Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Kick-off time, TV and Streaming, Match Prediction - Premier League preview
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| Photo: football.london |
The Blues made a flying start to the season, but they do not seem to be at their sharpest ahead of Monday’s clash. Chelsea have been on a poor run of results with just one win in their last four Premier League matches. They lost to an out of form Arsenal team on Boxing Day and Frank Lampard will be fully aware that he needs to turn things around to ease pressure on his position. They welcome an in-form Aston Villa side who are currently above them in the league table with two matches in hand. It will be a big test for both sides and if the Blues fail to win, Lampard could find himself in a very precarious position.
On the other hand, The Villans have been in a splendid form of late, with the team rolling over both WBA and Crystal Palace in the previous two league matches. Aston Villa have been excellent since the beginning of the season and they have been completely transformed under Dean Smith. The board should be given credit as they showed faith in the coaching staff and they have been repaid. It has helped that they managed to keep hold of Jack Grealish, as he is one of the best players in the division. They recruited well and they are proof that you can progress in the Premier League if you are smart.
Date, kick-off time, and venue
Chelsea vs Aston Villa is scheduled for a 5:30 pm kick-off today, December 28, 2020.
The game will be played behind closed doors at Stamford Bridge.
How to watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa
TV channel: The match will not be shown on TV in the UK.
Live stream: Amazon Prime Video subscribers can stream the match live online or on mobile and tablet via the Prime Video app.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa Head To Head Record
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Premier League head to head (h2h) history and results
- Chelsea wins: 26
- Villa wins: 12
- Draws: 12
- Last meeting: Villa 1-2 Chelsea (June 21, 2020)
Key StatsChelsea have won 10 of their last 11 Premier League games against Aston Villa (L1), including their last six in a row. They have scored 31 goals during that run while conceding just eight. Aston Villa haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 19 Premier League away games against Chelsea (W2 D3 L14) since a 1-0 win back in 1998. Chelsea have lost their final league game in just one of the last 17 calendar years (W12 D4), although that defeat came against Aston Villa back in 2011. Aston Villa have won two of their three games in London this season. Only in 1992/93, 1995/96 and 2008/09 have the Villans won more Premier League games in the capital in a single campaign. Chelsea have scored at least 3 goals in 5 of their last 6 home matches in the Premier League. |
Chelsea vs Aston Villa team news
Chelsea team news and injury
Chelsea have no injury concerns heading into the game apart from playmaker Hakim Ziyech. The Moroccan international remains a doubt for the fixture with a thigh problem. Given that they will be playing their second game in 48 hours, Lampard is likely to make a few changes to the team that started against Arsenal on Saturday.
No alterations are expected in goal with Edouard Mendy the undisputed first-choice. We could, however, see changes in the full-back slots as both Reece James and Ben Chilwell recently returned from injuries and might not be risked after playing the full game against Arsenal. Cesar Azpilicueta and Emerson Palmieri could come in for the English duo.
Lampard, so far this season, has refrained from using Thiago Silva in games when there is little recovery time. And there is a good chance that the Brazilian will not be involved on Monday, with Antonio Rudiger partnering Kurt Zouma at the heart of the Chelsea defence.
Jorginho, who missed a penalty in the weekend clash, is likely to start as the deepest of the three midfielders. N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount are expected to be retained, given that they have been two of Chelsea’s most consistent performers this season. Mateo Kovacic will be the one dropping out.
Timo Werner had a disappointing game on Saturday and should sit this one out with Callum Hudson-Odoi replacing him in the lineup. Christian Pulisic is also likely to be given a breather given his injury history, meaning Kai Havertz could be in line for a start on the flanks. Olivier Giroud is expected to replace Tammy Abraham as the striker.
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Aston Villa team news and injury
Aston Villa, on the other hand, will be without as many as four first-team players for their visit to Stamford Bridge. Tyrone Mings misses out due to suspension after being sent off in the weekend win over Crystal Palace while Ross Barkley is ineligible to play against his former club. Trezeguet and Wesley Moraes are injury-enforced absentees.
Dean Smith is unlikely to make any alterations and go in with his strongest XI on Monday as he looks to consolidate his side’s position in the top half of the table. So, former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez ought to continue between the sticks, with the team setting up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him.
Summer signing Matty Cash has made the right-back slot his own while Matt Targett should continue on the opposite side. Kortney Hause, who scored against Palace at the weekend, should once again start at the centre of the Villa backline, with Ezri Konsa likely to partner him in place of the suspended Mings.
Douglas Luiz and John McGinn should occupy the pivot positions in the middle of the park, although smith has the option of going for someone more defensive-minded like Marvelous Nakamba. Club captain Jack Grealish will make the team tick starting in the No. 10 role, although he will have the freedom to roam around in an attempt to trouble the hosts’ defense.
Anwar El Ghazi has been in good form leading into the game and should get the nod on the left while ex-Chelsea academy man Bertrand Traore starts on the right. There is no looking past summer signing Ollie Watkins for the center-forward berth.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa predicted lineups
Chelsea Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger, Emerson; Kante, Jorginho, Mount; Havertz, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi
Aston Villa Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Hause, Konsa, Targett; Luiz, McGinn; Traore, Grealish, El Ghazi; Watkins
Chelsea vs Aston Villa predictions
2-1 home win, according to Evening Standard. The Blues have suffered their first major slump of the season in recent weeks and Frank Lampard will hope that the defeat to Arsenal, in particular, proves a wake-up call. With a renewed sense of urgency and potentially Giroud restored to the team to take advantage of the absence of the suspended Tyrone Mings, the Blues may just have enough.
Chelsea 2-2 Aston Villa, according to SportsMole. Chelsea's confidence would have been rocked by the manner of their defeat to Arsenal, whereas Villa will head to the capital brimming with optimism after yet another dominant victory. Both teams only have 48 hours to recover from their respective Boxing Day fixtures, with plenty of rotation expected after a grueling weekend, and we think a high-flying Villa should do enough to come away with a point.
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| Photo: archyde.com |
Player to Watch: Bertrand TraoreHaving spent four years on Chelsea’s books between 2013 and 2017, the 25-year-old was never given ample opportunities to make a name for himself at the first-team level and instead spent time moving from one club to another on loan. Indeed, Traore made just 16 senior appearances for the Blues, scoring four goals in the process. After having left Chelsea permanently in 2017, he was able to carve out a reputation for himself in France with Olympique Lyon before moving to Aston Villa this past summer. Traore international took time to get going at his new club but is starting to find his footing, having scored two and assisted one in his last two league games. On Monday, Traore will return to Stamford Bridge with the Villans and will be hoping to prove a point or two and lead his team to a win against his former employers. |
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