Chelsea Forced to Shake Up Starting XI as Neto Suspension Rocks Villa Clash—Latest Injury Updates and Predicted Lineup
Chelsea aim to break their three-match winless streak in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, with a triumph at Villa Park potentially reinvigorating their quest for a top-five placement.
Liam Rosenior is beginning to face some challenges in his role in west London, and it wouldn't require much more for an already doubtful fanbase to lose faith in the relatively green manager. If their struggles continue, Rosenior will soon start feeling pressure from his own supporters.
At least they're meeting Aston Villa at an opportune moment, with the Villans battling midfield issues and slipping in their fight to secure next season's Champions League qualification. They've secured victory in only one of their last five league matches, though they have won their previous two encounters against the west London club.
Chelsea's Disciplinary Issues Mount
Chelsea's Disciplinary Issues Mount
Pedro Neto became the most recent player to receive a foolish red card while wearing Chelsea's jersey this season, earning his second yellow for a reckless challenge on Gabriel Martinelli during the Blues' loss at the Emirates Stadium.
He'll miss one match due to suspension, with Alejandro Garnacho being the prime contender to take the Portuguese winger's place, considering Estêvão is dealing with a hamstring problem.
Wesley Fofana can return from his suspension, but Mamadou Sarr's confident performance on Sunday suggests Rosenior might choose not to alter his defensive setup.
Levi Colwill continues to be unavailable due to a persistent knee problem, while Marc Cucurella, Dário Essugo and Jamie Gittens are also expected to be absent for the Villa Park encounter. Rosenior mentioned before the Arsenal match that he hopes to have Cucurella "available again soon," but Wednesday's game might come too early.
Chelsea Expected Starting XI vs. Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
Chelsea Expected Starting XI vs. Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
GK: Robert Sánchez—Sánchez performs adequately when not facing Arsenal, so we can anticipate the Spanish keeper to bounce back from Sunday's performance.
RB: Reece James—Rosenior needs to handle his captain wisely, who delivered an impressive display at the Emirates. Nevertheless, James is more likely to be rested during the FA Cup fifth round when Chelsea travel to Wrexham.
CB: Trevoh Chalobah—The English defender has been Chelsea's most reliable center-back this campaign, and there's no justification for removing him from Wednesday's squad.
CB: Mamadou Sarr—Fofana is available once more, but Rosenior should continue with Sarr. The former Strasbourg player appeared comfortable in his Premier League debut.
LB: Jorrel Hato—Cucurella might return to contention shortly, but Hato will likely maintain his position in Chelsea's backline for the midweek fixture. The Dutch player has experienced a difficult beginning in west London, but he comes into this match following a solid performance against Bukayo Saka.
DM: Moisés Caicedo—Chelsea's midfield anchor can sometimes be overzealous, but Caicedo clearly benefits Rosenior's team. Villa's direct approach will challenge the Ecuadorian midfielder.
DM: Andrey Santos—Rosenior rates Andrey Santos highly, and it wouldn't be shocking to see the Chelsea manager maintain this midfield partnership on Wednesday evening, considering Villa's desire to attack through the middle.
RW: Cole Palmer—Palmer's role was a fascinating aspect of Sunday's loss, but the English player appeared restricted by the knocks he sustained early on. However, those minor issues are unlikely to sideline him midweek.
AM: Enzo Fernández—The Argentine will be tasked with linking up between the lines alongside Palmer, having netted a spectacular goal at this venue during an FA Cup triumph two seasons ago.
LW: Alejandro Garnacho—Neto's ban creates an opportunity for Garnacho to feature, given the injuries to Jamie Gittens and Estêvão in recent weeks. The winger nearly leveled the score late in Chelsea's Emirates defeat with a delivery that troubled David Raya's far post.
ST: João Pedro—There's a stark contrast between João Pedro and Liam Delap, with the English striker likely to receive an opportunity in this weekend's FA Cup tie. The former Brighton & Hove Albion marksman must keep his starting position at Villa Park.