Chelsea XI vs Aston Villa: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League game today

Chelsea have Cole Palmer back from illness and back in the starting lineup as they take on Aston Villa tonight.

Malo Gusto, along with Palmer, sat out the 5-0 defeat to Arsenal and is again missing, and is joined by Raheem Sterling and Carney Chukwuemeka as Mauricio Pochettino’s injury crisis deepens. There are 12 first-team players unavailable for tonight’s game.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ASTON VILLA VS CHELSEA LIVE!

Sterling is also out with a back problem, Chukwuemeka’s knee issues have resurfaced, and Gusto is still not fit after injuring himself in the defeat to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. However, Palmer’s return is a boost as the 20-goal Premier League Golden Boot-chaser returns after missing the defeat to Arsenal.

Enzo Fernandez has also been ruled out for the season after opting to have groin surgery. Reece James and Levi Colwill have joined Christopher Nkunku by stepping up their recovery to join in partial team training sessions but are unavailable to play at Villa Park.

Lesley Ugochukwu, Ben Chilwell, Romeo Lavia, Robert Sanchez, and Wesley Fofana are also injured.

Pochettino is at a huge disadvantage facing Unai Emery’s Champions League-chasing side and will have few options from which to pick.

Djordje Petrovic continues as goalkeeper in front of a back four of Beniot Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella.

Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher are the only two fit central midfielders and play at the heart of Chelsea’s team. A front four of Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson play in attack.

Confirmed team news

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson

Injuries: Colwill, James, Nkunku, Sanchez, Ugochukwu, Fernandez, Chukwuemeka, Sterling, Chilwell, Gusto, Fofana, Lavia

Time and date: 8pm BST on on Saturday, April 27, 2024

Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham

TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports