Aston Villa v Chelsea predictions: Watkins can make Blues sweat on top-four spot

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

Where to watch

Sky Sports Action, 4pm

Best bet

Ollie Watkins first goalscorer
1pt each-way 9-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Team news

Aston Villa
Matty Cash, Morgan Sanson and Trezeguet are out. Ross Barkley is ineligible to face his parent club.

Chelsea
N'Golo Kante and Kai Havertz are doubts but Andreas Christensen is fit.

Match preview

Chelsea perhaps wouldn't be scrapping for a Champions League place had they had a centre forward as accomplished as Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, who could play his part in what could turn into an edgy afternoon for Thomas Tuchel's men.

Fourteen-goal Watkins is 9-1 to open the scoring against the FA Cup runners-up and Champions League finalists. And that looks a decent price for a striker in a rich vein of form for a team in decent nick and in a match which could well develop into a really exciting affair.

Certainly, neither side will be playing for a 0-0 draw at Villa Park.

Villa, who will finish in 11th place come what may, showed in their deserved 2-1 success at Tottenham on Wednesday night that they aren't freewheeling their way into the summer.

With talisman Jack Grealish back from a layoff they were a picture of inventiveness and effort and there's no doubt they've pocketed a gem in Watkins, who made it four goals in his last eight with the winner.

Both men should be heading to the Euros but creating a headline or two against a side as good as Chelsea won't go unnoticed by the England hierarchy.

Chelsea, meanwhile, need to at least match whatever Liverpool or Leicester do to book their Champions League ticket for next term and Tuchel can only plan for having to win.

The Blues are unbeaten in their last 12 away games and, of course, have recently done the double over Manchester City. They also avenged their FA Cup final defeat with a tidy effort against Leicester at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, running out 2-1 winners courtesy of goals from Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho.

Jorginho, incidentally, is Chelsea's top scorer this season with seven strikes - all of which have come from the penalty spot.

There is so much to like about Tuchel's Blues. Reece James, for example, could yet develop into a wing-back of world-class stature and Timo Werner's pace - if not his finishing - is electric.

Mason Mount is a class act and then there is the midfield shield provided by the formidable N'Golo Kante, although having limped off against the Foxes and with a final to come next week, who knows if he'll be risked on Sunday.

Are Chelsea too short at 1-2? Their away form is certainly impressive while no one in the top 15 has won fewer home games than Dean Smith's side.

In fact, they've won only one of their last eight at home. And away teams have held the upper hand this year, as we all know.

But there are only 15 points between the sides, Chelsea have not won half of their league matches and the last day of a unique campaign is probably not the time to be seduced by away teams at skinny prices.

Key stat

Chelsea have kept clean sheets in seven of their last 12 away games.

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