English Premier League: Chelsea vs. Aston Villa Preview
Team News
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed that youngster Jeffery Bruma will make his first full Premier League debut against Aston Villa today. After a series of bad results, Ancelotti is willing to take some risks and rotate the squad, which could change
their recent run of poor performances. Bruma will have a tough task ahead of him as he braces himself to replace http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Branislav-Ivanovic-c7994, who is serving suspension for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Bolton.
The young replacement has had starts for the Blues and is fast reaching maturity having also started in other competitions. He started in the Carling Cup and the Champions League for Ancelotti’s side and made a fantastic impression on the Italian coach.
The former AC Milan boss backed Blues skipper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/John-Terry-c18895 to help Bruma through his first Premier League start. He reiterated that when he spoke to reporters, “For Bruma, it will be fantastic support to have Terry alongside. He trained very well, he knows how
he has to move but, with John Terry, it will be easier to move.”
Ancelotti will be without the services of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/John-Obi-Mikel-c18882, who is confirmed to be out for another three weeks after he strained his knee ligaments during the 3-1 loss to London rivals Arsenal. The holding midfielder was an important part of the team which
won the double last season, but with the return of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniel-Sturridge-c10076 prepares to
make a comeback after he returned to training with the squad.
Aston Villa will have two important players returning after injury, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Emile-Heskey-c12468. It is expected the duo could play an important part in the match today, as Villa will receive a great boost with the return of Young and Heskey. Young missed
the last two fixtures because of a knee problem which he picked up during the win over West Brom, while Heskey seems to have recovered from the ankle injury he suffered during the Boxing Day fixture against Tottenham Hotspurs. The rest of the squad is reported
to be fit, except for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luke-Young-c22938, who looks likely to be ruled out with a hip and groin injury.
Match Facts
Aston Villa have not managed to win a single match and have lost six out of their last eight fixtures against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. This season, Villa have lost five out of their last six fixtures in the Premier League. Currently
they also have a record of conceding the most goals from set pieces, which happens to be 13 more than any other side in the Premier League. This is their worst campaign since the 1994-1995 season, where they had fewer points after 19 games into the season.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Houllier’s side have managed to score just one goal in their last five away Premier League fixtures.
Defending champions Chelsea are in a somewhat in a similar situation, this season their points tally is the lowest since the 2001-2002 season. Their 1-0 win over a stubborn Bolton on Boxing Day ended their winless run in the Premier League, which stretched
to six games. Starting out strong and scoring 27 goals in their first 10 games in the Premier League this season, the Blues seem to have fizzled out and have only managed to score nine goals since then. Since October, Chelsea have not scored more than once
in a Premier League fixture. However, Blues star midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Frank-Lampard-c14097 has a habit of scoring against the Villains, having scored nine goals against them which is more than against any other opposition in the Premier League.
Possible Starting XI
Chelsea (probable, 4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ramires-c30523, Essien, Lampard; Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.
Aston Villa (probable, 4-5-1): Friedel; Lichaj, Cuellar, Collins, Warnock; Delph, Albrighton, Downing, Bannan; Agbonlahor.
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