Aston Villa vs Chelsea

Third-placed Chelsea travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa in a tasty-looking Premier League fixture on Boxing Day.

Aston Villa have won four of their six Premier League matches under new boss Steven Gerrard (L2), though they’ve alternated between victory and defeat across their last five league outings (W3, L2). Since being held to a 1-1 draw to the league newcomers Brentford in late August, none of Villa’s subsequent 14 Premier League games have ended level (W6, L8), their longest run without a draw in English league football since 1998. The ‘Lions’ have failed to get on the scoresheet just once in their last 14 Premier League home outings, finding the back of the net at least once in the last nine in a row since a scoreless draw with Everton in May. Adding to their confidence, Villa came out 2-1 victors in this exact fixture in 2020/21, last winning back-to-back home league H2Hs in 2004.

Meanwhile, Chelsea pulled off a 2-0 away win at Brentford in midweek Carabao Cup action to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches (W2, D3). However, the ‘Blues’ have drawn their last two Premier League games as they face the prospect of going three consecutive top-flight fixtures without winning for the first time under current boss Thomas Tuchel. Worryingly, though, the reigning Champions League holders have lost their last two Premier League matches on Boxing Day, falling to a two-goal margin on both occasions. Following a run of five successive away league victories by an aggregate score of 12-1, Chelsea have failed to win their last two Premier League games on hostile turf (D1, L1), drawing a blank after half-time each time.