Chelsea vs Aston Villa LIVE
Two goals from substitute Ollie Watkins stunned Chelsea on Saturday, as Aston Villa came from behind to win 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, earning an 11th successive victory in all competitions.
Chelsea had been in total control when captain Reece James's 37th-minute corner swung towards a crowded goalmouth and clipped Joao Pedro's leg before crossing the line to put the home side 1-0 up.
Villa soaked up intense Chelsea pressure until the 63rd minute when on the counter, substitute Watkins, who had been on the pitch only four minutes, outmuscled defender Trevoh Chalobah and scored from a rebound off home goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. And Watkins turned the tables in the 84th minute, heading home a Youri Tielemans corner.
The result kept Aston Villa third in the standings on 39 points, three behind leaders Arsenal and 10 ahead of Chelsea in fifth place.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa latest
- GOAL! Watkins at the double to silence the Bridge
- GOAL! Super-sub Watkins levels it up
- GOAL! Joao Pedro nudges home the opener
Full-time
19:26 , Alex Young96min: Full-time! What a turnaround for Villa!
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa
19:24 , Alex Young94min: Fernandez picks up a late booking.
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa
19:20 , Alex Young91min: Digne drills in a shot, which again Sanchez saves.
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa
19:18 , Alex Young90min: Bizarre moment as Sanchez slips from inside the area to out while holding onto the ball, giving away an indirect free kick.
Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa
19:17 , Alex Young88min: Sancho is the latest to test Sanchez, who has had a very busy half an hour.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
19:15 , Alex YoungWatkins at the double, and Villa are staring at a club record-equalling 11th win in a row, a record dating back to 1914. Far too easily beaten in the air, Gusto.
GOAL!
19:13 , Alex Young84min: Watkins again!
Chelsea’s defence at the corner is static, Watkins jumps almost unopposed and heads home!
Win no11 incoming?
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa
19:11 , Alex Young83min: Two more Villa changes. Maatsen and Kamara are replaced by Digne and Bogarde.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
19:09 , Alex YoungChelsea hoping for a big finish now, as we enter the final ten minutes of a game in which they have faded since losing the lead.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa
19:05 , Alex Young76min: Fernandez is tripped on the edge of the area. A long wait for Villa to sort out their wall, but once everyone is ready... James shoots straight into it.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
19:01 , Alex YoungPalmer really not happy to be taken off there. Maresca said in his pre-match press conference that Palmer could play the full 90. But no.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa
19:00 , Alex Young72min: Now Palmer is off, replaced by Estevao. He’s not happy about it, either.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa
19:00 , Alex Young71min: Caicedo and Delap are booked for two touch tackles in quick succession.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa
18:58 , Alex Young69min: First changes for Chelsea as Gusto, Gittens and Delap are on for Cucurella, Garnacho and Joao Pedro.
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa
18:55 , Alex Young66min: Now Maatsen is played in by Rogers to sting Sanchez’s palms.
This game has turned on its head!
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
18:54 , Alex YoungYou can't say it's been coming. It hasn't.
But Chelsea will have to start all over again because Villa are level through substitute Watkins. You wonder whether the Blues might turn to the bench soon.
GOAL!
18:52 , Alex Young62min: What an impact!
Watkins is off the bench and levels the scores! Villa have offered next to nothing for an hour, but the striker has created one chance and now scored!
He gets in between Badiashile and Chalobah, who has no idea where Watkins in, turns sharply and fires past Sanchez.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
18:50 , Alex YoungSuperb save from Sanchez, who stayed alert and denied Kamara.
Villa had 0.0 xG in the first half, so Sanchez's concentration has to be commended just as much as his technique there.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:50 , Alex Young61min: The best move of the game for Villa as Watkins sends Kamara through into the area, only to be denied and then wiped out by Sanchez.
Promising signs after those subs.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:47 , Alex Young58min: Triple change for Villa. Buendia, Malen and McGinn are replaced by Watkins, Sancho and Onana.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:46 , Alex Young57min: Lots of pushing and shoving between James and Rogers at a Villa corner. And after being told off three times, they both get booked.
The corner eventually comes in, and Sanchez comes and collects.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
18:44 , Alex YoungJadon Sancho is about to come on for Villa, against his former team...
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:43 , Alex Young55min: Oh my, James tries to cross but ends up almost lobbing Martinez from 25 yards. A brilliant backtrack and one-arm save from the keeper.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:41 , Alex Young51min: Fantastic move from Chelsea as Sanchez lets Palmer free. He drives into the area, does a one-two with Joao Pedro and almost puts it on a plate for Garnacho.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:36 , Alex Young47min: Neto is screaming for a penalty after the ball hits Maatsen’s arm. The referee says no, and VAR says the Villa defender’s arm was “in a natural position”.
I dunno, it looked like handball to me!
Second half
18:34 , Alex Young46min: Back underway!
No changes, yet.
Ollie Watkins is warming up, is he about to be introduced?
You wonder if Emery will change things at the break to give his side more of a foothold in midfield. Caicedo and Fernandez are having an easy time of it so far.
Half-time!
18:18 , Alex Young48min: And that’s half-time!
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:18 , Alex Young47min: McGinn floats in a delivery... which is straight into Sanchez’s arms.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:17 , Alex Young46min: Badiashile gives away a needless free kick by shoving Rogers over. A final chance for Villa at the end of this first half.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:16 , Alex Young45min: Two minutes added on.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:13 , Alex Young42min: A good reaction from Villa to going behind. They were really under the cosh before the goal, and are now finally pushing into Chelsea’s half.
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
18:12 , Alex Young40min: Opta have credited the goal to Joao Pedro.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
18:10 , Alex YoungThere were very muted celebrations from Maresca in the press box there as Chelsea find their breakthrough in a game they deserve to lead.
James straight from the corner. Was there a touch off the booty of Joao Pedro? Maybe. Chelsea won't care either way. One way or another, they have their opener.
GOAL!
18:08 , Alex Young37min: Well, it’s been coming! Chelsea lead and it appears to be James straight from a corner!
Martinez is nowhere to be seen, tussling with Fernandez, and the ball flies past him... perhaps a touch off Joao Pedro?
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
18:05 , Alex Young34min: Shot after shot after shot from Chelsea, but none on target. James is the latest to be left in space on the edge of the area, but he cannot test Martinez.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
18:03 , Alex Young32min: Big calls for a Chelsea penalty as Joao Pedro goes down under pressure from Lindelof, but the referee waves away the appeals.
Replays show that the striker was never getting to the ball, and VAR agrees.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
18:02 , Alex Young31min: ...and Chelsea waste the free kick. They look for Neto on the opposite flank, and the ball is cleared with ease.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
18:01 , Alex Young30min: A rash challenge from Cash to give away a free kick about 30 yards out. He will now miss the game against Arsenal.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
17:59 , Alex YoungChelsea have had an awfully high share of the possession, but that will suit Villa, who are one of the league's most devastating counter-attacking teams.
Chelsea will know not to feed their visitors loose balls in dangerous areas.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:57 , Alex Young27min: It’s all Chelsea, but the Villa defence continues to stand tall.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:55 , Alex Young24min: Joao Pedro should score!
Neto whips in a superb cross towards the near post, which Joao Pedro gets a toe to... but he is denied by Martinez.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:54 , Alex Young23min: The game is getting more stretched again as Villa twice go long looking for Rogers, who is playing just behind Malen tonight.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:51 , Alex Young21min: Cash is up, Villa have a goal kick but immediately give the ball away. Chelsea flood forward as Garnacho, Caicedo and then Palmer all have shots which are blocked.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:50 , Alex Young20min: Cash is down, clutching his head after a great clearance. It looks more like he jolted his neck on his way down, than any collision.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:49 , Alex Young18min: Best move of the game from Chelsea as Palmer drives right through the centre of the pitch before feeding Garnacho into the area, who immediately cuts it back for Fernandez to narrowly bend a shot wide.
Maresca watch
17:48 , Alex YoungThe Chelsea manager is hiding at the back of the press box.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:46 , Alex Young14min: Deary me. Cucurella and Rogers with a bit of argy-bargy.
The Chelsea defender has a little kick at Rogers, so Rogers shoves him over! No booking, so he can count himself very lucky.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:42 , Alex Young12min: Palmer wins a free kick out on that right-hand side. Neto takes, but sends it straight into the first man.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:41 , Alex Young11min: Chelsea are again and again looking for Neto on the right.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:39 , Alex Young9min: Caicedo flies through Kamara. Perhaps lucky not to get a booking.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:39 , Alex Young8min: Chelsea seeing far more of the ball in these early stages, but not quite clicking at the moment.
First Garnacho’s cross from the left is too long for Neto on the right, and then James’s cross from the right is too long for Garnacho on the left.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
17:38 , Alex YoungIt's been a very lively start to this game from both teams, but particularly from Chelsea.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:36 , Alex Young5min: It’s very open, end to end. Rogers twice almost gets the better of Badiashile, but twice waits too long and gets tackled.
Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
17:33 , Alex Young3min: First sight of goal for Palmer after a neat dinked pass over the top from Caicedo, but the No10 takes it on the half volley and shanks it wide.
Kick-off!
17:31 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Here come the players.
As the players head back into the dressing rooms, Enzo Maresca is expected to take a seat in the press box due to his touchline ban.
Ahead of kick-off, the darts man of the moment David Munyua gets a shirt with his nickname on the back.
Why not. Exactly.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
17:13 , Alex YoungThis will be a real test for Benoit Badiashile today, brought in at the back as Wesley Fofana takes his place on the bench.
Badiashile makes his first league start since the 3-1 defeat to Leeds at the beginning of the month, which was something of a disaster for Chelsea.
The Blues are counting on the Frenchman to step up this evening against the side third in the division.
Final preparations out there now.
This man is now fully match fit. He could be set to play the entire 90 minutes tonight, for the first time since September.
The crucial battle that will decide Chelsea vs Aston Villa showdown
16:48 , Alex YoungIf Thomas Tuchel is not back at his old stomping ground of Stamford Bridge today, it will be hard not to see it as something of a missed opportunity by the England manager.
Chelsea welcome Aston Villa in a game that pits two of his No10 hopefuls against each other. Cole Palmer versus Morgan Rogers promises to be a fascinating narrative sewn into this battle between fourth and third in the Premier League going into Christmas.
Tuchel has much to ponder where the No10 position is concerned, as he inches closer to deciding his 26-man World Cup squad to be named in May.
Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden and Morgan Gibbs-White are all vying for game time in the same playmaker position as Palmer and Rogers, and Tuchel is all too aware that he cannot pick them all.
Chelsea have barely been able to use their star player, Palmer, this season because of a persistent groin injury that has disrupted his campaign so much that if - as his manager Enzo Maresca has said he now can - Palmer lasts the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge, it will be his first full game for club or country in more than three months.
In his absence, Chelsea have ticked along nicely and are eyeing another season of qualifying for the Champions League.
Villa, meanwhile, are the Premier League’s most in-form side by a long way and will equal their club-record longest winning streak of 11 matches across all competitions, set in March 1914, if they are victorious again on Saturday.
Rogers has been fit all season and thus had a greater impact than Palmer, with four goals in his last two games meaning he is bang in form.
He has 12 goal contributions in all competitions. But asked whether he would swap Palmer for Rogers, Maresca predictably observed his usual loyalty to the player he regularly describes as Chelsea’s best.
Dom Smith at the Bridge
16:34 , Alex YoungOur man checks in.
"This is difficult one for Chelsea, who are without their manager."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) December 27, 2025
Here's @MrDomSmith at Stamford Bridge.#CHEAVL pic.twitter.com/DnmLLIA41C
So, it’s two changes apiece.
Benoit Badiashile replaces Wesley Fofana and Enzo Fernandez comes in for Malo Gusto. Reece James moves back to right-back.
Estevao and Liam Delap return from injury and are on the bench.
For Aston Villa, Donyell Malen and Emiliano Buendía come in for Amadou Onana and Ollie Watkins.
Confirmed team news in full
16:19 , Alex YoungChelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Joao Pedro
Subs: Jorgensen, Fofana, Tosin, Acheampong, Gusto, Santos, Estevao, Gittens, Delap
Aston Villa XI: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelöf, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Buendía, Rogers; Malen
Subs: Bizot, Digne, Garcia, Jimoh, Onana, Bogarde, Hemmings, Watkins, Sancho
Aston Villa XI
16:16 , Alex Young...and the visitors!
Team news for #CHEAVL is in ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/q6HokBdMFx
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 27, 2025
Chelsea XI
16:15 , Alex YoungHere’s how the hosts look!
Today’s Chelsea team news. 👊#CFC | #CHEAVL pic.twitter.com/e3SqVCxDIn
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 27, 2025
Team news in 10 minutes.
Are Aston Villa in the title race?
15:53 , Alex YoungAston Villa bagged 33 points out of the last 36 available, and in Unai Emery have a manager who knows how to deliver silverware.
Yet, according to the Premier League's data analysts Opta, Villa have a 5.3% chance of winning the English title for the first time since 1981, with Arsenal on 68.7% and City on 24.7%.
"They're just not as good as Arsenal and Man City. They're doing excellent, they're doing great, but I just don't feel they're going to be in the title race," former Manchester United forward and Sky Sports pundit Wayne Rooney said.
Rooney is not alone in that belief, but Villa's relentless form makes them hard to ignore. Extend their winning streak to 12 straight matches and the doubters will be running out of arguments.
Villa, who have 36 points from 17 games despite not winning any of their first five, go to fourth-placed Chelsea on Saturday and stay in the capital to take on Arsenal three days later.
It will be a huge test of Villa's credentials, but Villa will not be daunted, according to Morgan Rogers, scorer of both goals in Sunday's 2-1 victory over Manchester United.
"We're all confident in each other, the manager's confident in us and we go out there and we feel like we're going to win every game," the England international said.
Skeptics will note Villa had two more points at this stage in the 2023-24 season before fading to fourth, and Arsenal and City boast far greater title-race experience. But both will see Villa as a genuine threat.
Maresca on Villa
15:46 , Alex YoungAston Villa have won 11 of their last 12 in the league and 10 in a row in all competitions to climb to third and emerge as a beacon of consistency following a poor start.
Unai Emery's team failed to win any of their first five league games and it took until the 67th minute of their fifth match away at Sunderland to register a goal, though their form since has been nothing short of remarkable.
Chelsea, by contrast, have been beset by fits and starts, wowing in victories over Liverpool and Barcelona whilst losing at home to Sunderland and capitulating at Leeds.
"(Consistency) is one of the next steps," said Maresca. "To win 10 in the a row in the Premier League is very difficult."
Maresca's pride
15:39 , Alex YoungChelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is proud if his team are considered a reflection of his character in spite of their disciplinary issues.
The Blues have been shown seven red cards this season, one of which went to Maresca who will serve his second touchline ban of the campaign against Aston Villa on Saturday for an accumulation of yellow cards.
There have been costly dismissals too for Trevoh Chalobah and Robert Sanchez in defeats to Brighton and Manchester United respectively whilst Malo Gusto, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap have also earned themselves suspensions.
Moises Caicedo's three-match ban for being sent off against Arsenal in November coincided with a pronounced dip in Chelsea's form as their midfield was deprived of arguably their player of the season so far.
The team's disciplinary issues showed no sign of easing during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle when Sanchez was yellow-carded after seven minutes for furiously protesting a decision against his team, before Maresca too earned his third caution of the season, leading to a ban.
The Italian has been fiercely protective of his squad during what has been a difficult last month.
"The club this morning showed me a comment from (the media) that said the team reflects the manager," he said. "I'm very proud of that, because of the way the team is doing, the youngest squad in the Premier League. We have to allow them some mistakes in terms of growth.
"Yes we have yellow cards, yes we have some red cards, but I like to analyse different situations."
Prediction
15:28 , Alex YoungVilla are tricky customers, as is demonstrated by their league position.
They were not great against United at all, and were bailed out by the brilliance of Rogers.
There is sure to be a marked improvement from Unai Emery’s side this time, however, and Chelsea must be ready for it.
The Blues themselves were not good in the first half at St James’ Park last weekend, but improved and showed fight to earn a big point.
They will need more of that grit here to claim all three.
Draw, 2-2.
Early Aston Villa team news
15:22 , Alex YoungAs for Villa, former Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley is out until February, while centre-backs Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings are sidelined.
There could be returns for Jadon Sancho - who was ineligible to face parent club Manchester United before Christmas - and fellow loanee Harvey Elliott after illness.
Early Chelsea team news
15:14 , Alex YoungEstevao is set to return from injury this evening, having missing away games at Cardiff and Newcastle with a small muscular injury.
Liam Delap is also fit again after three weeks out with a shoulder problem.
Enzo Maresca has also confirmed that Cole Palmer is ready to play 90 minutes after being carefully managed through his four appearances since returning from the groin injury that kept him out for more than two months.
Enzo Fernandez was a substitute at Newcastle on December 20 and Maresca must decide whether to reintroduce him to his starting line-up or keep faith with captain Reece James as Moises Caicedo’s midfild partner.
Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill all remain absent with longer-term injuries.
How to watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa
15:10 , Alex YoungTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage starting at 5pm ahead of the 5.30pm kick-off.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and YouTube channel will show highlights from 5.15pm with Match of the Day broadcasting on BBC One at 10.25pm.
Welcome
15:07 , Alex YoungGood afternoon and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Chelsea have been hunted down and overtaken by a Villa side who have won 10 in a row, and now built up a sizeable gap between themselves in third, and the Blues in fourth.
We have Dom Smith at the Bridge, ahead of a 5.30pm kick-off. Stick with us.
