Aston Villa host Chelsea at Villa Park in the English Premier League fixture on Boxing Day blockbuster. The Villans will be looking to take advantage of slipping Chelsea and continue their pursuit for the top-six finish this season. The Blues who are tired from the hectic schedule will be looking to end their poor form with a big win at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea English Premier League 2021-22 Preview:
Aston Villa
New manager Steven Gerrard has changed everything at Aston Vill since his arrival. Aston Villa have managed to win 4 of 6 league matches since Gerrad’s return to English Premier League.
Under the management of Dean Smith, they lost 5 consecutive league matches and were lying near the relegation zone. But now they sit in 10th position with 22 points from the opening 10 league games. With a win or a draw, they can overtake ninth-placed Leicester City who are competing against Manchester City on Boxing Day.
But Steven Gerrard will be absent for this fixture and the next one also after testing positive in the morning today. It will be a big morale-damaging setback for Aston Villa. Gerrard raised concern about losing momentum after their last fixture against Burnley was postponed.
They played the last game 11 days ago which ended in a 0-2 victory over Norwich City. In the last six matches they have lost only two, and that too against Liverpool and Manchester City. The Reds needed a penalty to deny Villans a point and Citizens also struggled with a 1-2 narrow win at Villa Park.
Current Form: W W L W L W
Chelsea
The Blues are the only club that have played every scheduled match this season, including the lastest quarter-final fixture of the EFL Cup. They have already played 7 matches this month and 3 are more to go. This hectic schedule finally started affecting their game and it has resulted in poor performances lately.
West London giants sit in the 3rd position in the league table with 38 points from the opening 18 league matches. They are 6 points behind leaders Manchester City and 3 points behind Liverpool. They can catch the Reds with a win as their game against Leeds United was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Chelsea enter this fixture after defeating Brentford in the EFL Cup quarter-finals fixture last Wednesday. They needed a late own goal and a late penalty. Before this fixture, they had won just one match in their last five overall fixtures. They are also without a win in their last two matches, both drawn against Everton and Wolves. Manager Thomas Tuchel is also suffering from the Covid-19 outbreak but has plenty of quality options at his disposal to field a strong team against Aston Villa.
Only two goals have come from open play in the last four fixtures, so it’s a worrying sign for Tuchel who has the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner as his strikers. They did manage to keep clean sheets in the last two fixtures but it will be a different situation against Aston Villa. Chelsea are now competing for the possible title race against Liverpool and Manchester City.
They have reached the semi-finals of the EFL Cup and will start their FA Cup campaign next week. So rotating players for every fixture will be fruitful for the Blues. Last season Chelsea lost at Villa Park by 2-1, so if they lose again today then it will be no surprise.
Current Form: L D W D D W
Aston Villa vs Chelsea English Premier League 2021-22 Team News & Injury Update:
Aston Villa
The biggest blow for the Villans is losing their manager Steven Gerrard to the Covid-19. It will surely damage dressing room morale. Summer signings Leon Baily and Bertrand Traore will be missing this fixture due to long-term injuries. The club has not revealed the list of players affected by Coronavirus but there are no major names missing on Boxing Day.
Aston Villa can confirm Head Coach Steven Gerrard will be unable to attend our next two Premier League matches with Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolating after testing positive for COVID-19.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 25, 2021
We can expect the same line-up from Aston Villa’s side on Boxing Day. Ollie Watkins will start in attack with Emile Buendia and Ashley Young. In midfield, the last match’s goalscorer Jacob Ramsey will start with Luiz and McGinn. In-form centre-back Ezri Konsa will start with captain Tyrone Mings in the back.
Chelsea
The Blues will welcome Romelu Lukaku, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Matteo Kovacic after recovering from the Covid-19. But all three players are expected to start from the bench. Hakim Ziyech will miss this fixture due to a minor calf injury. Star midfielder Kai Havertz and Ruben Loftus-Cheek remain confined absentees due to the Covid-19.
Despite a few big names missing, Tuchel can easily name a strong eleven at Villa Park. Mendy will retake goalkeeping duties after missing the EFL Cup fixture. Regular centre-back trio Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva, and Cesar Azpilicueta will start this fixture. Kante, Kovacic, and in-form Mason Mount will start in midfield. In attack, Pulisic will start with Lukaku, if the latter is totally fit to start.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea English Premier League 2021-22 Predicted Line-ups and Result:
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins, Young.
Chelsea: Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Rudgier, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Kante, Mount, Pulisic.
Predicted Result: Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea.
Aston Villa will try to repeat last season’s heroics against Chelsea at Villa Park. Chelsea will find it difficult to score against Villans’ defence on Boxing Day.
Follow our Dream11 Prediction: AVL vs CHE