Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Aston Villa

Enzo Maresca has implemented 10 alterations to his lineup for today’s Premier League match at home against Aston Villa, with Jadon Sancho being the sole player retained from the victory over Heidenheim earlier this week.

As anticipated, our head coach has made changes to the lineup after our Thursday night match in Germany for the Conference League. This also keeps our domestic rivals uncertain about a potential change in formation.

Defenders Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella will be on the field from the beginning, along with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, just like in our most recent match against Leicester. We'll have to wait until the match begins to see if they will be arranged in a three-man defense.

One potential option is to have Moises Caicedo play as a right-back, a position he has occupied earlier this season. Alternatively, he could team up with Romeo Lavia and today's captain, Enzo Fernandez, to create a midfield trio.

The wings will be taken over by Pedro Neto, who missed the game against Leicester due to a minor injury he sustained while on international duty, and Sancho, the only player who started in both the Heidenheim match and today’s match at Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer will still be backing up Nicolas Jackson in our offense.

Malo Gusto, who was unable to play in the match against Leicester because he was unwell, is on the bench for the Blues this afternoon.

Aston Villa's coach Unai Emery has altered the lineup that played to a goalless draw against Juventus in the Champions League earlier this week. Ezri Konsa comes in for Diego Carlos as the central defender, while Jaden Philogene takes the spot of Leon Bailey on the wing.

Chelsea's lineup includes Sanchez, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Neto, Lavia, Caicedo, Fernandez (captain), Sancho, Palmer, and Jackson.

Alternatives: Jorgensen, Gusto, Badiashile, Tosin, Veiga, Joao Felix, Madueke, Mudryk, Nkunku.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, Philogene, McGinn (captain), Rogers, Watkins.

Replacements: Olsen, Bogarde, Maatsen, Carlos, Mings, Barkley, Bailey, Buendia, Duran