Premier League preview: Aston Villa v Chelsea
Just when it seemed like Chelsea were this relentless, unstoppable force of football nature, Manchester City proved that the reigning champions are still fallible.
Thanks to a resolute defensive performance, an industrious midfield, a stroke of good fortune and Carlos Tévez, Roberto Mancini’s side became the first team of the season to not only take points off Chelsea, but also the first to beat them.
Now it’s Aston Villa’s turn to face Carlo Ancelotti’s well-oiled ultra-professional machine – and for Gérard Houllier, his first major test since arriving at Villa Park in September. The Frenchman has enjoyed a decent start on his return to the Premier League with a win against Blackburn in the Carling Cup and victory over West Midlands rivals Wolves. A 2-1 defeat against Tottenham a fortnight ago was the first disappointment of his tenure, but Houllier could eradicate those memories on Saturday evening with a surprise win over the champions.
News that Frank Lampard is set to miss the match after failing to overcome a groin injury will certainly buoy the Villa manager. The England midfielder has scored nine goals against the team from Birmingham – more than against any other club - and the last time the two sides met, Lampard smashed in four goals past the hapless Brad Friedel in a 7-1 trouncing of the Villains.
That was in March, as Chelsea bulldozed their way to their third Premier League title. But much has happened since then. Not least Martin O’Neill’s departure from Villa Park, which so far, hasn’t affected the club in the manner that many had expected it to.
Blues captain John Terry is also a doubt following the back injury which ruled him out of England’s 0-0 draw against Montenegro on Tuesday evening, and so is the defender who fired in that thunderbolt of a free-kick in Chelsea’s last Premier League win against Arsenal – Alex.
Suggestions that the tenacious Michael Essien could be withdrawn from midfield to bolster the defence is yet more music to Houllier’s ears – given that the towering Emile Heskey, who has enjoyed a renaissance in recent weeks, will lead the line - but the former Liverpool boss has more than enough experienced to anticipate a few surprises with the Chelsea starting line-up.
He will also fully appreciate the fact that the Blues have strength in depth in every area of the pitch. With an average of 3.2 goals per game, Chelsea have consistently shown that hitting the back of the net is not a problem, while their defensive record is just as admirable: Ancelotti’s men have conceded just two league goals so far this season.
Although the raw stats do make for worrying reading for Aston Villa, the club’s supporters have become accustomed to seeing Chelsea defeated at Villa Park in recent years. In the last eight Premier League matches between the two clubs, Villa have lost just once and have won four times, which ranks among the best out of any team inside the top-flight.
Plus the fact that their home form this season has also been impressive. The Villains are undefeated on home turf so far, and have conceded just once in their first three matches at Villa Park.
Should Chelsea end that record on Saturday, it will be a significant statement of intent from the title holders, as they bid to make it back-to-back league victories. But with the prospect of Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal not too far behind them in the table, any slip-up could prove costly.
Ancelotti won’t be prepared to take any risks. The composed Italian has already proven himself to be the true successor to José Mourinho that the club so desperately craved, and come the end of Saturday, it could well be another case of ‘job done’ for the militant Chelsea manager.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1 Chelsea 2
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