Kante Chelsea
N'Golo Kante Chelsea France

Chelsea have almost managed to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and if they win their final league match then they will be able to finish third on the league table.

The Blues are currently one point ahead of Liverpool as well Leicester City so they will need three points against Aston Villa to ensure they do not stumble on the final hurdle at Villa Park.

Chelsea are in a fine run of form and they go into this match having won their last 3 away matches in the Premier League but Villa too will have their tales up after beating Spurs 2-1 away from home in midweek.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are undoubtedly the favourites going into this match but Dean Smith’s side look much more competitive now that Jack Grealish has returned from injury and there’s a big chance the playmaker could prove to be the point of difference for the home side on Sunday.

Chelsea team news vs Aston Villa:

Christensen was supposed to be fit for Chelsea’s game vs Leicester City in midweek but the defender could not make it. It will be interesting to see if he will be back on Sunday or will Tuchel keep him fully fit for the Champions League final against Manchester City.

If Christensen is not back then Azpilicueta will partner Antonio Rudiger and Thiago Silva in the three-man central defence.

N’Golo Kante was taken off against Leicester pretty early but Tuchel claimed after the match that the Frenchman was withdrawn before he could pick up an injury. If the Chelsea manager is right then the midfielder should be ready to start alongside Jorginho.

The manager had said: ‘I hope that N’Golo is not injured. He told me he went off before an injury.

‘He felt his hamstring and he was worried that he would get injured if he continued playing, so we put Kova in, which was also a huge risk, because he was only on the bench for 20 minutes when we had planned for 60 minutes before bringing him on.’

 

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There’s also a chance that Thomas Tuchel will not want to risk him on Sunday especially since Mateo Kovacic has returned to full fitness.

Ben Chilwell and Marco Alonso will fight it out for the left wing-back spot and we think the summer signing should get the nod ahead of the Spaniard.

Kai Havertz is another player who missed the midweek game with a muscle issue and like Kante and Christensen, he too might not be risked against Aston Villa. If Havertz is not in the starting XI then Hakim Ziyech could come back into the side with Timo Werner playing up front.

Ideally, Mason Mount should be rested with the Champions League final just around the corner but Chelsea need to win on Sunday to be able to secure a top-four spot so the academy lad is a guaranteed starter.

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