Chelsea Restart Top Four Pursuit at Aston Villa

Chelsea travel to Villa Park Sunday at 4:15 pm to restart their top-four chase against relegation battling Aston Villa. Entering the weekend, Chelsea sit fourth with 48 points, with a slim margin over fifth-place Manchester United.

Chelsea Restart Top Four Pursuit at Aston Villa

Top Four Race Restart

Chelsea will want a fast start to the match and restart as they find themselves right in the thick of a fight for Champions League qualification.

The first 29 games of the season and this upcoming nine-game sprint seem extremely disconnected. With more than 100 days between their last league match, a 4-0 win over Everton in March, and this Sunday’s restart, “recent” form doesn’t exist, let alone matter.

What does matter is that manager Frank Lampard has had a better-than-expected first season. Without much experience himself, none in a top-flight as the gaffer, and blooding a myriad of young players, expectations were low. And so far Chelsea has exceeded those.

Attack has looked good at times with Tammy Abraham impressing with 13 goals at centre forward. Mason Mount has linked play well. And Christian Pulisic had a month-long run where he was the most potent attacker.

Defence, though, has been shaky, allowing late goals and giving up leads on several occasions. Set pieces have also been a nightmare for the Blues.

How will they come out of the blocks Sunday? Against a poor Villa side that drew at home to Sheffield United Wednesday – although, they should have lost, saved only by a lack of Goal Line Technology and VAR – Chelsea should be licking their lips.

Attack should be focused on one thing, taking advantage of a poor defence. Villa have conceded 56 goals, almost two per game. Defensively, Chelsea will have to hone in on Jack Grealish and the now fit attacking midfielder John McGinn.

Team News

Lampard announced at his pre-match press conference Friday that midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is ready to go. The England international hasn’t made an appearance this season but has been given second life with the delayed ending to the season. Loftus-Cheek tore his Achilles last year during a friendly in the US. And since, he has suffered a couple of setbacks during rehab.

N’Golo Kante is also available for selection. The World Cup winner returned to full-contact training much later than his teammates due to personal health concerns due to the coronavirus. But, he is at least fit enough for the bench, if not a start.

Pedro is, on paper, fit for the match. However, it’s unlikely he’ll play as he’s already agreed to join Roma next season and is “unwilling” to play again for the Blues.

Jorginho will miss the match through suspension for yellow card accumulation. Defender Fikayo Tomori and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi will miss the match. Tomori picked up a muscle injury in training this week. And Hudson-Odoi is not quite ready for competitive action.

In the other dugout, on-loan midfielder Danny Drinkwater cannot play for the Villans against his parent club.