Two clubs whose European hopes are in freefall clash as Chelsea travel to visit Aston Villa on Saturday in a critical Premier League matchup. Both sides are desperate for points to stop recent skids and reignite hopes of a push for European places.
Chelsea seemed to have turned things around with wins over Wolves and West Ham, but an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at Brighton last time out leaves them still with just the two victories across their last nine.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, could only be so happy about the point taken off leaders Liverpool midweek. In a vacuum, a draw against the Reds is a strongly respectable outcome, but it came as the home side blew a halftime lead at Villa Park, and it leaves them without a win in their last five league games.
Chelsea are in a more recoverable position, sitting sixth and level with fifth-placed Bournemouth in the race for a Champions League place, but they have to stop the bleeding if they wish to finish in such a position. Aston Villa, meanwhile, are down in ninth, in danger of falling too far behind to make a late-season push.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.
Aston Villa vs. Chelsea lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
Matty Cash returned from injury to see minutes off the bench against Liverpool on Wednesday, and he gets a start here. Ezri Konsa also returns to the lineup, while Leon Bailey makes the matchday squad.
Boubacar Kamara also missed the midweek match, and while he's close to a return ("not a lot" according to Unai Emery), he misses out again here. Amadou Onana is down for a few weeks with a hamstring injury, but Emery was unclear whether it will be a short recovery or closer to a month on the shelf.
Aston Villa starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): E. Martinez (GK) — Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen — McGinn, Tielemans — Asensio, Rogers, Ramsey — Watkins
Injured: Barkley (calf), Kamara (muscle), Onana (hamstring), P. Torres (foot).
Suspended: None
MORE: All the latest Chelsea news | 2024/25 Premier League top goal scorers list | Premier League schedule for 2024/25
Chelsea are scrambling at striker after long-term injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, leaving the struggling Christopher Nkunku to man the position.
Those two are far from it, however, as the Blues are struggling with a lengthy injury list. Noni Madueke suffered a hamstring injury this week and is out for significant time, joining Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, and Benoit Badiashile on the shelf.
Interestingly, Maresca seems to be going with a formation change. The lineup indicates the Blues might start in a 3-4-3 here, with Reece James at right centre-back.
Chelsea starting lineup (3-4-3, right to left): Jorgensen (GK) — James, Chalobah, Colwill — Gusto, Caicedo, Fernandez, Cucurella — Palmer, Nkunku, Neto
Injured: Jackson (hamstring), Guiu (hamstring), Madueke (hamstring), Lavia (thigh), W. Fofana (thigh), Badiashile (thigh)
Suspended: Mudryk (doping)
Aston Villa vs. Chelsea live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Sat, Feb. 22 | 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT | NBC, Universo, Telemundo | Fubo |
| Canada | Sat, Feb. 22 | 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT | — | Fubo Canada |
| UK | Sat, Feb. 22 | 5:30 p.m. GMT | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League | Sky Go Extra |
| Australia | Sun, Feb. 23 | 4:30 a.m. ADST | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Sat, Feb. 22 | 10:30 p.m. IST | Star Sports Select 1 | Disney+ Hotstar, JioCinema |
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