How Chelsea Could Line Up Against Aston Villa And Break Their Defence

Chelsea will be desperate to quickly recover from their chastening defeat at Arsenal when they welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge for Monday’s Premier League showdown.

The Blues were simply outclassed by an Arsenal side languishing in the bottom half of the table, with Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka all on target while Tammy Abraham netted a late consolation for Chelsea

In contrast, Villa head to Stamford Bridge following a resounding 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, with Dean Smith’s side playing the second 45 with 10 men on Boxing Day.

Chelsea go into the visit of Villa hoping to record their seventh consecutive win over the West Midlands outfit – with manager Lampard the top scorer in this fixture with 14 goals to his name – and Villa’s most recent win at Stamford Bridge came on New Year’s Eve in 2011.

Both teams only have 48 hours to recover from their Boxing Day fixtures, and Lampard will certainly look to rotate after a performance which he claimed was simply “not good enough” against Arsenal.

Reece James and Ben Chilwell both passed late fitness tests to start at the Emirates, but Cesar Azpilicueta and Emerson Palmieri may be called upon for this one as Lampard hopes to avoid any more injury problems for his two first-choice left-backs.

Possible Chelsea line-up to face Aston Villa:Mendy; Silva, Zouma, Chilwell; Kante, Jorginho, Havertz; Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Pulisic.

Mendy will be starting again in today’s match ahead of Arizabalaga in the goal keeper position

Thiago Silva will partner up with Kurt Zouma in the centre back position

Ngolo Kante will be playing in the defensive midfielder position in today’s match against Aston Villa

Oliver Giroud will be starting in the striker position against Aston Villa

Frello Jorginho will play alongside Kai Havertz in the attacking midfielder position

Emerson will feature for his side in a left back position against Aston Villa

Azpilicueta will be starting in the right back position in today’s match against Aston Villa

Hudson Odoi will be playing in the left forwarder position

Christian Pulisic will be playing in the right forwarder position in today’s match against Aston Villa

Substitution

Kepa Arizabalaga

Anjorin

Tammy Abraham

Timo Werner

Reece James

Kovacic

Mason Mount

Rudiger

Ben Chilwel