The following article refers to a previous Villa-Chelsea game. For the latest matchup between Aston Villa and Chelsea, click here.

Aston Villa have been in free-fall since their heady top-four days at the start of the season, and are now placed at an uncomfortable 14th spot, 7 points above the relegation zone. They havent won in the last 10 games, and have lost four on the trot, including their last 3 home games.

In face of these stats, Chelsea will consider this an easy game – go to Villa Park, knock in a couple of goals, get back home with United’s lead reduced to 4 points and consider their slip up against Newcastle as a lucky break. With United still due to travel to Stamford Bridge, Mourinho will always be mentally reducing United’s lead by 3 points and will consider tonight’s game against Aston Villa as a must-win game and a chance for Chelsea to even out United’s advantage.

And yet you can only wonder about the sort of pressure Chelsea (club, manager, players and supporters) will feel if Aston Villa are able to nick points off them today. Cech’s and Terry’s absence have made Chelsea’s defence very uncertain (although Mourinho would have gotten his team fully motivated for this game) and Chelsea’s over-reliance on Drogba (along with injuries to Robben and Cole) means that they could go goal-shy any minute.

An easy game with unnecessary pressure and the potential to be a disaster for Chelsea.

Predicted Chelsea Lineup

Hilario

Ferreira, Carvalho, Boulahrouz, Cole

Wright-Phillips, Makelele, Lampard, Essien

Shevchenko, Drogba

Soccerlens Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea. As much as I want to see Chelsea draw or lose this game, they’re too good to do so.