Aston Villa vs Chelsea LIVE commentary: Palmer set to return as Blues look to bounce back from humiliation – kick-off time, team news and talkSPORT coverage

Chelsea will aim to bounce back from their midweek humiliation against Arsenal when they take on Aston Villa this weekend, live on talkSPORT.

The Blues were beaten 5-0 at the Emirates on Tuesday, the result bringing a damning end to what appeared to be a turnaround in form in recent weeks.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side were unbeaten since February in the Premier League ahead of the London derby before crashing to earth.

They will need to get back to winning ways quickly if they are to steal a European place, but they now face a very difficult task against top-four prospect Villa.

Aston Villa v Chelsea: wonderful Watkins

Ollie Watkins could potentially win the Golden Boot this season.

He has 19 goals to his name and is just one behind current leaders Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer.

The 28-year-old is in the form of his life and looks set to book himself a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euros.

But before that, he wants to finish the campaign strong with Villa and he will aim to continue scoring against Chelsea.

Watkins has scored in his last two league meetings for Pochettino’s men, netting the winner in a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

If he makes three from three, he will become the first ever Villa player to score in three consecutive games against the Blues.

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• Chelsea have lost their two league matches against Aston Villa, as many as in their previous 16 (13 wins, 1 draw). They have not lost more consecutively to the Villans since a run of four between 1978 and 1984.
• Aston Villa are looking to complete their first league double against Chelsea since 1989-90, when the Blues were a newly promoted side, and the Villans ultimately finished the season in second place.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea: team news

Douglas Luiz will return for Unai Emery’s side after serving his two-match suspension.

Jacob Ramsey remains doubtful while Alex Moreno, Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia will all continue their recovery.

As for Chelsea, they will desperately need Palmer to return from illness.

He missed their defeat to Arsenal with Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell all three hoping not to be ruled out for another game.

Christopher Nkunku is fully fit again, but Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Reece James and Wesley Fofana all remain long-term absentees.

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• Chelsea won 3-1 against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the FA Cup this season – the last team to beat the Villans twice on the road in the same campaign was Tottenham Hotspur in 2013-14.
• Chelsea have won seven of their last nine Premier League away matches against Aston Villa (L2), more than in their first 19 visits to Villa Park in the competition (W6 D7 L6).

Aston Villa vs Chelsea: What was said?

Pochettino did not hold back his Chelsea side after being heavily beaten by Arsenal.

Sharing his thoughts on the mutilation to talkSPORT’s Sam Matterface, he said: “It’s hard to explain.

“We started the first half very badly, we didn’t show any energy and we weren’t competitive, and in the second half we started the same way.

“We were talking a lot at half-time to try and remedy that situation, but it was so easy for Arsenal to score two (quick) goals in the second half.”

He continued: “We have not competed as a team, that is very clear. We are inconsistent for different reasons.

“Starting the game the way we started it is not acceptable, that’s the problem.

“After 70/80 minutes, OK, you are tired and you have no energy, but it was the start of the match.

“The way we started was really painful and I’m very disappointed because if we want to compete we not only have to go out there and play football, we also have to have more energy and focus.

“It’s the hardest thing to explain.”

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• Only at Old Trafford (10) and the King Power Stadium (7) has Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling gone more Premier League matches without scoring a goal than at Villa Park (5).
• After losing their first Premier League encounter against Chelsea in their second game in charge of the competition in August 2018, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has won each of his last three games against the Blues without conceding the least goal for his team.

Aston Villa v Chelsea: talkSPORT coverage

This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday April 27.

Kick-off at Villa Park is scheduled for 8 p.m.

talkSPORT will have EXCLUSIVE live coverage of the game presented by Faye Carruthers.

Commentary will come from Joe Shennan and former England defender Micky Gray.