While most of us are still trying to digest yesterday’s Christmas dinner, the football calendar marches on and Chelsea travel to Aston Villa for some boxing day Premier League action. The last few games have been difficult to Chelsea thanks to injuries and COVID, but with key players gradually returning to training, things are starting to look up for the Blues.
The same could also be said for today’s opponents. While they started the season poorly, Steven Gerrard appears to have breathed life into a team which was looking lost without Jack Grealish for the opening months. Since his appointment, Villa have picked up four wins from six and put in credible performances against Liverpool and Manchester City. While Chelsea will rightly be favourites, it’s unlikely to be a one sided affair.
Chelsea have had some good news this week regarding selections. Lukaku and Hudson-Odoi are both back in training after self-isolation, although it’s still to be seen if they’llstart. Christensen is also back in contention, giving Tuchel another defensive option. Havertz, Werner and Chilwell are all still out with injury and COVID.
Villa on the other hand will be without Nakamba, Bailey and ex Chelsea winger Traore through various injury issues. Davis, El Ghazi and Sanson are all doubts.
All things considered, the draw against Wolves was an acceptable result for Chelsea. Still, it means they fall even further behind City at the top of the table and even start to feel pressure from those below. It’s time Chelsea start winning games again and Villa is a good opportunity to do just that.
Ahead of the match, some of the writers at The Chelsea Social have shared their match predictions.
Rey Stevinho (@Rey_Blues30)
The holidays are always a tricky time of the year. Trying to enjoy the holidays to your fullest isn’t quite the same if you’re team isn’t doing well. Last year that was the case. Frank Lampard started the December of 2020 with a bang defeating Leeds and going top of the league in the process. That’ll be the peak of his managerial career at Chelsea at it went straight downhill from that point. Fast forward one year, Chelsea are champions of Europe and Super cup winners.
Nevertheless, it hasn’t been the smoothest of Decembers. Like last year, Chelsea peaked against a formable foe. Our game against Juventus, was without a doubt our best performance under Thomas Tuchel as we easily dismantled the Juve side. Since that point, Chelsea have been hampered with injuries and COVID cases. Now we go against Aston Villa under new manager and old foe, Steven Gerrard.
The Villans have 4 out of their last 6 and will come in with good vibes especially since it’s at home. For the Blues, this will be a difficult affair regardless of who’s back in the squad. They have given strong games in the last, even this season in our first league encounter under Dean Smith.
Nonetheless, we will need to be wary of their attack and focused in all areas of the pitch. We can’t be lacklustre in front of goal, or we could suffer another dropped result. Something that can’t happen with Arsenal crawling down our neck.
I predict a back-and-forth action where we will have periods of suffering, but I expect us to show up and get a hard-fought win. Up to Chels! And happy holidays!
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea
Maria Dulce (@usernamedulce)
After the superb win against Brentford during midweek, optimism finally returns to the Blues on Boxing Day! In addition to Chelsea’s first convincing victory in a while, the good news includes reports that Lukaku, Hudson-Odoi, and Christensen are back from Covid and injury ahead of the Aston Villa clash.
The first-team squad is nearly back now with three more additions in the mix. Lukaku and Hudson-Odoi represent more options in the current struggling attacking trio, and hopefully, they are allowed to go back to the pitch for some minutes. Furthermore, with Kanté coming off the bench against the Bees in Wednesday’s fixture, he will probably start partnered up with Kovacic, who has been brilliant since coming back from Covid. However, Tuchel might even try something different and innovate with a packed midfield to dominate possession throughout the game — considering midfield availability and the lack of creativity in recent attacking trios combinations.
Moreover, even after securing two consecutive clean sheets, we must not underestimate the Villans. Since Steven Gerrard’s management takeover, Aston Villa have won four out of their last six fixtures — with the two defeats being in the hands of Manchester City and Liverpool. Everything indicates that this will be an intense and balanced match, with both teams having offensive opportunities and scoring. For that reason, my final prediction is a win to Chelsea. Come on you Blues!
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea
Dan Hill (@idanknow05)
Cast your mind back to the final day of 20/21 season and the scene was set for Chelsea to secure Champions League qualification. On paper, Aston Villa had nothing to lose and nothing really to gain. Of course, they ran out 2-1 winners only for Chelsea to squeak over the line and make it into Europe.
That was a clear indication of the fact that Aston Villa have returned to the big time. A giant that has fallen is nonetheless on the rise and possess an exciting young manager in Steven Gerrard who looks to play football very much in the modern way: a 4-3-3 with an intense press, a dynamic midfield and, most of all, a highly committed and energetic team. Thus far, they have pushed both Man City and Liverpool all the way, winning all their other games in the league under the Liverpool legend.
So long has Gerrard been a thorn in Chelsea’s side and likewise Chelsea and their fans in his that he would need no invitation to put a severe dampener in Chelsea’s season. The reverse game at Stamford Bridge saw Chelsea run out 3-0 winners, but that day was a tale of a scoreline that flattered the hosts. The Villa midfield on the day constantly bypassed the Blues one, particularly in the first half, and it was very much clinical, quality finishing that made the difference.
Coming into this game on somewhat of a low ebb, at least where league form is concerned, Thomas Tuchel will nonetheless be hoping that a great away performance could be the springboard to regaining some much needed form, confidence and momentum for the latter half of the season.
With the likes of Romelu Lukaku & Callum Hudson-Odoi welcomed back from COVID-related absences, the Blues first XI is starting to take shape again.
It’s unlikely that all the key players will be able to feature but the expectation is that Chelsea will be able to field a stronger side than they did at Wolves last weekend.
Villa are a quality side and will be no pushover. However, I have faith in Chelsea’s quality and, most of all, Thomas Tuchel’s tactical nous to get the better of Gerrard and his men on the day. UTC
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Sam Tabuteau (@tabuteauS)
Chelsea reacted in the best possible way to talk of a Christmas blip with a professional victory in testing circumstances away to Brentford. Two second half goals secured yet another semi-final appearance for Thomas Tuchel’s men and reignited some momentum into Chelsea’s season, following a difficult couple of weeks both on and off the pitch.
Aston Villa present another very real threat to Chelsea’s ambitions this weekend. The Blues are still without several key figures for their visit to the midlands but will at least be boosted by the returns of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Romelu Lukaku to training. Lukaku’s best performance since returning to Stamford Bridge came against Aston Villa in September, and the Belgian forward will be looking to kickstart his season after spending much of the season on the sidelines.
With Steven Gerrard’s Villa currently riding a wave of optimism Chelsea will find it hard to come away with three points, and ultimately, I can see the Blues losing more ground in the title race on Boxing Day.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Chelsea
Chelsea Extra (@CFCExtra)
I love boxing day football and I can’t wait to watch this one. Villa are a tough opposition and have been doing well under their new manager, but I feel like Chelsea aren’t far away from turning a corner.
We played well against Wolves in the second half last week and did some good things against Brentford with a seriously weakened side. With our full-strength midfield now being available and even more key players in Hudson-Odoi and Lukaku returning, I can see us getting back to our best in the coming weeks.
The question is, will Villa come too soon for that? Honestly, I’m not sure. I think we will put in a decent performance, but Villa will be more difficult than the opponents we’ve faced recently.
I can foresee and tactical and cagey match where both teams cancel each other out and it takes a moment or two of brilliance to decide the match. Chelsea have looked better defensively over the past two games though, no doubt due to the return of Kante and Jorginho, which will stand us in good stead.
Hopefully we will see that moment of magic from one of our forwards, or more likely, Reece James. Come on Chelsea!
Prediction: Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea
Written by Chelsea Extra (@CFCExtra) with help from Rey, Maria, Dan and Sam
Edited by Dan Hill
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