Aston Villa vs Chelsea – Team News: Maresca changes up his big game plan with midfielder returning

Chelsea face Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in just over an hour, and the teams are in!

In recent games against top teams, including the one last week against Newcastle, Enzo Maresca has strengthened his starting XI by putting Reece James into midfield. This time he has a different plan, however.

James returns to his natural right back position, creating space in the middle for Enzo Fernandez to return and play alongside Moises Caicedo. Cole Palmer is ahead of them, with Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho on the wings, and Joao Pedro leading the line.

The rest of the team is as you’d expect – Robert Sanchez in goal, Marc Cucurella at left back. But in central defence there’s an unexpected shift. Wesley Fofana drops out, with Benoit Badiashile coming in to play alongside Trevoh Chalobah.

We can only assume that’s because Fofana has a small injury problem – he’s on the bench, anyway. Perhaps this has been chosen as a game to leave him out of the starting team, given how many matches are to come in the next 5 weeks.

If it is voluntary, it’s a risk to break up the central defensive partnership that’s been serving us very well.

Here are the full team line-ups for Chelsea vs Aston Villa (kick off at 17:30 GMT)

CHELSEA:

Chelsea’s team to face Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

In other news…

Enzo Maresca admitted ahead of today’s game that he was frustrated that people were still talking about his comments from a couple of weeks ago relating to a lack of support within the club.

Maresca was also asked about Chelsea’s record against the top teams in the league and admitted there was room for improvement in that area as they prepare to take on an in-form Villa team who have surged ahead of them in the table.