Chelsea vs Aston Villa LIVE! Premier League result, match stream and latest updates today
Chelsea vs Aston Villa LIVE!
Chelsea remain desperate for a win as they returned to Stamford Bridge with another loss in the Premier League on Sunday. It’s been a tough start to the new Mauricio Pochettino era in west London, with poor results played out against the backdrop of another ongoing injury crisis. The goal-shy Blues stay 14th with just one win from their opening six games now after slipping to another dismal loss here.
They found the going tough again against a Villa team that tend to score plenty, occupying sixth spot in the early top-flight table now after four wins including the latest in west London thanks to Ollie Watkins’ first league goal of the campaign 17 minutes from time. Unai Emery’s side were hurting after dropping their Europa Conference League opener in Warsaw on Thursday, but Unai Emery’s side bounced back quickly after reversing all their changes from Poland.
Malo Gusto was sent off on another disappointing day for the Blues, who will also now be without Nicolas Jackson due to suspension. Follow Chelsea vs Aston Villa reaction live with our blog below, featuring analysis from Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa latest updates
GOAL! Watkins fires home first in the league
RED CARD! Gusto sent off for challenge on Digne
GOOA... NO! Disasi header ruled out
Chelsea team news: Caicedo returns; Broja on bench
Aston Villa team news: Warsaw changes reversed
Chelsea FC 0 - 1 Aston Villa FC
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
16:02 , George Flood
Full-time
Another miserable home defeat for 10-man Chelsea as their torrid start to life under Mauricio Pochettino continues.
That’s back-to-back away league wins at Stamford Bridge for Villa, with Watkins off the mark and Emery’s side up above West Ham now and into sixth spot.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
16:00 , George Flood
110 mins: Broja heads wide at the back post from a free-kick - but the offside flag is up yet again.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:59 , George Flood
98 mins: Chelsea’s 10 men are piling on the pressure late on, but Villa’s defence are standing firm.
Palmer looks the most likely to make something happen.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:55 , George Flood
96 mins: Villa are taking as much time as possible at this corner, helped by a lengthy VAR check for an off-the-ball clash between Duran and Colwill.
Play continues, with Konsa almost getting on the end of the delivery.
Here come Chelsea again with time running out...
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:53 , George Flood
94 mins: A couple of late sights of goal for Chelsea substitute Palmer, but his first shot is blocked before he’s caught offside.
Douglas Luiz went into the book a little while ago for a tactical foul on Colwill that stopped a Blues break.
Martinez has also been shown a yellow card for time-wasting.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:51 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
11 added minutes here at Stamford Bridge. Time for Chelsea to grab something or even turn the game on its head — though Villa are dictating play at the moment.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:51 , George Flood
90 mins: The referee denies Villa and Bailey a crucial advantage after Watkins is brought down by Chilwell, who is booked.
ELEVEN minutes of added time signalled here, so still plenty of time for Chelsea’s 10 men to find an equaliser.
Dendoncker and Duran replace Kamara and Watkins.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:50 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
Calamity for Chelsea, but frankly a goal that had been on the cards ever since Gusto’s dismissal.
Thiago Silva’s error was punished ruthlessly by Villa, who scored on the break through Ollie Watkins. The home fans fell silent.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:49 , George Flood
88 mins: Emery is very animated down on the touchline, bellowing to get a couple of Villa subs back into the dugout so they can be sent on.
I think it’s Dendoncker and Duran.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:46 , George Flood
86 mins: Time is running out for Chelsea, but they do have a free-kick here in a useful position after Kamara’s foul on Gallagher.
They are queuing up at the back post to meet Chilwell’s delivery, but Broja gets his timing wrong on the slide and the ball goes harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:44 , George Flood
83 mins: Villa want to put this to bed as Sanchez is at full stretch again to deny Ramsey, who is showing no ill effects after that clash with Disasi.
Disasi then does enough to ensure that Konsa’s header from a corner is well off target.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:41 , George Flood
79 mins: That’s a big save from Sanchez to deny Diaby and keep Chelsea alive in this game. Actually he’s offside as the flag is belatedly raised.
Youri Tielemans is now on for Diaby, while Chelsea have introduced Armando Broja for his return.
Caicedo off.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:38 , George Flood
78 mins: Villa fans taunt Pochettino with chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’.
Disasi bursts forward and looks to pull the trigger, clashing with Ramsey as both players stay down in pain.
Ramsey is only just back from a broken foot.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:37 , George Flood
76 mins: Emery has sent on Ramsey and Bailey for McGinn and Zaniolo.
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
15:37 , George Flood
75 mins: Chelsea are almost in for a quick equaliser but Chilwell’s effort is saved well by Martinez after a great ball from Palmer.
Sterling could not break free in the middle.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa | Ollie Watkins 73’
15:32 , George Flood
73 mins: Villa get the breakthrough!
Watkins fires his first league goal of the season through the legs of Sanchez at the second attempt!
A ruthless counter from Villa and 10-man Chelsea are behind at home again with just over 15 minutes left.
Colwill blocked the first attempt from Watkins, who should not have been allowed to beat Sanchez from that angle.
Silva could also have brought down Diaby to nip that in the bud near the halfway line.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:31 , George Flood
72 mins: Superb delivery from Chilwell as he’s set free down the Chelsea left.
However, there are no blue shirts there and Torres steers behind.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:30 , George Flood
70 mins: Diaby scuffs a low effort wide of the far post after Zaniolo’s cross skips up off Ugochukwu and is not well cleared by Colwill.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:27 , George Flood
68 mins: Two more Chelsea changes as Jackson and Fernandez are replaced by Palmer and Ugochukwu.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:25 , George Flood
65 mins: All Villa now at Stamford Bridge as they look for only a second away win in eight.
Another dangerous cross is seen off inside the Chelsea box.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:23 , George Flood
62 mins: Zaniolo now has a shot blocked as Villa look to make their numerical advantage count.
Cash’s effort then saved by Sanchez.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:22 , George Flood
61 mins: Villa have been firmly on the back foot in this second half but are now emboldened after that Gusto dismissal.
Cash’s shot is blocked behind by Colwill.
Mudryk is going off after the Gusto red, with Chilwell on.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:19 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
No doubting Gusto got the ball, but his follow-through did very much see his studs catch Digne’s ankles.
Gillett consults the VAR screen and upgrades Gusto’s yellow to a red. He’d been the best player for Chelsea this afternoon.
It’s turning into one of those afternoons for the men in blue.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:17 , George Flood
57 mins: After a review, Jarred Gillett cancels his yellow card and sends Gusto off!
Chelsea down to 10 men for the rest of this game. The fans and Pochettino are furious.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:16 , George Flood
56 mins: Malo Gusto is in big trouble here after a nasty challenge on Digne.
He got some of the ball first but the follow-through looks bad.
It’s a yellow and a free-kick initially, but VAR take a look and the referee is advised to go and watch it again...
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:13 , George Flood
53 mins: Another very tight offside call against Chelsea as Sterling looks to exploit Villa’s ultra-high defensive line and collect a Fernandez pass over the top.
His eventual effort is saved by Martinez and deflects behind off Konsa. The flag is then raised.
Villa had been threatening just before through Zaniolo, but it was confident goalkeeping from Sanchez.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:12 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
Well that truly is crazy from Nicolas Jackson. Well aware that he is one game away from a suspension, he picks up his fifth yellow card in six Premier League games for not giving goalkeeper Martinez enough room to take his free-kick.
Pochettino literally held a meeting with him two days ago to remind him not to collect needless bookings. Really quite poor.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:11 , George Flood
50 mins: Still the Chelsea pressure comes but the offside flag is up again.
Jackson stands close to the ball to prevent a quick free-kick from Martinez and gets booked for his troubles.
That’s yet another needless booking from the summer signing - his fifth of the season already. He will now be suspended.
Mindless.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:09 , George Flood
49 mins: Villa continue to be under serious pressure at the start of this second period.
Fernandez’s clipped cross is headed just wide on the stretch by Jackson, who is flagged offside - that was very, very tight.
Sterling is then released down the right channel but his cut-back is hacked clear.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:07 , George Flood
47 mins: Almost an opener from Chelsea straightaway as Sterling breaks clear from Digne into the box after a fine pass, but it’s saved well from Martinez at his front post.
That should have been 1-0. Sterling catches Martinez on the way through and the former Arsenal ‘keeper stays down.
That looked accidental.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
15:05 , George Flood
Back underway at Stamford Bridge!
Who will make the breakthrough?
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:59 , George Flood
Another goalless half for Chelsea then, with Disasi’s header from a Sterling cross rightly ruled out for offside just before half-time.
Otherwise it’s at the other end where the chances have been more spectacular, Sanchez at full stretch to deny volleys from both Digne and Zaniolo.
Jackson and Caicedo with half-chances for the hosts, who have had their moments and started well but are seriously lacking that focal point up top still.
Will we see the fit-again Broja on at some point in the second half?
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:50 , George Flood
Half-time
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:50 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
Truly bizarre. Referee Jarred Gillett has blown for half-time with one minute and five seconds of stoppage time still to be played.
Boos ring out around Stamford Bridge from the disgruntled home supporters. Who can blame them?
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:49 , George Flood
47 mins: Chelsea’s fans and players are rightly incensed as the referee blows up for half-time with more than a minute of stoppage time still to play.
What on earth is he doing?
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:48 , George Flood
45 mins: Digne gives away a free-kick with a rugby tackle on Sterling, but comes off worse as he cops an accidental elbow that busts his nose open.
Blood streaming down his face.
He’s also got a yellow.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:47 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
That was a beautifully worked short corner from Chelsea, leading to Sterling’s cross being headed in by Disasi.
But Disasi was one of three Chelsea players a good couple of feet offside. Aston Villa’s offside trap worked.
An excellent Chelsea goal rightly chalked off. 0-0 it remains as we enter three minutes of stoppage time.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:46 , George Flood
44 mins: GOAAA... NO!
Chelsea go with the short corner and Sterling’s delivery is headed in emphatically by Disasi, but the offside flag is up.
It won’t count.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:45 , George Flood
43 mins: Villa are playing an extremely high line here and almost pay the price as Gusto is released well and then sees a cut back steered behind by the covering McGinn.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:42 , George Flood
40 mins: End-to-end stuff now in west London with half-time approaching.
Digne is well off target at one end before Mudryk’s low cross flashes dangerously across goal before falling safe after Jackson almost connects.
Sterling then comes roaring back forward for Chelsea, but Kamara gets a foot in and concedes the corner.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:40 , George Flood
39 mins: What a save from Sanchez!
A deep Villa corner is headed back across goal by Kamara, with Zaniolo unleashing a perfectly-struck volley that is tipped over by the Chelsea ‘keeper at full stretch.
Brilliant stop again.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:39 , George Flood
37 mins: Caicedo is incensed after being penalised for a trip on Watkins, offering Villa a free-kick in a decent position.
Digne and Luiz step up, with the Brazilian’s whipped effort diverted behind off the head of Fernandez in the wall.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:38 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
Unai Emery is an excellent manager, that much is clear. But sitting directly behind his technical area is an experience and a half.
The man finds something new to be incandescent about almost every two minutes. He’s certainly getting his steps in.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:37 , George Flood
35 mins: Disasi releases Gusto with a lofted ball down the right flank and it’s a great cut-back from the Frenchman to find Fernandez, who can’t adjust his feet properly and he skews the ball well wide.
The World Cup winner should have done much better with that.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:35 , George Flood
32 mins: After a bright start from Chelsea, it’s all very tepid now.
They are combining well down the flanks at times and Sterling has been dangerous, but they need more than Jackson through the middle.
That much is abundantly clear at the moment. Now watch him score!
Villa bustle for a corner that is easily cleared.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:32 , George Flood
30 mins: Excellent anticipation and starting position from Martinez, allowing him to race out and gather an inviting through ball intended for Sterling.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:32 , George Flood
29 mins: Alert goalkeeping from Sanchez to get down and smother after Cash’s low cross takes a wicked deflection off Colwill.
Still goalless after half an hour at Stamford Bridge, where the Chelsea fans are trying to inspire their team to find the opener.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:29 , George Flood
26 mins: Pau Torres slips when trying to battle Jackson for a through ball from Sterling.
The Senegalese international turns and tries to pick out Fernandez with the cross, but Cash gets back brilliantly to head back to Martinez under pressure.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:27 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
Just a few hints in the first 25 minutes of the game here that it could be another frustrating day at the office for Nicolas Jackson.
A few moments ago, he picked the wrong option when running forward with the ball, and now he is thwarted by Martinez when through one-on-one.
Must impose himself more.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:27 , George Flood
25 mins: Chelsea’s best chance of the game so far as Mudryk picks out the run of Jackson with a lovely reverse pass from the left flank.
Jackson times his run to perfection and tries to toe poke in at the near post, but Martinez steers it wide.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:25 , George Flood
23 mins: The feisty Zaniolo, on loan at Villa from Galatasaray, leaves one on Fernandez there and the Argentine stays down for a few moments.
Chelsea can ill-afford to be without their £107m signing, who is now up on his feet and back amongst the action.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:23 , George Flood
22 mins: Chelsea have been pressed into action by that Digne effort as Jackson is released on the counter-attack but he’s eventually seen off by Konsa and the offside flag goes up anyway.
Sterling then slaloms into the box at pace but looses his footing at the crucial moment.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:21 , George Flood
19 mins: Some nice touches from Zaniolo early on here and he does very well to earn Villa a corner that is hacked away by Gusto at the front post.
Digne then catches it flush with a vicious left-footed volley that is tipped over acrobatically by Sanchez.
What an effort!
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:18 , George Flood
16 mins: Wonderful play from Kamara to muscle Jackson off the ball and then glide away from Fernandez to stop a useful Chelsea counter in its tracks.
Villa then look to set Diaby away with a ball over the top, but it’s solid defending from Colwill.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:17 , George Flood
14 mins: Some defending for Chelsea to do now as Gusto blocks a cross from Digne down the Villa left.
A throw-in causes issues inside the Blues box and Fernandez eventually concedes another after rather hacking at a clearance that doesn’t go very far.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:15 , George Flood
11 mins: Villa have had a few forays forward early on here, but nothing to trouble Robert Sanchez at all so far.
All the endeavour and intensity is coming from Chelsea, who are piling on the pressure at pace.
A couple of Mudryk crosses are repelled before superb work from Colwill, who gets out wide to the left and delivers another dangerous ball that skips up off Kamara before hitting the arm of Jackson.
Free-kick Villa inside their own box.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:12 , George Flood
9 mins: Chelsea are looking nice and bright so far here and an early goal would do them the world of good.
Replays show that ball did hit the hand of Kamara inside the box, but a penalty for that would have been extremely harsh.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:09 , George Flood
7 mins: Brilliant link-up play between Sterling and Jackson has Chelsea streaming through on the counter after Cash’s low cross at the other end is nudged away by Colwill.
However, Sterling’s touch is heavy and it allows Pau Torres to get across and make a crucial challenge inside the Villa box.
Chelsea’s subsequent corner is cleared amid shouts of handball from the fans behind that goal away to the left.
Australian referee Jarred Gillett is not interested in the appeal against Kamara.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:07 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
High-intensity start here from Chelsea, who aren’t giving Villa a moment on the ball before pressing them.
At the moment it seems to be working, as the Blues keep regaining possession in positive areas.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:07 , George Flood
5 mins: Chelsea’s first shot in anger comes from Caicedo after determined work from Jackson to dispossess Douglas Luiz in a dangerous area.
But his low drive is held by Martinez in the Villa goal.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:05 , George Flood
3 mins: Almost a horror moment for Pau Torres there as he gifts the ball straight to Mudryk with a sloppy error, but the Ukrainian can’t capitalise.
Emery will be seething with that. Villa looking a bit ropey at the back early on.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
14:03 , George Flood
1 min: Chelsea are in behind Villa inside the first minute, with Mudryk floating a lovely ball to meet the run of Fernandez.
The Argentine tries to pick out Sterling with a cross into the middle that is flicked away and picked up by Gusto, but the offside flag is eventually raised against Fernandez.
He looked well off, it must be said. But good early intent from Chelsea nonetheless.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
14:01 , George Flood
KICK-OFF
Underway on a gloomy September Sunday at Stamford Bridge!
Will Chelsea pick up just their second Premier League win of the season today?
It won’t be easy...
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
13:59 , George Flood
The teams are out at Stamford Bridge!
Conor Gallagher leads Chelsea out as captain once again with Reece James still sidelined and Ben Chilwell on the bench.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
13:56 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey have just taken their seats on the Aston Villa bench.
Unai Emery’s side boast a seriously good squad these days. Will be a real test for Chelsea, this.
Pochettino tells Jackson to cut out the yellow cards
13:54 , George Flood
Nicolas Jackson leads the line for Chelsea again today and is already just one yellow card away from a suspension.
The 22-year-old has been routinely punished by referees for his youthful petulance during his early months at Stamford Bridge and Pochettino has spoken to his player this week in a bid to
“I talked to him today,” the manager said on Friday. “We were talking about that.
“We had a meeting with him and Enzo (Fernandez). I said ‘come on, for a striker to have four yellow cards, to protest…to talk with the referee.
“You need to get some yellow cards for different actions not because of that. It’s so easy, so cheap.
“I think he could put the team in a really difficult situation (if it continues). He understood. But Jackson is 22, he is young, he needs to learn, to improve.
“He is going to be a fantastic player, but he needs time.”
Pochettino: Chelsea cannot place scoring burden on Broja
13:48 , George Flood
Could Armando Broja be the solution to Chelsea’s striking woes?
Here’s what Mauricio Pochettino said on that very topic at Friday’s pre-match press conference...
“It’s the same situation that we can talk about many players,” he said. “Broja arrives and maybe will be involved at the weekend but it’s after nine months of not competing.
“We cannot put responsibility on him. The responsibility must be on the team and the collective effort, not only the offensive player need to score.
“We cannot expect Broja, if he has the possibility to play, will score with every single touch, he needs time to feel the competition and to start to perform in the way that we expect.”
Long road to recovery for Armando Broja
13:43 , George Flood
What a day for Armando Broja.
It has been a long road back to fitness for the Albanian striker since he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a friendly against Aston Villa last December in a mid-season tour of Dubai during the World Cup.
Feels like fate that his return to the squad today should come against the same opponents.
I’m sure Broja will be desperate to get off the bench this afternoon and help boost a Chelsea attack that is struggling badly for goals.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
13:34 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
Mauricio Pochettino has won his last four matches against Aston Villa as a manager, with all of those coming while he was Tottenham boss.
Few will have been as significant as this encounter, however. The level of pressure on any Chelsea manager is bound to be sky-high at the moment given the £1billion the club has spent on transfers since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club last May.
Pochettino and Chelsea need a win. They’ve won just one of their opening five league fixtures this season.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
13:32 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith is in position to offer his pre-match thoughts from Stamford Bridge....
🗣️ "Chelsea will be desperate to get back to winning ways."@MrDomSmith is in position to preview today's clash at Stamford Bridge
LIVE: https://t.co/u73h9SJBBU#CHEAVL pic.twitter.com/0nwlEzvV1L— Standard Sport (@standardsport) September 24, 2023
Aston Villa reverse all five Warsaw changes
13:21 , George Flood
Unai Emery, meanwhile, reverts back to the same Aston Villa team that came back to defeat Crystal Palace with a stunning late show last weekend.
As expected, Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Douglas Luiz, Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins all return after being rotated in Warsaw on Thursday, with Clement Lenglet, Calum Chambers, Youri Tielemans, Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran all returning to the bench.
Jacob Ramsey is among the substitutes after recovering from his broken foot and he is joined by teenage midfielder Omari Kellyman, with no place for Alex Moreno as young goalkeeper Filip Marschall also drops out.
One Chelsea change as Moises Caicedo returns
13:16 , George Flood
So Moises Caicedo is fit to return to the Chelsea midfield today, replacing fellow summer signing Lesley Ugochukwu in the only change to the team that started the goalless draw against Bournemouth last weekend.
Armando Broja is on the bench after his nine-month injury lay-off, along with Marc Cucurella, who is back following an illness.
However, still no Noni Madueke in the matchday squad despite him having returned to training following a muscle issue picked up with the England Under-21s.
Two goalkeepers on the Chelsea bench again in Djordje Petrovic and Lucas Bergstrom, but youngsters Alfie Gilchrist, Alex Matos and Ronnie Stutter all drop out to make way for the returns of Caicedo, Cucurella and Broja.
Aston Villa lineup
13:07 , George Flood
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Diaby, Zaniolo, Watkins
Subs: Tielemans, Chambers, Lenglet, Duran, Olsen, Bailey, Dendoncker, Ramsey, Kellyman
Chelsea lineup
13:04 , George Flood
Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Gallagher, Caicedo, Sterling, Fernandez, Mudryk, Jackson
Subs: Cucurella, Ugochukwu, Broja, Palmer, Chilwell, Petrovic, Maatsen, Deivid Washington, Bergstrom
Lineups on the way
12:57 , George Flood
Official team news is imminent from Stamford Bridge - stay tuned!
Pochettino update on Caicedo and Chelsea injuries
12:44 , George Flood
As mentioned, Chelsea could be boosted by the returns of Moises Caicedo, Noni Madueke and Marc Cucurella today, plus the potential involvement of Armando Broja after that long lay-off.
Here’s what Pochettino had to say on that quartet at Friday’s pre-match press conference at Cobham, plus the latest on Benoit Badiashile’s setback and the imminent training returns of Reece James, former Villa starlet Carney Chukwuemeka and Trevoh Chalobah, who is expected to leave Stamford Bridge in January.
“Moi we need to assess tomorrow, he was training in an individual way, not with the team until today,” Pochettino said.
“We need to assess tomorrow and see for Sunday. Marc suffered a fever and is back when we restarted training. Noni was involved also during the week in training.
“Maybe we need one day more, maybe Armando Broja can be involved, maybe Sunday. Not sure, we need to assess him tomorrow. We need to recover players and it is important many players start be available to be involved again.
“Yeah [Badiashile had a setback] but it was in a different muscle but it was minor, it was small. He was training with Reece James. I think Reece and Chukwuemeka and also Chalobah are very close to start training with the team.”
12:37 , George Flood
The calm before the storm at Stamford Bridge...
Emery defends Aston Villa rotation after Warsaw upset
12:32 , George Flood
Unai Emery copped some flak for his costly changes in Warsaw on Thursday, which saw a debut for Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet and starts for the likes of Calum Chambers, Youri Tielemans, Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran.
However, the Spaniard was unapologetic for rotating his team amid an early season fixture pile-up caused by their Europa Conference League qualifiers.
“I am using my experiences in Europe and playing a lot of matches during the week. We are building a team. We didn’t want to lose but it was a possibility,” Emery said.
“We need to build, to try to get performances from players who joined us in the last moment, like Clement Lenglet, and players who are not playing regularly but who will help us.
“They have to play. We do not only need 11, 12, 15 players, we will need 20, 22, 25 players.”
Pochettino reveals why Fernandez cannot be Chelsea captain
12:17 , George Flood
Ben Chilwell has generally been captaining Chelsea in the absence of injured new skipper Reece James, though with the England left-back starting on the bench against Bournemouth it was Conor Gallagher who took the armband at the Vitality Stadium last weekend.
Some fans wondered if Enzo Fernandez might have been a better stand-in leader than his midfield colleague, though Pochettino has now made it clear that his Argentine compatriot’s lack of English is a significant barrier to him becoming captain.
"Enzo is still struggling with his English," said Pochettino. "If we need to communicate with the referee, Conor can perfectly do the job. For me I prefer Conor to Enzo because he can speak English.
"It's not only about character or personality or profile. You need to communicate with people. And if you have not managed the language properly, you cannot be captain. Maybe I am wrong but it is my opinion."
Pochettino defends Chelsea medical team amid latest injury crisis
12:05 , George Flood
Chelsea fans are understandably fed up with their huge transfer spending being predictably followed by the latest instalment of a seemingly never-ending injury nightmare.
Some frustrated supporters have long since directed their ire at the club’s medical staff, though Pochettino launched a staunch defence of that team during his pre-Aston Villa press conference on Friday.
The Argentine was without 12 first-team players at Bournemouth last weekend, with two goalkeepers and three players aged 19 or under with no first-team experience all named on the bench.
However, he firmly rejects any notion that Chelsea’s medical or performance teams are at fault for the ongoing issues.
“Before we arrived here we did everything to try and have a clear idea of why there were too many injuries last season also, to analyse the risk,” Pochettino said.
“It’s (about) the profile of the player, the risk of the player. It’s not the people working in the medical staff of performance area.
“I think we need to respect these areas (at the club) are very good professionals, qualified people. That’s why they are working in football. But there’s an individual risk to (certain) players, you need to assess.
“Then there’s bad luck. We have injures that maybe happen in one season or maybe in two, but have happened (to Chelsea) because of different situations you cannot control.
"Christopher [Nkunku] against Dortmund, it was a tackle and he twists his knee. Three or four months out. That is from the beginning of the game, he wasn't tired, he was fresh, good, strong.
"The organisation in football are super professional and we need to respect that. Sometimes things happen like this and it's difficult to evaluate."
Chelsea vs Aston Villa prediction
11:50 , George Flood
Chelsea’s blunt attack go up against a Villa defence that is capable of having real off-days, though Emery did make five changes for the dispiring Conference League loss in Warsaw amid an early season fixture pile-up.
Pochettino will be concerned with Villa’s forward threats, with Emery’s side having scored 21 goals already across all competitions this season in comparison to Chelsea’s measly seven.
This is far from an ideal game for the Blues - who have gone consecutive matches without scoring - to target a bounce-back and they will have to hope that their opponents show some tiredness after their European exertions.
Despite them being at home it’s hard to forecast anything more than a draw for Chelsea at this point, and some may feel they’d be very fortunate to even get that without huge improvements.
2-2 draw.
Aston Villa team news
11:46 , George Flood
Aston Villa are not believed to have suffered any new injury concerns during their disappointing Europa Conference League loss to Legia Warsaw on Thursday.
Tyrone Mings, Diego Carlos and Timothy Iroegbunam are all still sidelined, with former Chelsea forward Bertrand Traore working his way back from injury.
Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Douglas Luiz, Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins will all be expected to return after being named on the bench in five changes that backfired from Unai Emery in Warsaw.
Jacob Ramsey came on as a substitute on Thursday after recovering from a broken foot, with Alex Moreno also back in the fold after a hamstring problem.
Chelsea team news
11:40 , George Flood
Moises Caicedo could return for Chelsea today after a knee complaint suffered on international duty with Ecuador forced him to miss the draw with Bournemouth last weekend.
Marc Cucurella is in contention after illness after Noni Madueke has also returned to training following a muscle issue picked up with the England Under-21s.
Armando Broja could also be involved in some capacity today for the first time since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in a friendly against Villa on the mid-season tour of Dubai last December.
Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka are all close to returning to training but aren’t available today, while the setback to Benoit Badiashile’s recovery has been described as minor by Pochettino.
Summer signings Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia are still sidelined for Chelsea too, along with Wesley Fofana and Marcus Bettinelli.
Where to watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa
11:34 , George Flood
TV channel and live stream: Having not been initially selected for TV coverage and then moved from its Saturday 3pm slot - when the TV blackout is imposed across English football - to Sunday afternoon due to Villa qualifying for the Europa Conference League, this game will not be broadcast live in the UK today.
Highlights: However, highlights will be available on Match of the Day 2, which starts at 10:30pm tonight on BBC One.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa live
11:30 , George Flood
Chelsea could really use a win as they return to Premier League action at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
Just one victory from their opening five top-flight matches has made it a very disappointing start indeed to the Mauricio Pochettino era in west London, with more poor form and further injury crises.
Goal-shy Chelsea have failed to score now in back-to-back games, losing limply against Nottingham Forest here a fortnight ago before then playing out a tedious stalemate with Bournemouth on the south coast.
Pochettino must get his undermanned attack firing today if the Blues are to kick on from their lowly 14th position in the early going.
Goals are not typically a problem for Aston Villa, who sit seventh after three wins this term and produced a stunning late comeback to thwart Crystal Palace at home last week.
However, they were left licking their wounds in Europe on Thursday after Unai Emery tinkered too much with a side that went down 3-2 away at Legia Warsaw in their Conference League opener.
Kick-off in west London is at 2pm BST, so stay tuned for all the latest match build-up, team news and live updates, with analysis from Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge.
