Chelsea will aim to bounce back from their midweek humiliation against Arsenal when they face Aston Villa this weekend, live on talkSPORT.
The Blues were beaten 5-0 at the Emirates on Tuesday, with the result bringing a damning end to what seemed like a turnaround in form in recent weeks.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were unbeaten since February in the Premier League heading into the London derby before crashing down to earth.
They will have to return to winning ways quickly if they want to steal a European place but they now face a very tough task against top-four hopefuls Villa.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea: Wonderful Watkins
Ollie Watkins could potentially win the Golden Boot this season.
He has 19 goals to his name and sits only one behind current scoring leaders Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer.
The 28-year-old is in the form of his life and he looks set to book himself a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euros.
But before that, he wants to finish the campaign strongly with Villa and he’ll be aiming to continue his scoring against Chelsea.
Watkins has scored in his last two league meetings with Pochettino’s men, netting the winner in a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
If he makes it three from three, he will become the first-ever Villa player to score in three games in a row against the Blues.
- Chelsea have lost their two league games against Aston Villa, as many as they had in their previous 16 (W13 D1). They’ve not lost more consecutively against the Villans since a run of four between 1978 and 1984.
- Aston Villa are looking to complete their first league double over Chelsea since 1989-90, when the Blues were a newly promoted side, and the Villans eventually finished the season in second place.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea: Team news
Douglas Luiz will be back for Unai Emery‘s side after serving his two-game suspension.
Jacob Ramsey remains a doubt while Alex Moreno, Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia will all continue their recovery.
As for Chelsea, they will be desperate for Palmer to return from illness.
He missed their defeat to Arsenal along with Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell, with all three hoping they won’t be ruled out for another game.
Christopher Nkunku is closing in on full fitness again but Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Reece James and Wesley Fofana all remain long-term absentees.
- Chelsea won 3-1 against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the FA Cup this season – the last team to beat the Villans twice on the road in the same campaign were Tottenham Hotspur in 2013-14.
- Chelsea have won seven of their last nine Premier League away games against Aston Villa (L2), more than they had in their first 19 visits to Villa Park in the competition (W6 D7 L6).
Aston Villa vs Chelsea: What has been said?
Pochettino did not hold back on his Chelsea team after they were heavily beaten by Arsenal.
Giving his thoughts on the mauling to talkSPORT’s Sam Matterface, he said: “It’s difficult to explain.
“We started the first half in a very bad way, we showed no energy and we didn’t compete, and in the second half we started in the same way.
“We were speaking a lot at half time trying to fix that situation, but it was so easy for Arsenal to score two [quick] goals in the second half.”
He continued: “We didn’t compete like a team, that is so clear. We are inconsistent for different reasons.
“To start the game in the way that we started is not acceptable, that is the problem.
“After 70/80 minutes, OK you are tired and don’t have the energy, but it was the start of the game.
“The way that we started was really painful, and I feel so disappointed because if we want to compete, we don’t only have to go there and play football, we also have to have more energy and focus.
“That is the most difficult thing to explain.”
- Only at Old Trafford (10) and the King Power Stadium (7) has Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling played more Premier League games without scoring a goal than he has at Villa Park (5).
- Having lost his first Premier League meeting with Chelsea in just his second ever game in charge in the competition in August 2018, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has won each of his last three against the Blues without his side’s conceding a single goal.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea: talkSPORT coverage
This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, April 27.
Kick-off at Villa Park is scheduled for 8pm.
talkSPORT will have EXCLUSIVE live coverage of the game presented by Faye Carruthers.
Commentary will come from Joe Shennan and former England defender Micky Gray.