Sources confirm Enzo Maresca will not be on the Stamford Bridge touchline tomorrow. The Chelsea boss serves a one-match ban following his yellow card protests during the Newcastle draw.
His absence coincides with the biggest test of the Blues' top-four credentials: Aston Villa arrive riding a ten-match winning streak.
Understanding is Villa can equal a club record dating back to 1897 with victory in west London. That's not a typo. One hundred and twenty-eight years since the Villans last strung together eleven consecutive wins.
The numbers tell the story. Villa have won seven straight in the league, scoring freely and conceding minimally. Morgan Rogers has transformed from promising youngster to genuine match-winner, scoring braces against West Ham and Manchester United in successive fixtures. He's now directly involved in ten Premier League goals this season—more than any other English player.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have won just once in their last five league outings. The defensive fragility that saw them concede twice at St James' Park remains a concern, particularly without Moisés Caicedo, who serves his own suspension.
Team news: Liam Delap and Estêvão Willian return from injury for Chelsea. Cole Palmer declared fit for 90 minutes. Reece James expected to feature at right-back rather than the experimental midfield role.
Villa report no fresh injury concerns. Ross Barkley (knee), Tyrone Mings (hamstring), and Pau Torres (calf) remain out. Evann Guessand called up to AFCON as Sebastien Haller's replacement, ruling him out.
Contract situation developing around Morgan Rogers. Sources indicate interest from multiple top clubs, though Villa adamant their talisman is not for sale in January. His current deal runs until 2027.
The bookmakers initially made Chelsea favorites but money has shifted significantly toward Villa in recent days. Draw now represents genuine value at 14/5 given both teams' attacking quality and defensive questions.
Kick-off 17:30 GMT. This one could determine who challenges for the title and who settles for top four.
