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Aston Villa travel to Chelsea on Saturday, facing a stern examination of their Premier League title credentials after forcing their way into the race alongside Arsenal and Manchester City.
Arsenal sit top of the table at Christmas and welcome Brighton, while Pep Guardiola’s resurgent Manchester City head to Nottingham Forest. Elsewhere, Liverpool manager Arne Slot is dealing with a growing injury crisis, and Manchester United are set to be without their captain Bruno Fernandes for a spell.
Villa have emerged as genuine contenders under Unai Emery, although many still view them as outsiders despite sitting third and just three points adrift of leaders Arsenal. Their recent 2-1 home victory over Manchester United marked a 10th straight win in all competitions, a run the club have not achieved as a top-flight side since 1914.
Much of Villa’s momentum has been driven by the form of England midfielder Morgan Rogers. After failing to register a goal or assist in his opening seven appearances of the season, Rogers has caught fire, contributing 11 goal involvements in his last 15 matches. His finishing has been particularly eye-catching, with seven Premier League goals coming from only 2.86 expected goals, highlighting his efficiency in front of goal.
Despite their impressive run, data analysts Opta rate Villa’s chances of winning the league at just five per cent, which would be their first title since 1981. A visit to fourth-placed Chelsea, followed by a daunting trip to Arsenal days later, offers Emery’s side the chance to challenge that scepticism head-on.
At Liverpool, Slot’s attacking plans have been badly disrupted. Mohamed Salah is away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Alexander Isak is facing at least two months out after fracturing his leg against Tottenham. Slot has managed to steady the champions following a damaging run of six defeats in seven league matches, with three wins and two draws lifting Liverpool to fifth place.
However, questions remain over where the goals will come from ahead of Wolves’ visit to Anfield. Isak’s absence places increased responsibility on Hugo Ekitike, who has scored eight league goals this season, double the total managed by Salah and Cody Gakpo combined.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have been dealt another setback with the apparent hamstring injury suffered by Bruno Fernandes in their defeat at Villa Park. Although the severity is yet to be confirmed, manager Ruben Amorim has already ruled his captain out of Friday’s clash with Newcastle and acknowledged the scale of the loss.
Fernandes has been one of United’s few consistent performers in recent seasons, contributing five goals and seven assists in the league so far. Defender Diogo Dalot underlined his importance, admitting the team knows “how tough he is” and how worrying it is to see him forced off. United are also without top scorer Bryan Mbeumo, who is representing Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, further stretching Amorim’s options.
