Chelsea continue their ongoing hectic schedule on Boxing Day when they face Aston Villa in the Premier League.
While the Blues sit in third position, Villa's recent resurgence has moved them up to 10th spot, and here, Sports Mole takes a look at the team news ahead of the encounter in the West Midlands.
ASTON VILLA vs. CHELSEA
© Reuters
ASTON VILLA
Out: Marvelous Nakamba (knee), Bertrand Traore (thigh), Leon Bailey (thigh)
Doubtful: Anwar El Ghazi (coronavirus), Morgan Sanson (coronavirus), Emiliano Buendia (ankle), Ashley Young (unspecified), Jed Steer (coronavirus)
Sports Mole's predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Young
CHELSEA
Out: Ben Chilwell (knee)
Doubtful: Callum Hudson-Odoi (coronavirus), Romelu Lukaku (coronavirus), Timo Werner (coronavirus), Kai Havertz (coronavirus), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (coronavirus), Hakim Ziyech (calf), Andreas Christensen (back)
Sports Mole's predicted XI: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Rudgier; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Kante, Mount; Pulisic
Darren Plant
