Chelsea are unbeaten in their last four Premier League matches and Enzo Maresca will be hoping to make it five come Sunday evening. The Blues welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge knowing a win could move them up to second in the Premier League, if other results go their way.
Villa, meanwhile, have not won a Premier League fixture since beating Fulham 3-1 on October 19. Maresca knows how dangerous Unai Emery's side can be, though.
"I see Aston Villa as a very good team. In the last two or three years, especially with their new manager [Emery] and sporting director," Maresca said earlier this week. "Last night, they played Juventus; they're playing Champions League already. For sure, they are there and want to be there."
Following Thursday's UEFA Conference League win over FC Heidenheim, Maresca is expected to freshen things up on Sunday when it comes to team selection. Who should the Italian pick in his starting XI? football.london'sChelsea writers have their say, below.
Bobby Vincent
Filip Jorgensen should 100% come into the line-up. If he can't get in the team after what he did on Thursday, then when will he take over from Robert Sanchez?
I would like to see Malo Gusto return at right-back. Maresca said the Frenchman is now fit and available so he should come back into the back-four alongside Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella.
Enzo Fernandez was so good last weekend that he has to start again alongside Moises Caicedo. Ahead of him, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto, who, if fit enough to start, needs to come back into the XI.
Nicolas Jackson will be looking to continue his great form up front. I would like to see more of Jadon Sancho, too, but he unfortunately just misses out.
Bobby's Chelsea XI vs Aston Villa: Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
Sam Truelove
Robert Sanchez keeps his place in the Chelsea team and, for me, should have the same back line in front of him which started the game at Leicester. That means Marc Cucurella starts at left-back, Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill are the two centre-backs and Wesley Fofana continues at right-back.
There is a temptation to bring Malo Gusto back into the team but I have been impressed with Badiashile in recent matches, so would keep Fofana at full-back for this one. In midfield I would drop Enzo Fernandez and bring Romeo Lavia in to partner Moises Caicedo, with the duo's mobility key against a strong looking Villa midfield.
Into the forward line and Noni Madueke gets the nod on the right, despite Pedro Neto's decent form of late. I would like to see Jadon Sancho start on the left following his two assists in midweek, too. Cole Palmer of course starts just behind Nicolas Jackson up top.
Sam's Chelsea XI vs Aston Villa: Sanchez; Fofana, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
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