Chelsea
entertain Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon looking to
kick-start their stuttering campaign with a much-needed win.
Both sides head into this clash struggling near the foot of the Premier
League, with the champions in an unfamiliar 16th position, while Tim
Sherwood's men are below them in the relegation zone.
And the Blues - who welcome back striker Diego Costa from suspension - will
be hoping to avoid back-to-back league defeats at home for the first time
under boss Jose Mourinho following their 2-1 loss to Southampton last time
out.
However, if Chelsea are to get back to winning ways, then they will need to
tighten up at the back, with only relegation-threatened Sunderland having
conceded more top-flight goals than Mourinho's side so far this season.
The visitors arrive in the capital though on the back of four successive
league defeats, all by a one-goal margin, while a fifth could see them
propping up the table by the end of the weekend.
Team news
Chelsea will be without defender Branislav Ivanovic after the Serbia
international injured his hamstring while away on international duty last
week and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remains sidelined with a knee problem.
Mourinho said he will consider Azpilicueta, Zouma, Ramires, or Ola Aina for
a starting role as a consequence of this injury. He also added that Ruben
Loftus-Cheek is ready to start this weekend.
Villa hope to have both Adama Traore and Gabriel Agbonlahor available again
after ankle and calf injuries respectively.
However, this game has come too quickly for the likes of Ciaran Clark
(thigh), Gary Gardner (foot) and Jores Okore (knee).
Opta stats
Twelve of the 23 teams to be 16th after eight Premier League games have been
relegated, while no side has finished higher than fifth (Everton 2008/09).
Chelsea have conceded at least two goals in seven of their eight Premier
League games this season (the other game was a 2-0 win against Arsenal).
Villa have not kept a Premier League clean sheet at Stamford Bridge since
March 1998, conceding 30 times in their last eight at the west London venue.
Sherwood's side have scored in their last nine away league games; the
longest current run in the top-flight.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have scored in their last 23 home league matches; also
the longest current run of its kind in the Premier League.
Merson's prediction
The perfect game for Chelsea to bounce back, but I said that for the
Southampton game a fortnight ago. Here I'd really expect them to win though,
and easily.
Villa are in a spot of bother at the moment, but I believe Tim Sherwood
should be given time, I don't see any point in sacking him. But they haven't
had the hardest start, and now they have some really tough games to contend
with. Tim just needs to get those new players gelling more, they haven't hit
the ground running.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)
top