.
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Maatsen performs it brief to Money, Sanchez strikes quick to snaffle the ball and Chelsea counter at pace. The marauding Cucurella performs to Garnacho, however his curling shot from 25 yards goes extensive. Time for some substitutions.
Watkins → Buendia
Sancho → Malen
Onana → McGinn
06:43pm
55 minutes: Chelsea 1 Villa 0
Very practically a wonderful aim from Reece James. It regarded like a mishit cross from the captain on the correct flank, Emi Martinez needed to back-pedal and leapt to tip the ball extensive. That was moving into.
06:42pm
54 minutes: Chelsea 1 Villa 0
Lovely link-up play from Chelsea, carving their opponents aside, they usually nearly have a second. As Palmer slips throughout a well-weighted ball, John McGinn stops Alejandro Garnacho from a easy tap-in, sliding in on the back-post to poke the ball out for a nook.
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Up to now, Chelsea have been simply as harmful as within the first-half.
06:40pm
51 minutes: Chelsea 1 Villa 0
Cucurella feeds Garnacho after beating Money to the ball. A scrumptious ball by to Pedro Neto on the sting of the field, however his ball in is straight to Konsa.
Seconds later, Palmer runs at Lindelof however can solely play it off his legs and again to him. He nutmegs Buendia because the Argentinean seeks to make a problem, eliciting cheers from the house devoted. Villa are nonetheless chasing the ball and giving the house facet area.
A speculative effort from Rogers will get a small contact from a Chelsea participant and Villa have their first nook. Straight into Sanchez’s arms.
06:37pm
47 minutes: Chelsea 1 Villa 0
Right here we go once more. No substitutions from both supervisor, however certainly Ollie Watkins will get an opportunity earlier than too lengthy. Villa need to win extra first or second balls, simply to get a foothold within the sport. They haven’t performed like title contenders up to now.
06:31pm
Reece James has been captain unbelievable for Chelsea
06:26pm
The enjoyment of six
Joao Pedro’s opener was his sixth Premier League aim of the season for Chelsea – Getty Photographs/Steve Bardens
06:23pm
Half-time statistics, a damning learn for Villa followers
xG 1.98 – 0.00Possession 71% – 29percentShots 10 – 0Shots heading in the right direction 3 – 0Passes 330 – 138Yellow playing cards 0 – 1
06:21pm
Half-time: Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 0
It has been one-way site visitors. Extra risk and leading edge from Chelsea, with Palmer and Garnacho utilizing their tempo and trickery on the flanks. Out of possession, the house facet has proven a Stakhanovite need to get the ball again and minimize out any service to Rogers or Malen.
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Unai Emery’s crew has been second-best in each division. What’s the Spanish for “riot act?” He might be studying it to his gamers at half-time.
06:17pm
45+2 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 0
Two minutes of added time on the finish of the primary time. Garnacho pulls down Konsa to offer an affordable foul away. Then, Badiashile shoves Rogers over as he seeks a protracted ball to cede one other free-kick, 35 yards out.
After a four-player Villa convention over the ball, John McGinn steps up and whips it straight into the gloves of Robert Sanchez. The primary “save” he has needed to make.
06:13pm
43 min: Chelsea 1 Villa 0
Extra sustained stress from the house facet. Lindelof can solely head to the ft of Cole Palmer, who shoots low and laborious from the sting of the field. Nonetheless, it’s too central and Martinez will get right down to his proper.
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Finally, Villa have a minute in possession, shifting the ball round defence as there’s a slight lull within the excessive press from their opponents.
06:09pm
GOAL!
Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 0 (Joao Pedro) You can’t say it was not coming. A lofted, curling nook in from James seems to go straight in. However no: Martinez was rooted to the spot, stopped from shifting with full freedom by Joao Pedro and the ball glances off the Brazilian’s calf and into the again of the web.
Simply desserts for Maresca’s males who’ve been by far the higher crew.
06:06pm
36 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
James lashes at aim after a wise flick again from Enzo Fernandez. The ball bounds off the turf and extensive of Martinez’s put up. It has been all the house crew and they are going to be kicking themselves if this goes into the break goalless.
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Garnacho is giving Money a torrid time on the left; having been yellow-carded, the Villa right-back might be much more cautious of constructing strong challenges. He doubles up with the overlapping Cucurella, profitable a nook because the Polish participant slides to dam.
06:04pm
33 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
A convincing shout for a penalty goes round Stamford Bridge. Garnacho jinks inside and outdoors the cautious Money and Joao Pedro goes down underneath Lindelof. Nothing doing from the referee or the VAR. Appeared extra suspicious in real-time than it really was.
Extra crosses in from Chelsea, extra headers away from Konsa and Lindelof. They’re weathering the storm, however for the way lengthy?
06:01pm
31 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
A mistimed Matty Money problem has Alejandro Garnacho rolling round. The Polish worldwide turns into the primary participant to enter referee Stuart Atwell’s e book – and the yellow card means he’ll miss the subsequent sport in opposition to Arsenal. Removed from very best for Unai Emery.
James takes the free kick, pulls it again to Caicedo and Palmer earlier than getting the ball again. From his cross into the field, Badiashile hooks excessive and extensive.
05:58pm
29 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
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Villa followers react to Cole Palmer’s missed probability with ‘You’re only a s*** Morgan Rogers’. Two potential England No.10s on present tonight will an fascinating subplot forward of subsequent summer season.
Whereas the animated presence of Enzo Maresca is lacking from the touchline, Unai Emery is patrolling up and down like a tiger at feeding time. Undecided how a lot the gamers can hear however he undoubtedly appears to be irritating Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella who, having been pushed over by Morgan Rogers, has been exchanging phrases with the Villa supervisor.
05:57pm
27 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
Villa can not get any time on the ball and even out of their very own half. They’re throwing our bodies on the road to dam photographs. They haven’t mustered a shot but and have solely had 25 per cent possession.
05:55pm
25 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
The one factor lacking from Chelsea’s optimistic play has been an finish product. Garnacho’s ball in is nowhere close to a Chelsea participant. Villa can break, however a looking out ball for Morgan Rogers is intercepted by Trevoh Chalobah. He has been sharp up to now, not affording the danger-man any room.
And Joao Pedro practically will get the opener! Neto wallops a ball in and he nearly will get a contact. The ball cannons off Martinez’s face and out.
05:52pm
22 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
Sloppy play from Villa, giving the ball straight to Chelsea and alluring stress. Moises Caicedo tries a piledriver from the sting of the field, however an opponent’s leg stops it.
Enzo Fernandez provides them from respite after hacking down Buendia as he sought to show defence into assault. John McGinn screams at his team-mates. Donyell Malen has had two touches up to now, by my reckoning. It has not been ok.
05:50pm
20 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
Taking part in direct soccer, Chelsea minimize proper by the center of the midfield. Cole Palmer takes the ball, spins and runs at his males, discovering Garnacho on the sting of the field. He feeds Enzo Fernandez, whose curled shot goes a metre or so extensive of the put up. That was shut.
As the house crew come ahead once more, Matty Money goes down with an obvious head damage, inflicting a quick delay. Seems like a sore one, however he’s up and working once more.
05:46pm
15 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
A couple of purses as Cucurella pushes Rogers after a strong problem and the England worldwide shoves him again in return. The Spaniard falls to the bottom. Cue a stern talking-to from the referee.
The house facet are having extra ball time, however Villa have the potential to interrupt at pace and punish Chelsea, as they’ve proven with a few snuffed-out balls designed to interrupt the line of defense.
05:43pm
12 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
Maatsen heads a protracted Chalobah ball away, however it finds Palmer. Working in the direction of the nook flag, going nowhere actually, he will get his physique in the way in which and attracts a foul from Emi Buendia. Poor free kick although, failing to beat the primary man.
The footballing equal of a Christmas supply particular person leaving a valuable reward within the pouring rain.
05:38pm
8 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
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Seeing Maresca within the press field is a reminder of when Arsene Wenger needed to endure related at Stamford Bridge following a touchline ban. (Again in 2018, I used to be).
It was a captivating perception – Wenger was seated subsequent to Jens Lehmann – and squirming, wincing and kicking each ball – one thing you didn’t actually discover a lot when he was on the touchline, until Jose Mourinho was winding him up close by. Maresca is seated proper in the back of the press field tonight, up in opposition to a wall, and searching fairly emotionless up to now.
05:36pm
6 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
It has been all Chelsea early on, however Palmer sends a poor ball throughout with a number of team-mates within the field and the possibility goes begging. Garnacho has a equally poor supply on the opposite flank, giving the ball again to Villa.
Down the opposite finish, Badiashile lashes a lazy clearance again to Morgan Rogers and it’s two-on-two. The Frenchman redeems himself in opposition to the league’s man of the second with a vital sort out as Rogers regarded to get previous him and shoot from 15 yards out.
05:33pm
3 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
The house devoted ooh as Moises Caicedo feeds Cole Palmer on the sting of the field. He slips his man neatly and shoots low and extensive on his left.
He won’t appear like a Greek god of a footballer, however Palmer is such a difficult, skilful buyer.
05:32pm
1 min: Chelsea 0 Villa 0
Aston Villa kick off, goin from left to proper, of their conventional claret and blue equipment, with white shorts. Blue shirts and shorts, with white socks for the house crew.
Ian Maatsen snuffs out a transfer down the left and takes the throw-in. He’s a Chelsea alumnus akthough he wasn’t on the pitch a lot, happening 4 loans.
05:29pm
Enzo Maresca is sat proper by the media
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Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is serving a touchline ban this night, which implies he will probably be taking a seat simply behind the press field at Stamford Bridge. The truth is, if he actually squints he could properly be capable of see what I’m writing about his crew in opposition to Aston Villa.
05:27pm
Can Chelsea cease Villa’s profitable run?
The groups stroll out of the Stamford Bridge tunnel to pyrotechnics and the strains of ska basic Liquidator. Maresca will need his crew to start out strongly, particularly after the sluggish first half in opposition to Newcastle final week. Villa are driving excessive on confidence and don’t must be given any belated Christmas presents.
05:22pm
It’s a wee bit nippy at Stamford Bridge
Coming from the Manchester district of Wythenshawe, Palmer can deal with winter climate. Undecided it’s fairly snood climate, however every to his personal. He solely needs to be “chilly” Palmer when celebrating a aim, I suppose.
Cole Palmer stays underneath wraps pre-match – Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
05:19pm
Ten minutes till kick-off
The pundits are cooing over Morgan Rogers, and rightly so. Villa’s season has reworked within the final three months and he has been making possibilities and ending them.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez will probably be charged with reducing out his service and Chelsea defenders will know that they can not give him an inch.
Jolly Rogers: the England worldwide is within the type of his life – Reuters/David Klein
05:12pm
‘Very troublesome’ for Maresca to be serving touchline ban
Enzo Maresca will probably be serving a touchline ban this afternoon after receiving a 3rd yellow card of the season in opposition to Newcastle United final weekend.
“Very troublesome as a result of I want to be there, extra shut, however in any case, the desire, the teaching workers is there so no downside,” he advised Sky Sports activities.
Maresca is not any stranger to the referee’s e book – Reuters/Paul Childs
05:00pm
Numbers will not be every part for Villa
In case you went on xG (Anticipated Objectives), Aston Villa could be fifteenth within the Premier League. Offering loads of verve and drama, they’ve belied the statistics, not understanding when they’re crushed. They’ve scored extra objectives (ten) from outdoors the field than some other crew within the competitors. Capturing observe just isn’t one thing that Rogers and firm require.
04:51pm
Quick starters
04:48pm
The groups in black and white
Chelsea Sanchez; James, Badiashile, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Joao Pedro. Substitutes Jorgensen, Adarabioyo, Delap, Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Gusto, Fofana, Acheampong, Estevao.
Aston Villa Martinez; Money, Lindelof, Konsa, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendia, Rogers; Malen.Substitutes Bizot, Watkins, Digne, Garcia, Sancho, Jimoh, Onana, Bogarde, Hemmings.
Referee Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
04:42pm
Villa may make it three league wins from 4 at Chelsea
Villa have gained two of their final league three matches at Stamford Bridge, though their document is much more chequered when you go additional again. Their followers will little doubt bear in mind this candy John McGinn end to offer them a 1-0 victory in April 2023.
04:36pm
Morgan Rogers vs Cole Palmer: Villa playmaker outshining buddy who ‘stole’ his celebration
Cole Palmer famously “stole” and trademarked , however now it’s Rogers who has taken one thing from Palmer: his standing as the perfect attacking midfielder within the Premier League.
Shut associates since their days in Manchester Metropolis’s academy, Rogers and Palmer are more and more fierce rivals on the pitch. They meet at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as the important thing attacking figures for Aston Villa and Chelsea, and in addition as opponents for a similar place within the England crew.
Other than Erling Haaland, Rogers might be essentially the most in-form ahead participant in your entire Premier League, with six objectives in his final six matches within the competitors.
Learn extra from Sam Dean’s article about this prodigious pair .
Morgan Rogers, a cold-blooded finisher and red-hot for the time being – Getty Photographs/Neville Williams
04:26pm
Aston Villa beginning XI
Two modifications from Unai Emery from final week’s 2-1 win over Manchester United: Emi Buendia replaces Amadou Onana, whereas Donyell Malen is most well-liked forward of Ollie Watkins, his first Premier League begin since mid-October. Large name, that.
04:21pm
Chelsea crew information
Two modifications from Enzo Maresca: Benoit Badiashile is available in for Wesley Fofana on the again and Enzo Fernandez will get the nod over Malo Gusto in defensive midfield.
04:16pm
Preview: A stiff check of Villa’s title credentials
All-action Aston Villa have an opportunity to make it 11 wins in a row this afternoon and proceed their greatest run of type underneath Unai Emery. Their match in opposition to Chelsea is the primary of a festive double-header which is able to completely check their title credentials, with a hop throughout city to face Arsenal on the Emirates on Tuesday. May as properly simply keep put in London.
Third place performs fourth at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, though there’s a seven-point fissure between the groups. If Villa take the spoils, which might hold them inside some extent of , it can nearly be a chasm.
The whole lot goes swimmingly for the claret and blues, ending possibilities clinically sport in, sport out, whereas Maresca and his males have been singing the blues. A fortnight in the past, the Italian talked of “the worst 48 hours since I joined the membership as a result of individuals didn’t assist me and the crew”. The crew’s fortunes nearly went from dangerous to worse final weekend: sleepwalking by the primary half in opposition to Newcastle, they had been 2-0 down inside 20 minutes earlier than displaying appreciable gumption to complete all sq.. You by no means fairly know which Chelsea you will get.
This match guarantees to be a battle of influential No 10s, as two shut associates and England internationals come up in opposition to each other in midfield. With six objectives in his final six Premier League matches, Morgan Rogers has been Villa’s fulcrum and may properly be forward of Cole Palmer in Thomas Tuchel’s pecking order throughout an injury-affected season for the Chelsea man.
Villa’s Evan Guessand has been referred to as up for Ivory Coast on the Africa Cup of Nations, whereas Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley and Pau Torres are all out injured. Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill are absent for the west Londoners, who’ve solely misplaced at dwelling because the begin of October.
Kick-off is at 5.30pm, with line-ups coming shortly.
Coming again to full health after damage issues, Cole Palmer will look to make the distinction at present – Getty Photographs/George Wooden