Verdict: Dwelling win
Greatest odds: 3/2
Bookmaker: Luckster
Two Premier League sides aiming for a top-four end face off at Villa Park on Saturday night, as Aston Villa welcome Chelsea.
Unai Emery’s males can be out for revenge towards the West Londoners, having fallen to a 3-0 defeat within the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge again in December.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa stay with out a win of their final 5 Premier League video games, drawing 4 of them—together with Wednesday’s 2-2 stalemate towards leaders Liverpool. After the match, Unai Emery admitted a draw was a good final result in a aggressive contest.
Villa led at halftime after Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins overturned Mohamed Salah’s opener, however in an end-to-end encounter with a number of probabilities, Liverpool salvaged a degree by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deflected strike.
Regardless of successful simply six of their final 21 league matches (D9 L6), Villa sit ninth and stay within the race for Champions League soccer, trailing fourth-placed Manchester Metropolis by 5 factors and Bournemouth and Chelsea—fifth and sixth, respectively—by 4.
No staff has drawn extra house video games this season than Villa (seven), however they are going to nonetheless be glad to return to Villa Park, the place they’ve misplaced simply as soon as of their final 22 Premier League outings—a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in August.
Nonetheless, their current document towards London golf equipment is combined, with solely 4 wins of their final 15 league conferences (D6 L5), following a previous run of 10 straight victories over capital-based sides between April 2023 and February 2024. Moreover, Villa have gained simply two of their final 11 house league video games towards Chelsea, with 1-0 and 2-1 victories in March 2014 and Might 2021, respectively.
Workforce Information
Aston Villa can be with out Pau Torres (ankle), Amadou Onana (thigh), Boubacar Kamara (muscle), and Ross Barkley (calf) because of harm, whereas Ezri Konsa and Leon Bailey (each unspecified) stay uncertain and can be assessed earlier than kickoff.
Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi is ineligible to face his mum or dad membership, leaving Villa’s protection stretched. If Konsa is unavailable, Unai Emery could flip to Lamare Bogarde to accomplice Tyrone Mings at center-back.
Marcus Rashford continues to be looking for his first Villa purpose since becoming a member of on mortgage from Manchester United, however with 4 targets in eight house Premier League appearances towards Chelsea, he might retain his spot on the left. Morgan Rogers, Marco Asensio, and Ollie Watkins are additionally in competition to guide the assault.
Chelsea
After a powerful 12-game unbeaten streak (W9 D3) from November 3 to December 22, Chelsea’s type has dipped, with simply three wins of their final 10 matches throughout all competitions, together with three defeats of their final 4.
The West Londoners have struggled towards Brighton & Hove Albion, struggling consecutive away losses to the Seagulls—first a 2-1 defeat within the FA Cup fourth spherical, adopted by a 3-0 league loss final Friday.
Of their newest defeat, Chelsea didn’t register a single shot heading in the right direction for the primary time in a Premier League match since September 2021. Enzo Maresca, who described the efficiency as “the worst” beneath his tenure, has seen his facet slip to sixth place, although they continue to be only one level off the highest 4.
Maresca will count on a powerful response on Saturday and can hope for an enchancment in Chelsea’s away type, as they’ve didn’t win any of their final six highway video games (D2 L4) and have managed solely two targets of their final 5 Premier League away fixtures (D2 L3).
Nonetheless, Chelsea can take confidence from their sturdy document at Villa Park, the place their 13 away league wins are surpassed solely by their tallies at Tottenham (16) and Southampton (15). They will additionally draw motivation from their dominant three-goal victory over Villa earlier this season.
Workforce Information
Chelsea can be with out Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman (all hamstring), Romeo Lavia (muscle), Marc Guiu (groin), and Benoit Badiashile (thigh), whereas Mykhaylo Mudryk is suspended.
Reece James and Tosin Adarabioyo are pushing for returns in defence, which might see Malo Gusto and Trevoh Chalobah drop to the bench. In the meantime, Jadon Sancho is ready to interchange the injured Madueke on the left flank, permitting Pedro Neto to change to the appropriate.
Cole Palmer has gone 5 matches with out a purpose or help, along with his final help coming in Chelsea’s win over Villa on December 1. Regardless of this dip in type, he’s anticipated to proceed in a central attacking position alongside Christopher Nkunku, with each doubtlessly rotating in a ‘false 9’ setup.
Conclusion
Chelsea cruised previous Aston Villa in December, however this encounter is more likely to be a a lot tighter affair, with each side struggling to safe wins in current weeks regardless of their top-four ambitions.
Villa have been way more comfy at house this season, and given Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities and lack of leading edge in assault, Emery’s males are well-positioned to assert all three factors this time round.
Verdict: Dwelling win
Greatest odds: 3/2
Bookmaker: Luckster
