There are just 13 games left to go of the 2024/25 Premier League season for Chelsea with the race for a Champions League spot intensifying with each passing match.

Enzo Maresca recently said Chelsea's owners set him a target of qualifying for Europe's elite competition in his second season in charge, rather than this term. However, with the position the Blues found themselves in over the Christmas period, it would be viewed as an enormous disappointment from supporters alone should they not be playing in Champions League football in the Italian's second season as head coach.

It looks as if England may be awarded an extra Champions League place this season through UEFA's ranking system. So, theoretically - and this is not confirmed just yet - a fifth-place finish for the west Londoners would be enough for them to play in the competition they have won twice during the club's 120-year history.

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Aston Villa - Saturday evening's opponents - are struggling this season in comparison to last, although they still have a big chance of qualifying for the Champions League again. The Villains currently occupy ninth-place, however they could climb up to eighth before Chelsea come to town with Unai Emery's men welcoming Premier League leaders Liverpool to Villa Park on Wednesday evening - a fixture that was rearranged due to the Reds' participation in the Carabao Cup final next month.

After last Friday's horror show away at Brighton, Maresca will be desperate for his players to produce a positive reaction. The head coach questioned his squad's "desire" post-match at the Amex Stadium, saying there was not enough on show considering Chelsea's position and their goals for the remainder of the season.

Maresca could be tempted to make some changes to the XI that he fielded against the Seagulls, although the injury situation at Stamford Bridge does not look the best. That was added to with Noni Madueke limping off in the first-half on the south coast, with Maresca confirming after the game that the winger hurt his hamstring and will be "out for a while".

Filip Jorgensen is set to remain in goal at Villa Park with the Dane leapfrogging Robert Sanchez in the pecking order in recent weeks. It was not the greatest night for Jorgensen on Friday but he is expected to have another go at proving his worth in the Midlands.

Reece James could come back into the team in place of Malo Gusto. Ironically, Gusto actually did quite well on Friday evening - probably the strongest performer out of the Chelsea back line - but when James is in the side, it gives the Blues much more of an attacking threat. The captain's passing and crossing alone is enough to warrant a return to the XI.

Tosin Adarabioyo could replace Trevoh Chalobah at the heart of the Chelsea defence. It was a bad night for Chalobah at the Amex, with the Cobham graduate nowhere near his best in Brighton. Likewise, Levi Colwill struggled but it seems Maresca would prefer a centre-back partnership consisting of a right-footer and a left-footer.

Marc Cucurella will continue at left-back and the midfield two of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo is likely to remain the same at Villa Park. With Madueke out, though, who plays on the wing for the Blues is a much more intriguing prospect. There is a very valid shout to give Tyrique George a go on the right.

George was really bright when he came on at the Amex Stadium - and while it is not saying much, he outperformed his senior attacking colleagues in a short period of time on the pitch. Pedro Neto could move to the left with Jadon Sancho looking bereft of confidence at the moment, with Cole Palmer in the middle, either behind Christopher Nkunku, or in front of him. That itself can be fluid.

Chelsea will be hoping their attacking play can be just as fluid.

Possible Chelsea line-up: Jorgensen; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, George; Nkunku.