Chelsea host Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon with both sides desperate for three points, following unconvincing starts to the season.
The Blues have made their worst start to a league campaign for 37 years after four defeats from their opening eight Premier League fixtures, whilst Villa haven’t won since an unconvincing victory over Bournemouth on the opening day of the season.
Chelsea find themselves just two places above Villa in 16th, with Tim Sherwood’s men four points adrift in 18th following six defeats from their opening eight fixtures
Both managers head into the fixture surrounding growing speculation over their futures at their respective clubs.
Jose Mourinho has been handed the dreaded vote of confidence by the Chelsea board following the 3-1 defeat to Southampton last time out, whilst Sherwood has just two games left to save his job according to reports.
Goals from Oscar, Costa and Willian gave Chelsea a comfortable 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge last season, however things may not be as straight forward for the Blues this time around, in what is set to be a nervy affair.
Though Villa have only won two of the last 10 meetings between the sides, Chelsea have been leaking goals at the back this season, and new man Rudy Gestede could provide another stern test for The Blues’ defence on Saturday.
The former Blackburn forward is deadly in the air and has scored four goals already this season despite Villa’s shaky start to the campaign.
Chelsea will be without keeper Thibaut Courtois (knee), whilst Branislav Ivanovic (hamstring) is a doubt after picking up a knock on international duty with Serbia, which could be good news for Sherwood.
The big Serb has been in shocking form this season, but has scored five goals against Villa, whilst he has never hit the back of the net more than twice against any other side.
The Villans will be without Jores Okore (knee) and Gary Gardner (ankle), whilst Ciaran Clark (thigh), Tiago Ilori (unfit), Gabriel Agbonlahor (calf) and Adama Traore (ankle) all face a late fitness test ahead of this weekend’s fixture.
Match Stats.
Jose Mourinho has never lost successive home league games as a manager.
Villa have lost four Premier League fixtures in a row by a one-goal margin; no side has ever lost five consecutive matches in a row by a one-goal margin.
Chelsea have conceded at least two goals in seven of their eight league fixtures this season, keeping just one clean sheet in the 2-0 victory over Arsenal.
Ivanovic has scored 20 league goals for Chelsea in total; only one player with 20+ goals in Premier League history has scored a higher percentage against one club than he has against Villa: Ivanovic 25% vs Villa, Luke Moore 30% vs Middlesbrough.
Villa have conceded 30 times in their last eight visits to Stamford Bridge and have not kept a clean sheet at the Bridge since 1998.
Chelsea have scored in their last 23 home league fixtures; the longest current run in the Premier League whilst Villa have scored in their last nine away league matches; again the longest current run in the league.
Kick Off: 3pm, Saturday 17th October. Stamford Bridge.
