Chelsea's unconvincing 1-0 midweek win over Bolton was
its first in seven league matches but Villa seems to be a perfect opponent for
a side now chasing consecutive wins for the first time in two months.
Villa manager Gerard Houllier is under huge pressure
after guiding his team to just one win in the past seven matches, leaving it
just a point above the relegation zone.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is already talking like
his team's problems are over.
"It was a very difficult period," said
Ancelotti, referring to Chelsea's poor form as a thing of the past.
"We have to keep going now. We have to maintain good
focus on our training and on our games." Chelsea will be without suspended
defender Branislav Ivanovic at Stamford Bridge, where Florent Malouda's 10th
goal of the season earned Wednesday's narrow win over Bolton and kept Chelsea
in the top four.
"We are not at our best, obviously," Ancelotti
said.
"The best condition, the best confidence or the best
atmosphere. But I think we can improve. We have to improve." That could be
bad news for a side that lost 7-1 in the corresponding fixture last season.
Villa is struggling in all departments, with too few
goals up front and far too many going in at the back.
Fullback Luke Young and winger Ashley Young could both
miss the game, but striker Emile Heskey should be back after twisting his ankle
in last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.
"Luke still feels his ankle," Houllier said.
"I would be surprised if he is fit for the game against Chelsea. But Emile
should be OK. He is training and he should be back for the game.
"Ashley has had his first training session and it is
two weeks since he last trained. So far he has looked all right. On Wednesday
he trained with the reserves but he had to leave and do some work on his knee.
But today he was OK." If Chelsea falters, fifth-place Tottenham could
replace it in the Champions League spots.
Tottenham is unbeaten in eight matches and hosts
struggling Fulham in one of Saturday's eight matches. Spurs defender Younes
Kaboul and striker Jermain Defoe are suspended, while Fulham striker Moussa
Dembele's seven-week absence with an ankle injury is likely to continue.
Also Saturday, leader Manchester United is at West
Bromwich Albion and second-place Manchester City hosts Blackpool.
Arsenal, which is two points behind the Manchester
rivals, is at Birmingham, while Liverpool hosts Bolton, Stoke hosts Everton,
Sunderland hosts Blackburn and West Ham hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Newcastle is at Wigan in Sunday's other match.
