Chelsea vs Aston Villa preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, kick off time & team news

Fresh from their Boxing Day outings, Chelsea host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Monday night as the festive fixture list continues full swing.

Christmas is often heralded as the time to finally look at the league table, but any cursory glances from those of a Chelsea persuasion will not make for pretty reading. Not only did their upcoming opponents move above them with a weekend win, but Aston Villa have actually played two games fewer.

Just 48 hours on from the pain of losing to an Arsenal team as desperately lacking confidence as Mikel Arteta's side, Chelsea face one of the division's most in-form sides.

The Blues may boast some of the top flight's most expensive attacking assets but Villa haven't conceded a goal in more than six and a half hours of Premier League football.

Where to Watch

When Is Kick Off? Monday 28 December
What Time Is Kick Off? 17:30 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Stamford Bridge
TV Channel/Live Stream? Amazon Prime Video
Referee? Stuart Attwell

Team News

Despite the unrelenting pile up of matches, Chelsea's only injury doubt is Hakim Ziyech, though the former Ajax wide man could make a return to the squad on Monday.

Aston Villa will be without the suspended Tyrone Mings - which poses a threat to their parsimonious streak - after the centre-back took a literal approach to the Boxing Day fixture against Crystal Palace and was dismissed in the first half.

Ross Barkley is still recovering from a thigh problem but wouldn't be able to face his parent club anyway. Long-term absentee Wesley is unlikely to return until the new year while Trezeguet is also a doubt.

Predicted Lineups

Chelsea: Mendy; James, Zouma, Silva, Chilwell; Kovacic, Kante, Mount; Havertz, Giroud, Pulisic

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Hause, Konsa, Targett; McGinn, Luiz; Traore, Grealish, El Ghazi; Watkins

Recent Form

After losing to Liverpool on the second weekend of the season, Chelsea embarked upon a 17-game unbeaten run (in 90 minutes) across all competitions. However, Everton brought this sequence to a screeching halt earlier in December and Frank Lampard's side have lost three of their last four games including that 1-0 reverse at Goodison Park.

Aston Villa appear to have emerged out the other side of their own slump in recent weeks - Dean Smith's outfit have bounced back from four defeats in five games to take ten points from their most recent quartet of outings. In fact, Villa's 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday ensured they kept their fourth consecutive top flight clean sheet for the first time since December 2009.

Here's how each side has fared in their last five outings.

Chelsea

Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (26/12)
Chelsea 3-0 West Ham United (21/12)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Chelsea (15/12)
Everton 1-0 Chelsea (12/12)
Chelsea 1-1 Krasnodar (8/12)

Aston Villa

Aston Villa 3-0 Crystal Palace (26/12)
West Bromwich Albion 0-3 Aston Villa (20/12)
Aston Villa 0-0 Burnley (17/12)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Aston Villa (12/12)
West Ham United 2-1 Aston Villa (30/11)

Prediction

Lampard lay the blame for Chelsea's shock defeat to Arsenal at the door of his players post-match, yet, should the Blues remain outside the top six - where they reside going into Monday's game - come the end of the campaign, it will be the boss who has 'to take the responsibility'.

Despite their status as relegation scrappers last term, a hugely impressive transfer window - at a fraction of the price of Chelsea's - has ensured Villa's status in the higher echelons of the division is well deserved.

Yet, while the loss of Mings from Villa's backline is a blow not to be underestimated, the continued otherworldly form of Jack Grealish at the sharp end of the pitch makes Smith's side a stern test for any team.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-2 Aston Villa