Chelsea travel to Aston Villa on Boxing Day aiming to get their stuttering title defence back on track. The Blues are currently in so...
Chelsea travel to Aston Villa on Boxing Day aiming to get their stuttering title defence back on track. The Blues are currently in somewhat of a tricky period having won just two out of their last six Premier League games. That run of form has seen Thomas Tuchel ’s men fall six points behind current Premier League leaders Manchester City, who face Leicester City on Boxing Day.
A win against the Villains then would go a long way in re-establishing the Blues among the title contenders, and some pundits are backing them to do just that, albeit in what is a crucial game for the current European champions. Speaking to the BBC, former Liverpool man Mark Lawrenson said:
“It is hard to make a prediction when you don't know who is available for either team, but Chelsea should still be the stronger side. “Villa will give it a good go, just as they did when they played Manchester City at Villa Park a few weeks ago, but, like City did, Chelsea should still find a way to win.
"It has not been a great few weeks for Thomas
Tuchel's side for various reasons - he clearly felt
last week's game with Wolves should have been
postponed - but I wouldn't be surprised if they put
together a bit of a run now. Their game against
Liverpool on 2 January is going to be very
interesting.”
Meanwhile, Paul Merson shares a similar opinion. He believes that Chelsea now have no room for error amid their battle for the Premier League crown and is of the opinion that the Blues will run out victors at Villa Park. Speaking to SportsKeeda, he said:
“Chelsea have got to win now. Draws are no good. If they draw and City win, Chelsea will be eight points behind. That means Manchester City will need to lose thrice without Chelsea dropping points. Attack, attack, attack. That has to be Chelsea’s only approach this weekend.
“It’s been a strange season for Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea. There have been certain games where you’d think Lukaku was surely needed, but he’s gone off the board. He hasn’t scored in several Premier League games, and these are worrying signs for Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Paul Merson shares a similar opinion. He believes that Chelsea now have no room for error amid their battle for the Premier League crown and is of the opinion that the Blues will run out victors at Villa Park. Speaking to SportsKeeda, he said:
“Chelsea have got to win now. Draws are no good. If they draw and City win, Chelsea will be eight points behind. That means Manchester City will need to lose thrice without Chelsea dropping points. Attack, attack, attack. That has to be Chelsea’s only approach this weekend.
“It’s been a strange season for Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea. There have been certain games where you’d think Lukaku was surely needed, but he’s gone off the board. He hasn’t scored in several Premier League games, and these are worrying signs for Chelsea.
“Aston Villa have been brilliant under Steven
Gerrard and they’ve improved defensively. Chelsea
have firepower in their ranks, however, and there
are no two ways about it – they need this victory.”
Elsewhere, Michael Owen is not so convinced about Chelsea’s chances of winning on Boxing Day. He is backing Villa to spring a surprise following their improvement immediately after the appointment of Steven Gerrard.
“I’m delighted to see Steven Gerrard do so well at Villa. He’s a huge presence and a big character, he looks to have galvanised Villa. The likes of Watkins and McGinn are beginning to find their form again since he took charge. Villa aren’t far off the top eight and I wouldn’t rule them out for that," he told BetVictor .
“Chelsea are in their worst form of the season and possibly since Thomas Tuchel took charge. With just one win in their last four, they find themselves six points off Man City, which even at this stage of the season, is a big hurdle.
Elsewhere, Michael Owen is not so convinced about Chelsea’s chances of winning on Boxing Day. He is backing Villa to spring a surprise following their improvement immediately after the appointment of Steven Gerrard.
“I’m delighted to see Steven Gerrard do so well at Villa. He’s a huge presence and a big character, he looks to have galvanised Villa. The likes of Watkins and McGinn are beginning to find their form again since he took charge. Villa aren’t far off the top eight and I wouldn’t rule them out for that," he told BetVictor .
“Chelsea are in their worst form of the season and possibly since Thomas Tuchel took charge. With just one win in their last four, they find themselves six points off Man City, which even at this stage of the season, is a big hurdle.
“More dropped points for Chelsea will make it
difficult to win the league. I can see this Villa side
frustrating them and getting a point. I fancy a 1-1
draw.”
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