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Premier League Preview: Aston Villa - Chelsea

A very tricky trip to Villa Park for Carlo Ancelotti's pace-setters…

Oct 16, 2009 3:54:40 PM

EPL: Ashley Young & James Milner, Aston Villa - Fulham (PA)

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EPL: Ashley Young & James Milner, Aston Villa - Fulham (PA)

Teams

Saturday, October 17, Kick-off: 12:45 BST

Villa Park, Aston, Birmingham

With the other members of the so-called 'big four' dropping points at unexpected times, Chelsea's seven wins in eight league games – and not a draw in sight – is enough for a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Apart from the shock defeat at Wigan Athletic on September 26, which was triggered by Petr Cech's red card, Carlo Ancelotti's side have looked ominously strong.

The Italian's midfield diamond has sparkled, most of the time, but then no matter what formation you choose, players of the quality and experience of Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack – the three heavyweight midfielders at the club – will always tend to make a manager look good.

Sceptics of the Ancelotti era will point to Luiz Felipe Scolari's similarly fine start at Chelsea last season, but the current manager has a down-to-earth manner and easy charm that plays well in English football. Ancelotti's players seem to both like and respect him – as they should, given that he played in the great AC Milan team of the late-1980s, before twice leading the Rossoneri to Champions League glory as their coach.

Ancelotti's side will be tested to the limit on Saturday lunchtime. Aston Villa are a strong, fast, well-organised team with a killer ability to hit you on the counterattack. As such, they tend to do well away from Villa Park, when home teams are obliged to take the initiative. At home sometimes they get bogged down though, as visiting teams play the same trick: pack the midfield, sit back and wait for your opponent to lose possession.

It's tough to judge how Martin O'Neill will approach the game. Chelsea will rightly be wary of the pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, but in Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole they have defenders who are blessed with pace too.

Villa's best bet is to shift the ball quickly to the flanks, where Young, on the left, and James Milner, on the right, can start attacks at speed. Ancelotti will be aware of this threat and may instruct his diamond to spread across the pitch when Villa have the ball. Chelsea's adventurous full-backs, mentioned above, will also be expected to get forward and keep Villa's wide players on the back foot.

As a starter to the weekend's Premier League menu, it's a mouth-watering prospect. Last season, Chelsea won the corresponding fixture 1-0, thanks to a Nicolas Anelka goal. I expect the current leaders to return to west London with three points.

FORM GUIDE

Aston Villa

5 Oct: Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester City
26 Sep: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Aston Villa
23 Sep: Aston Villa 1-0 Cardiff City
19 Sep: Aston Villa 2-0 Portsmouth
13 Sep: Birmingham City 0-1 Aston Villa

Chelsea

Oct 4: Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Sep 30: APOEL 0-1 Chelsea
Sep 26: Wigan Athletic 3-1 Chelsea
Sep 23: Chelsea 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
Sep 20: Chelsea 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur

TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa

Defender Luke Young is in Villa's match-day squad for the first time this season. Stewart Downing is still recovering from a fractured foot, while Curtis Davies is out with a shoulder injury.

Martin O'Neill's main selection dilemma is the choice between his two main target men, John Carew and Emile Heskey.

Last starting XI (v Man City): Friedel, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock, Collins, Sidwell, Young, Milner, Petrov, Carew, Agbonlahor.

Chelsea

Michael Ballack has recovered from an ankle knock he picked up for Germany against Russia (he was tackled by club team-mate Yuri Zhirkov, ironically) and is fit for selection. Alex (groin), Jose Bosingwa (hamstring) and John Obi Mikel (ankle) are all minor injury doubts.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech returns from suspension after his red card at Wigan last month, and should replace his capable deputy, Henrique Hilario.

Last starting XI (v Liverpool): Hilario, Ivanovic, A Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Drogba, Anelka

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aston Villa

James Milner's confidence must be sky-high, given the faith shown in him by both O'Neill and Fabio Capello this season. The fast-improving winger combines impressive athleticism and stamina with a great attitude and work-rate. He will keep Chelsea's Ashley Cole on his toes.

Chelsea

It will be fascinating to see how Villa's new-look defence, led by the wily Richard Dunne, handles the raw power and trickery of Didier Drogba. The Ivorian striker, who this week helped his country qualify for the World Cup, already has six goals to his name in this campaign and will be hungry to add to that total on Saturday.

PREDICTION

Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea