Aston Villa v Chelsea

Chelsea's six first team players not available, can they keep hold of the top seat in the premier league table

Match Facts

1. Chelsea have fired in more shots on target (54) than any other team in the top flight.
2. Aston Villa have committed 118 fouls, more than any other team in the Premier League.
3. Didier Drogba has set up five goals, the join-most in the Premier League along with Nani.
4. Villa have dropped eight points this season from winning positions, the joint-most in the Premier League.
5. 78% of the goals Villa have scored have been netted in the first half, a higher percentage than any other team.
6. Aston Villa have lost only one of their last 12 Premier League matches at Villa Park
7. Aston Villa have lost only one of their last 11 Premier League home games against Chelsea
8. Chelsea haven’t lost back to back away Premier League games since 17 October 2009 when they went down 1-2 at Villa Park.
9. Frank Lampard has scored nine Premier League goals against Aston Villa, more than against any other team.
10. Only one team (Manchester City) has prevented Chelsea from scoring in their last 26 Premier League matches.

Aston Villa will be looking to maintain their excellent home form against Chelsea in Premier League action on Saturday.

The Midlands outfit claimed a 2-1 win over Carlo Ancelotti's side at Villa Park last term while the Blues have only one league success at Villa since the turn of the century.
Nicolas Anelka scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea claimed a 1-0 win at Villa in 2009, although that was their only league win from their last 11 trips.
Chelsea come into the contest on the back of a 2-0 success over rivals Arsenal while Villa suffered their first defeat under Gerard Houllier after losing 2-1 at Spurs.
Ancelotti's troops are four points clear at the summit of the league table and will need to win at Villa in order to maintain their advantage over the chasing pack, which is led by Manchester City.

Villa news

French boss Houllier will be without striker Gabriel Agbonlahor after he underwent a minor groin operation following their defeat at White Hart Lane.
Midfielder Fabian Delph (knee) is a long-term absentee, while a leg injury curtails Emile Heskey's availability so Norwegian hit-man John Carew is certain to start with wingers Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton supplying the ammunition from out wide.
England international Ashley Young, who made his first competitive start for his country in Tuesday's goalless draw with Montenegro, could be given a free role behind Carew.
Villa will be without defender Curtis Davies as he has joined Championship outfit Leicester City on a month's loan.

Blues news

Chelsea have suffered a double blow ahead of the game with the news that Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard will miss out.
Drogba, who has been one of the club's star performers this term, is missing with a virus while Lampard is not yet fit after a groin strain.
However, Ancelotti is boosted by the availability of England defender John Terry who is fit despite missing out against Montenegro in midweek.
Jeffrey Bruma, who withdrew from midweek action with the Holland's Under-21s due to a tight hamstring, took part as anticipated in full training on Thursday.
However, Italian tactician Ancelotti is without the likes of Yossi Benayoun (Achilles), Alex and Salomon Kalou (both thigh) through injury.

Possible starting XIs:

Aston Villa: Friedel, L Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Downing, A Young, Carew.
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Ramires, Malouda, Kakuta, Anelka.

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Chelsea's six first team players not available, can they keep hold of the top seat in the premier league table

Match Facts

1. Chelsea have fired in more shots on target (54) than any other team in the top flight.
2. Aston Villa have committed 118 fouls, more than any other team in the Premier League.
3. Didier Drogba has set up five goals, the join-most in the Premier League along with Nani.
4. Villa have dropped eight points this season from winning positions, the joint-most in the Premier League.
5. 78% of the goals Villa have scored have been netted in the first half, a higher percentage than any other team.
6. Aston Villa have lost only one of their last 12 Premier League matches at Villa Park
7. Aston Villa have lost only one of their last 11 Premier League home games against Chelsea
8. Chelsea haven’t lost back to back away Premier League games since 17 October 2009 when they went down 1-2 at Villa Park.
9. Frank Lampard has scored nine Premier League goals against Aston Villa, more than against any other team.
10. Only one team (Manchester City) has prevented Chelsea from scoring in their last 26 Premier League matches.

Aston Villa will be looking to maintain their excellent home form against Chelsea in Premier League action on Saturday.

The Midlands outfit claimed a 2-1 win over Carlo Ancelotti's side at Villa Park last term while the Blues have only one league success at Villa since the turn of the century.
Nicolas Anelka scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea claimed a 1-0 win at Villa in 2009, although that was their only league win from their last 11 trips.
Chelsea come into the contest on the back of a 2-0 success over rivals Arsenal while Villa suffered their first defeat under Gerard Houllier after losing 2-1 at Spurs.
Ancelotti's troops are four points clear at the summit of the league table and will need to win at Villa in order to maintain their advantage over the chasing pack, which is led by Manchester City.

Villa news

French boss Houllier will be without striker Gabriel Agbonlahor after he underwent a minor groin operation following their defeat at White Hart Lane.
Midfielder Fabian Delph (knee) is a long-term absentee, while a leg injury curtails Emile Heskey's availability so Norwegian hit-man John Carew is certain to start with wingers Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton supplying the ammunition from out wide.
England international Ashley Young, who made his first competitive start for his country in Tuesday's goalless draw with Montenegro, could be given a free role behind Carew.
Villa will be without defender Curtis Davies as he has joined Championship outfit Leicester City on a month's loan.

Blues news

Chelsea have suffered a double blow ahead of the game with the news that Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard will miss out.
Drogba, who has been one of the club's star performers this term, is missing with a virus while Lampard is not yet fit after a groin strain.
However, Ancelotti is boosted by the availability of England defender John Terry who is fit despite missing out against Montenegro in midweek.
Jeffrey Bruma, who withdrew from midweek action with the Holland's Under-21s due to a tight hamstring, took part as anticipated in full training on Thursday.
However, Italian tactician Ancelotti is without the likes of Yossi Benayoun (Achilles), Alex and Salomon Kalou (both thigh) through injury.

Possible starting XIs:

Aston Villa: Friedel, L Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Downing, A Young, Carew.
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Ramires, Malouda, Kakuta, Anelka.