Chelsea will host Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night. The visitors are looking for their 11th straight win in all competitions, which would reach their club record from 1914. The game starts at 17:30 UK time at Stamford Bridge.
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League will show the match live. The hosts will have a tough time against opponents who haven’t lost in 10 matches. The West Midlands team have gotten back to the level of play that made them title contenders earlier in the season, and they are now in third place in the Premier League.
Chelsea are fourth, seven points behind Aston Villa, and they face more than just their opponents’ momentum. After the draw at Newcastle, manager Enzo Maresca’s suspension was confirmed, so he won’t be on the touchline. Moises Caicedo is also suspended, leaving a hole in midfield.
The Blues have been tough lately. In their last game, they came back from two goals down to tie Newcastle 2-2. On the other hand, they have been generally inconsistent in December, winning only one of their last five league games.
Villa’s current run is their best since 1914, when they won 11 straight games. Morgan Rogers has been a big part of this rise, scoring 21 goals in all competitions since the start of last season. If he has another good game, he could make his name even more famous at the club.
The visitors have a better record against each other, having lost only once in their last four trips to Stamford Bridge. Both teams have shown they can attack well this season, which means that even though Chelsea has the home-field advantage, the game could be open.
Looking for a prediction, there’s Villa’s unstoppable momentum and Chelsea’s need to stay in the top four. The Blues have significant problems because Maresca is watching from the stands and Caicedo isn’t available. Villa is likely to continue winning due to their confidence and attacking prowess, and the Blues might just lose this game 2-1.
Aston Villa Impress Under Unai Emery
After beating Manchester United last weekend, Aston Villa won 10 games in a row in all competitions and 7 games in a row in the Premier League. Unai Emery has turned the Midlands club into a real contender.
Villa are now only three points behind league leaders Arsenal and one point behind Manchester City. This impressive run, which started in early November with a big win over Bournemouth, has shown how effective the Spanish manager is in tactics.
The visitors have shown their credentials against top teams this season by beating both Arsenal and Manchester City earlier in the campaign. This has made people more confident in their title challenge.
A win at Stamford Bridge would not only tie the club’s all-time winning streak, but it would also send a clear message about Villa’s credentials as the season enters its most important phase. The game is a chance for them to solidify their place in the top three while keeping the pressure on the teams above them.