Chelsea will hope to take advantage of Aston Villa’s poor recent run. Gerard Houllier’s side has lost five of their last six Premier League games, the only exception the 2-1 home win over West Brom.
Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Bolton was welcome; it was their first win and clean sheet in seven games since they beat West London neighbours Fulham at Stamford Bridge in November.
When the teams met at Villa Park in October, they drew 0-0. But in the last clash at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea won 7-1 last season, when Frank Lampard scored four goals, including two penalties.
That win took Chelsea to within a point of leaders Manchester United and they went on to steal the title.

But they begin the New Year in fourth place, albeit just four points adrift of pole position.

Villa’s Premier League record at Stamford Bridge is not great. In 18 visits, they have won four, but the most recent was in May 2002.
Since then they have played there eight times and lost six. The fixture usually has a surprise; on Boxing Day 2007, it ended 4-4 and three players were sent off.

Chelsea are still without Yuri Zhirkov, Yossi Benayoun and Alex, while they test John Obi Mikel, who missed the Bolton win. But Branislav Ivanovic is banned after collecting his fifth caution of the season on Wednesday.

Villa test Luke Young, Ashley Young and Emile Heskey while Houllier could consider a recall for Richard Dunne and John Carew. Habib Beye and Andreas Weimann are both missing through injury.

Chelsea (probable, 4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Ferreira, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Essien, Lampard; Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.

Aston Villa (probable, 4-5-1): Friedel; Lichaj, Cuellar, Collins, Warnock; Delph, Albrighton, Downing, Bannan; Agbonlahor.

Referee: Lee Mason.

Another victory for us, who are ya?

, until den,

Two teams going through rough times.
Logically this should be a draw but i seriously hope Chelsea wins this.

BlueDiva:

Two teams going through rough times.
Logically this should be a draw but i seriously hope Chelsea wins this.

chelsea is currently in mumu number five on the league table and i pray they stay there at the end of the match

I Miss u switch47. . . .

Chavz 1 - 3 A.Villa

allboyz:

I Miss u switch47. . . .

Chavz 1 - 3 A.Villa

I'm with you

Another 7-1 win for chelsea

allboyz:

I Miss u switch47. . . .

Chavz 1 - 3 A.Villa

  may your dayz be long !!Chelsea is currently NUMBER FIVE on the table   and a draw will be sufficient to keep them there like i predicted earlier that they will soon be in Number 5 strugling for top four place----------lets hope Aston villa can at least do what is needed to make this blood money chelsea team to rmain in 5th place!! it is not by power lets pray for aston Villa against this satanic team   Let the villa boys be at their best perhaps chelsea can manage to qualify for EOropa league!!   Aston villa all the way   at least to STEAL POINTS off chelsea

chelsea una go hear am 2day

19 year old broom start for chelski

Wow ramires start sha

hope we win ds

Wow did bruma dey try o,chelsea just dey waste the guy talent

I was thinking Kakuta will start ahead of Nic. He is clearly not in this game so far. . .

The EPL is brutal.  See as Petrov clear Florence. boy!

Penarityyyyyyyyyyyy!

Who will take this?

LAMPSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! GOAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

Chelsea dont believe in their young star

ope o

Let see how this game end

Don't know why AV players are complaining. They are playing rough. na wetin!

4 yellow cards already. Interesting. . .

37 mins on the clock. . .

u c

Penalty to AV.

What was Essien thinking? gosh! and PF sef? why not clear the ball out?

1 - 1

haha! another yellow card.

yellow cards
AV - 5
CFC -1

A red card to come soon?

Very stupid mistake by Essien.

Interesting

Another yellow card.

smh

Is it me or is Essien tired?

Highly uneventful 48 mins of football littered with mistakes.
Yellow cards and 2 penalties. finito.

I mean these guys are professionals, so why can't they play 90 mins of "professional" football huh?

half tym. crappy first 45