Chelsea v Aston Villa: Line-ups, stats and preview
All you need to know on Chelsea v Aston Villa
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Chelsea v Aston Villa preview
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has played down comparisons between potential England’s potential number 10s at the 2026 World Cup, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, as his side seek to end Aston Villa’s 10-match winning run in all competitions on Saturday.
A talismanic figure for the Blues, Palmer returned this month from a groin problem that has troubled the Three Lions regular for much of the season and will now attempt to outshine Rogers, who has scored twice in each of Villa’s last two matches to help them beat West Ham 3-2 away and Manchester United 2-1 at home.
“I love Cole and Cole is my player,” said Maresca, whose team start immediately behind the third-placed Villans.
“They are two fantastic players. They’re going to be important [on Saturday], for sure, but both need the other 10 players around them to support and help them do the right things. It’s about Morgan, it’s about Cole – but it’s about the team.”
Rogers described his mood as “really happy, really confident” after the victory over United last Sunday. “The team’s playing unbelievably well right now and we feel like we can beat every team,” he told VillaTV.
“It’s a nice feeling to be in that dressing room at the moment. I always want to improve from the season before and keep getting better.
“I had a good season last year [14 goals and 15 assists] but maybe tailed away a bit at the end. I didn’t want that to happen this year… I’m glad I’m in a good moment right now.”
Villa start the weekend a point behind Chelsea and three shy of leaders Arsenal, both of whom have a significant goal superiority.
Chelsea v Aston Villa team news
Winger Estevao and forward Liam Delap are available for Chelsea after missing the trip to Newcastle last Saturday.
Maresca is suspended after collecting his third booking of the season during the 2-2 draw at St James’ Park.
Midfielders Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo remain sidelined by hamstring problems and centre-back Levi Colwill has a long-term knee injury.
Winger Mykhailo Mudryk has not played since November 2024 after being suspended by the FA due to an alleged adverse finding in a drug test.
Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez returned from a back problem against United and winger Jadon Sancho is available again, having been ineligible against his parent club.
Defenders Pau Torres (calf) and Tyrone Mings (hamstring) are out until January. Midfielder Ross Barkley is expected to be absent until February with a knee issue.
Winger Harvey Elliott is likely to return from illness. Evann Guessand is at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.
Chelsea v Aston Villa expected line-ups
Chelsea starting XI: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Estevao, Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto
Aston Villa starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelof, Ian Maatsen, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins
How to watch Chelsea v Villa: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Saturday is at 17:30 GMT (12:30 ET / 09:30 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Sky Sports memberships include access to all 12 live Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+, which offers live streams and a dedicated channel.
Streaming is available on a vast variety of devices via the Sky GO app.
Chelsea v Aston Villa stats
- Only Arsenal (3) and Manchester City and Bournemouth (both 6) have conceded fewer Premier League goals at home in 2025/26 than Chelsea (7)
- Six of their last eight home games in all competitions have ended in victory (D1 L1)
- Chelsea’s top scorers in the league this season have netted five times each (Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro)
- After 17 games of a Premier League campaign, only on three occasions have Chelsea’s top scorers netted fewer at this stage – 4 in 2022/23, 3 in 2015/16 and 4 in 1995/96.
- Enzo Fernandez has created more chances from open play (24) and made more passes breaking the opponent’s defensive line (17) than any other Chelsea player in the league this season
- Villa have won their last seven league games, last having a longer run in the top flight between October and December 1910 (9)
- They have won 12 of their 21 Premier League away games against London sides under Unai Emery (D4 L5) – more than they had in their previous 59 (W11 D10 L38)
- Only Arsenal (1.89) and Crystal Palace (1.78) have averaged more points per away game in this season’s division than Villa (1.75)
- Rogers has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other English player across the opening 17 matchdays this season (10 – 7 goals, 3 assists)
- He is the first Villan to score two or more goals in consecutive top-flight appearances since Dion Dublin in November 1998
Chelsea v Villa prediction
Chelsea
Villa
Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Everton in their last home game is their only victory in their last five league matches, making it hard to tip against a Villa team in remarkable form, although they lost 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last December.
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