Villa look to move within a point of the Blues as both sides hunt Champions League qualification. Aston Villa take on Chelsea in the Premier League in today’s late kick-off, with both sides looking to consolidate their bids for European football next season.
Villa’s midweek draw with Liverpool means that they entered the weekend in ninth, but only five points behind fourth-placed Manchester City. And they face a Chelsea side who have stuttered in recent weeks to fall from second to sixth. The Blues still have the advantage in the race for the top four – as they sit just a point below City – but the lead over Villa could be cut to just a point if they were to lose, with Enzo Maresca’s side in danger of falling out of the race on current form.
Follow all the updates from Villa Park here:. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has set his players a clear target to win their seven remaining home games and ensure a return to the Champions League. The 45-year-old has been wary of committing himself by speaking publicly about aims for the season, but with the team having spent most of the campaign in the top four, he has made his expectations clear.
Of the sides still to visit Stamford Bridge this season, six are currently in the bottom half of the Premier League, with leaders Liverpool the exception. The team have only the division's seventh-best home record this campaign having won six of their 12 games so far, losing twice.
Enzo Maresca had one new injury concern after the loss to Brighton, with Noni Madueke being forced off in that match. He will likely miss a few weeks with a hamstring issue. While Malo Gusto was also subbed in that loss, Maresca later said he was okay, so he should be fit.
Nicolas Jackson remains the most recent long-term lay-off, with the striker out until at least the end of the March international break. All of Marc Guiu, Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia are out for unspecified periods, while Wesley Fofana remains the main long-term absentee.
For Villa, Axel Disasi is unavailable to face his parent club, so Lamare Bogarde may provide cover, though Emery did say that Ezri Konsa could be fit enough to return to the squad. Ross Barkley is also nearing a return, though this match could come a week too early, while Leon Bailey should be fit for this game.
Amadou Onana is still a couple of weeks away from a return, as is Boubacar Kamara, while Pau Torres is expected to start training again in a couple of weeks. When is Aston Villa vs Chelsea?. The match kicks off at 5.30pm GMT on Saturday, 22 February at Villa Park.
How can I watch the match?. The match will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event, with coverage starting at 5pm. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass to watch without a subscription. Aston Villa face Chelsea in the Premier League’s late kick-off today, with both sides still firmly in the hunt for Champions League football.
While Villa’s draw to Liverpool in midweek was a good result, it left Unai Emery’s side in ninth with 39 points, four below Chelsea and five off fourth-placed Manchester City. Though Villa will fancy their chances of achieving European football, a win today is vital for any hopes of cracking the top five.
And they face a Chelsea side who have endured a poor run of form since December, falling from second to sixth, with last weekend’s disappointing 3-0 loss to Brighton meaning that the Blues face their own fight to secure a Champions League place that looked set in stone just a couple of months ago.
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Premier League match between Aston Villa and Chelsea. The match sees both sides continue their hunt for European football, with Villa sitting four points behind the Blues ahead of kick-off.
