Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa
Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Aston Villa face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday looking for their first Premier League victory in six weeks.
Unai Emery's side are on a seven-match winless run after losing four times in a row before the November international break following a draw against Bournemouth. Villa stopped the rot against Crystal Palace last weekend, but failed to beat the strugglers before then playing out a goalless draw with Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, Villa are only three points off third-placed Chelsea ahead of Sunday's 1.30pm clash, and Emery's side have won their last two Premier League games at Stamford Bridge - as many as Villa managed in their previous 21 visits.
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Just 41 per cent of Chelsea’s Premier League points this season have come in home games, which is the lowest ratio of any side so far this term. After losing to Manchester City on the opening weekend of the campaign, Chelsea have drawn to Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at home, but beaten Brighton and Newcastle.
They will be without captain Reece James, but Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto could return to the squad after missing the trip to Leicester City last time out.
Villa boss Emery will give a team news update in his media conference on Friday afternoon. In front of Emi Martinez in goal, he is expected to recall Ezri Konsa after the England man was an unused substitute against Juventus. He could replace Diego Carlos and partner Pau Torres, leaving Matty Cash at right-back.
In midfield, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans could continue in the double pivot, with Leon Bailey playing from the right and John McGinn off the left. Despite his poor recent form, Morgan Rogers is expected to continue supporting Ollie Watkins in attack.
Villa predicted XI vs Chelsea: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, Bailey, McGinn, Rogers, Watkins.
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