Aston Villa v Chelsea predictions: Villans can do damage to Blues' title bid

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Aston Villa v Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

When to watch

Sky Sports Premier League, Main Event & Showcase, 5.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Aston Villa or draw double chance
2pts 6-5 bet365, Hills

Team news

Aston Villa
Marvelous Nakamba, Leon Bailey and Bertrand Traore are out. Manager Steven Gerrard will not be at the game after testing positive for covid.

Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi are available. Ben Chilwell remains out.

Match preview

A well-rested Aston Villa can do further damage to Chelsea's title tilt by stopping Thomas Tuchel's men from dotting up at Villa Park.

Tuchel's worn-out highflyers will have played three times since Villa last stepped on to the pitch and the home side's 12-day mini-break can work in their favour.

Chelsea manager Tuchel branded himself "irresponsible" for playing Ngolo Kante for the full 90 minutes in last weekend's 0-0 draw at Wolves, just days after the Frenchman had returned to full training after an injury.

Such was the extent of the London club's injury problems that they were able to name only five outfield players on the bench at Molineux where, despite huffing and puffing, they mustered just one shot on target from 63 per cent possession in a game which saw them lose further ground on Manchester City.

Injuries, Covid and an intense workload aren't doing Tuchel any favours and while he can welcome back one or two players, the Blues are stuttering at the moment with just three wins in their last eight and all against teams who are inferior to Villa.

This match has come at a good time for Villa, who have had their feet up since winning 2-0 at Norwich on the 14th.

But life is generally good at Villa Park. Gerrard inherited a decent team from Dean Smith, who can count himself unlucky to have been axed. Under Gerrard it's four wins in six, and the two defeats have been by tight one-goal margins against Manchester City and Liverpool.

Gerrard conceded his team still have ground to make up on City and Liverpool, and presumably Chelsea would be in that mix.

But Ollie Watkins, who has bagged three of his five goals under the new manager, is leading the line with authority again and Villa look a threat going forward.

They'll be tested by Chelsea defensively, of course, because everybody is.

The Blues went through a strange few days against West Ham, Zenit and Leeds in which they conceded eight goals, but that stretch of efforts looks more like a freakish exception.

They've responded with back-to-back clean sheets against Wolves and Brentford and there is no reason to think this will be a high-scoring affair. The lower the goals-expectancy, the greater chance of a stalemate, which adds weight to the idea that the Villa or draw double chance might be a sensible bet.

Drastic team news might alter the picture but improved Villa, showing their fortitude of last season, are capable enough of going toe to toe with the European champions.

Key stat

There has not been a draw in any of Villa's last 14 top-flight games.

Inside info

Aston Villa

Penalty taker Ollie Watkins
Free-kick wizard Emi Buendia
Set-piece aerial threat Ezri Konsa
Card magnet Matty Cash/Tyrone Mings/John McGinn

Chelsea

Penalty taker Jorginho
Free-kick wizard Mason Mount
Set-piece aerial threat Andreas Christensen
Card magnet Reece James

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