Aston Villa v Chelsea: Predicted Blues XI

Chelsea travel to face Aston Villa on Saturday evening, just four days after being beaten 5-0 by Arsenal. 

The Blues fell to a humbling defeat at The Emirates, having been beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley last weekend.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate to see his side return to winning ways, and here we predict the XI that the Argentine could select for the trip to Villa Park.

Goalkeeper 

Djordje Petrovic has started each of Chelsea’s last 16 Premier League games after replacing Robert Sanchez when the Spaniard was forced off with injury against Everton in December. The Serbian has been hugely impressive in goal so far, and is set to continue between the sticks for the trip to Villa Park.

Defenders

Pochettino was boosted this week by the return of captain Reece James to team training, but the Englishman won’t feature on Saturday. Malo Gusto also remains sidelined, meaning that Axel Disasi is likely to start at right-back.

Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah could both return to the starting XI, having dropped to the bench last time out. The pair were largely impressed at Wembley last weekend, and could be tasked with keeping Villa’s Ollie Watkins quiet.

Silva looks set to leave Chelsea this summer

On the left, Ben Chilwell remains injured and Marc Cucurella will therefore star once again.

Midfielders

In midfield, Pochettino will be without Enzo Fernandez who underwent surgery this week and therefore won’t play again this season.

Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher have both been regulars in midfield this term, and the pair are likely to continue for this one.

The absence of Fernandez could prompt a slight change of shape for Chelsea, and talisman Cole Palmer could therefore operate centrally, ahead of the midfield duo. The Englishman has been in fine form this season and is still in the running to win the Premier League Golden Boot award.

Palmer has been one of the best players in the Premier League so far this season

Forwards

Mykhaylo Mudryk has endured a frustrating time since joining Chelsea in January last year, but the Ukraine international looks set to start this one. He was largely ineffective against Arsenal last time out, but is set to take his place on the left with Raheem Sterling injured.

Mudryk has struggled since joining Chelsea last year

Through the middle, Nicolas Jackson will be hoping to put a poor week behind him. The striker scored against Everton last week, but missed a host of huge chances against both City and Arsenal and will therefore be desperate to get on the scoresheet.

Noni Madueke could be deployed on the right, as he was against Arsenal last time out.

Predicted XI: Petrovic; Disasi, Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Caicedo, Palmer, Gallagher; Madueke, Jackson, Mudryk