Aston Villa vs Chelsea: Prediction, TV, live stream, kick-off time, h2h results, team news for Premier League

Gerrard will miss the game after testing positive for Covid.

While Chelsea’s recent run of form might not have been so damaging to any title hopes in a bygone era, the standards set by both Manchester City and Liverpool over the last few seasons leaves Thomas Tuchel chasing.

Six points off the top, the Blues clearly need to start making up some ground.

Standing in their way are a Villa side reborn under Gerrard thus far. Though it should be said his team have lost to both City and Liverpool, in neither game were they blown apart, which could well be a problem for Chelsea.

Struggling to break teams down at the moment, it looks like a difficult task. Slip up here and, while there is still so much more to play for, it’s difficult to see a way in which they can keep the pace heading into the proverbial business end of the campaign.

The Premier League game is scheduled for a 5.30pm GMT kick-off on Sunday December 26, 2021.

Villa Park in Birmingham will host.

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Ultra HD and Sky Showcase.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers will be able to watch the game through the Sky Go app.

LIVE coverage: Get minute-by-minute updates through Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog. James Robson will be providing updates.

Chelsea XI: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kante, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi.

Subs: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Sarr, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Lukaku, Ziyech.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Ramsey, Sanson, Douglas Luiz, Buendia; Ings, Watkins.

Subs: Steer, Tuanzebe, Hause, Iroegbunam, Chukwuemeka, Traore, Trezeguet, Davis, El Ghazi.

Given Chelsea’s struggles to score goals of late, as well as Villa’s ability to dig deep against the title challengers they’ve faced thus far, a draw seems a likely outcome.

Chelsea wins: 66

Aston Villa wins: 58