Chelsea vs Aston Villa LIVE: Latest score and updates as Nicolas Jackson strikes early | OneFootball

Nicolas Jackson put Chelsea into an early lead (Getty Images)

Chelsea host Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon, with the Blues looking to climb the table ahead of Manchester City‘s crunch clash with Liverpool later.

Enzo Maresca’s side have continued their resurgence after the international break, with a 2-1 win over the Italian’s old club, Leicester City, before an easy 2-0 win over Heidenheim in the Conference League. Results yesterday have dropped them into fifth but a big win today could leave them as Liverpool’s closest challengers, with upcoming fixtures including Brentford, Spurs and Southampton.

Unai Emery’s side have had a far more turbulent few weeks, and are without a win in seven games off the back of recent draws with Juventus and Crystal Palace. However, though they find themselves in ninth, they are only three points behind today’s opponents and will fancy their chances of a morale-boosting result in London.

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

13 mins

It’s a high press from Chelsea and it almost pays off, though Villa do well to play out via Martinez and Digne.

The visitors counter with plenty of space ahead of them, and it’s fed to Tielemans in the box, but Lavia does brilliantly to shepherd his compatriot off the ball before he can shoot.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 13:45

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

11 mins

Tielemans attempts to slide in a pass to Watkins to release the England man, but there’s a little too much on it. A warning for the hosts, perhaps.

Moments later, Kamara tries the same but it’s the same outcome.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 13:43

Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

9 mins

Chelsea are probing for a second, with the visitors struggling to get out of their half at the moment.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 13:41

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

6 mins

GOAL!

There were no early opportunities but Jackson has opened the scoring out of nowehere!

villa don’t fully deal with Neto’s cross and Sancho collects, slipping the ball to an overlapping Cucurella. The Spaniard cuts it back to Jackson, who sweeps in a lovely finish off the near post!

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 13:39

Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa

3 mins

Villa have had plenty of possession early on, though there’s very little penetration at the moment.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 13:35

Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa

1 min

Early pressure almost pays off for Jackson, but he fouls Konsa.

There’s been talk of three-at-the-back for Chelsea, but it certainly appears that Caicedo is lining up as an out-and-out right-back.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 13:33

KICK-OFF! Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa

The away side get us underway in the capital.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 13:31

Chelsea vs Aston Villa LIVE

Both sides are emerging from the tunnel at Stamford Bridge, and we’re just a few minutes away from kick-off.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 13:26

Chelsea vs Aston Villa LIVE

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 13:23

Match facts

Villa are winless in their last four Premier League games (D2 L2). They last went five without a win between May and August 2022, while they last did so in the same season in March/April 2022 (both runs under Steven Gerrard).

They have scored both a league high total (6) and share (32%) of their Premier League goals via headers this season. As it stands, it’s their highest share of headed goals in a single top-flight campaign since 2001-02 (33% - 15/46).

Ollie Watkins has scored in his last two Premier League away games against Chelsea, with both ending up being the winning goal in the match. No visiting player has ever scored three match-winning goals at Stamford Bridge in the competition.

Chris Wilson