Barclays Premier League: Aston Villa vs Chelsea - Preview
Both sides have injury problems going into the important fixture. The home side Aston Villa is waiting on a late fitness test to decide Emile Heskey’s fate. Heskey has been facing calf and shin problems which he picked up two weeks
ago, it is yet to be seen if Heskey will feature against the Blues.
Gerard Houllier claimed in a press conference that he believed Heskey was as good as Chelsea’s striker Didier Drogba, but with Drogba out with a fever and Heskey in doubt, we will not see the two strikers go head to head today.
Gabriel Agbonlahor is also out, and so John Carew will most likely be leading the attack for Villa.
Carlo Ancelotti has bigger injury problems than Houllier; Ancelotti will have to make do without six important players and because of that he has had to change the squad around. Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Yossi Benayoun, Salomon
Kalou, Daniel Sturridge and Alex are all unavailable for the trip to Villa Park.
Drogba has come down with a fever and Lampard has yet to recover from his groin injury, the two Chelsea stars can be expected back shortly. There is no guarantee about the return of the others though, except for Yossi Benayoun,
who is set to have surgery this Monday and is expected to be out for six months after that.
However, the Blues have some good news with the return of Captain John Terry. Terry withdrew himself from the 2012 Euro qualifier against Montenegro because of back pain, but the defender seems to be fit again and will be crucial
in this away fixture. Also, Gael Kakuta will get a chance to impress as he finds himself in the starting 11.
Gerard Houllier managed a win last time he faced the Blues; it was back in 2004 when he was in charge of Liverpool. Things have changed since then; the Blues are now a much different side. They won their first ever double last
season and are currently four points clear at the top of the league.
However, Villa have a good record at Villa Park, especially against the Blues. Houllier’s side will take some comfort in the fact that Frank Lampard is unavailable; the England midfielder has a habit of scoring against them and
has scored more against them than any other Premier League side.
Match Facts
· This will be the 141st meeting between Aston Villa and Chelsea. Villa have 55 wins, Chelsea 53 and the two have drawn 32 times.
· Aston Villa have only lost once in their last 11 fixtures against the Blues at Villa Park. Their last loss was in February 2009.
· Gerard Houllier’s side has only lost one of their last 12 League fixtures at home, Villa Park.
· Villa have committed 118 fouls; more than other Premier League side but they have just 14 yellow cards and no red cards.
· The three teams that Aston Villa beat this season are all at the bottom of the table, in the relegation zone.
· The Blues have not lost consecutive matches in the Premier League since their 2-1 loss at Villa Park last year in October.
· Manchester City are the only side this season who managed to keep a clean sheet against the Blues; they have scored in the rest of their last 26 fixtures.
· Florent Malouda has been provider for his teammates some 19 times this season, he has been creating chances but has not actually assisted in any of their goals.
Possible Starting XI
Aston Villa: Friedel; L Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Downing; A Young; John Carew.
Subs: Guzan, Beye, Cuéllar, Hogg, Sidwell, Lichaj, Ireland, Clark, Delfouneso, Bannan.
Chelsea: Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, John Terry, Ashley Cole; Michael Essien, Mikel, Ramires, Gael Kakuta, Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda.
Subs: Hilário, Turnbull, Bosingwa, Bruma, McEachran, Zhirkov, Borini, Van Aanholt, Mellis.
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