Date: Saturday 27th April, 2024
Time: 8:00 pm
Stadium Villa Park
Referee Craig Pawson (England)
Goal Scorer:
Aston Villa
Unai Emery has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Chelsea on Saturday, the Aston Villa manager will be bereft of the services of six first-team players.
Douglas Luiz is back after serving a two-match suspension. As for the absentees, Alex Moreno (calf) is the only player likely to return before the season ends. So, Tyrone Mings (knee), Jacob Ramsey (toe), Boubacar Kamara (knee), Nicolo Zaniolo (knock), and Emiliano Buendia (knee) have likely played their final game of the campaign.
Emiliano Martinez will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Aston Villa lining up in a 4-4-1-1 formation in front of him against Chelsea. The backline should feature Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, and Lucas Digne.
As for the midfield unit, Douglas Luiz should return to the starting eleven, pairing up with Youri Tielemans in the middle of the park. Leon Bailey, Morgan Rogers, and John McGinn should provide the forward thrust and bring the creative impetus in the final third. Ollie Watkins will lead the line for Aston Villa on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Luiz, Tielemans, Rogers; McGinn; Watkins
Chelsea
Like his counterpart in the Aston Villa dugout, Mauricio Pochettino has greeted a positive update ahead of the trip to Villa Park. The Chelsea manager will be without nine first-team players on Saturday.
Cole Palmer (illness) and Ben Chilwell (knee) should be in the matchday squad to take on Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Robert Sanchez (illness), Levi Colwill (knee), Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Malo Gusto (knee), Romeo Lavia (hamstring), Lesley Ugochukwu (thigh), and Christopher Nkunku (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
However, there is a fresh concern hampering Pochettino’s preparations, with Enzo Fernandez undergoing groin surgery. So, Conor Gallagher will pair up with Moises Caicedo in the double pivot in the middle of the park. The returning Cole Palmer will thus reprise the no. 10 role, with Noni Madueke and Raheem Sterling being the two wide attackers.
Nicolas Jackson will lead the line for Chelsea against Aston Villa. As for the defensive unit, Axel Disasi will start as the makeshift right-back, joining Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva, and Marc Cucurella in the backline. Finally, there is no looking past Djordje Petrovic between the sticks.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Disasi, Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Sterling; Jackson
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
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