Aston Villa vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Mason Mount brace seals win

Chelsea coach Graham Potter will look to maintain his unbeaten run with the club this afternoon (Sunday 16 October), as he takes the Blues to Villa Park for a Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

Upon taking over from Thomas Tuchel in mid-September, Potter drew his first game in charge and has since guided the west London club to four straight victories – most recently a 2-0 victory over AC Milan in the Champions League group stage this Tuesday (11 October). Having seen off Wolves 3-0 in the Premier League last weekend, Chelsea sit fourth in the table on 16 points, seven behind third-placed Tottenham with two games in hand.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are 16th in the league with nine points from nine games, sitting two points above the relegation zone. Steven Gerrard’s side are unbeaten in their last four league outings but have only won one of them. Last weekend the former Liverpool midfielder’s Villa drew 1-1 at Nottingham Forest, coming from behind to earn a point. Depending on how other results play out in the league today, Villa could climb as high as 10th with a victory here, but it will be no mean feat given Chelsea’s promising form.

Follow all the post-game reaction from Aston Villa vs Chelsea:

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

• GOAL! 65’ - Mount adds a second with brilliant free kick strike (AST 0-2 CHE)

• GOAL! 6’ - Mount latches onto a mistake from Tyrone Mings and sends Chelsea ahead (AST 0-1 CHE)

• Chelsea fourth with Aston Villa 16th in Premier League table

• Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, McGinn, Bailey, Watkins, Ings

• Chelsea XI: Kepa, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Cucurella, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Kovacic, Chilwell, Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling

Aston Villa FC 0 - 2 Chelsea FC

FT Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

16:03 , Michael Jones

Elsewhere in the Premier League:

The points were shared between Manchester United and Newcastle who played out a 0-0 draw with Southampton and West Ham also drawing though that one finished 1-1.

Arsenal are currently leading 1-0 against Leeds who have also missed a penalty. There’s 25 minutes to play in that game.

Full-time: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

15:55 , Michael Jones

90+6 mins: Chelsea take all three points! Two goals for Mason Mount is enough to give the Blues the victory over Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.

It’s another win for Graham Potter’s side who are still searching for that clinical and imposing performance. Chelsea remain fourth in the table but they’re now just four points behind Spurs with a game in hand.

Aston Villa drop to 17th after Southampton secured a point against West Ham.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

15:53 , Michael Jones

90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play but there’s a pause in proceedings as Tyrone Mings gets some treatment.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

15:47 , Michael Jones

87 mins: Young slides the ball into the box for Ings who backheels it into the middle but Azpilicueta is aware enough to send it behind for a corner.

Young jogs up the pitch to take it but his delivery is easily cleared by Thiago Silva.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

15:45 , Michael Jones

84 mins: Sterling shimmies away from Mings and squeezes into the right side of the box before firing a shot straight at Emi Martinez who clings onto the ball.

Chelsea sense that there are more goals to be got here. Villa haven’t given up but there’s nowhere near the same focus from the home side as they showed 20 minutes ago.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

15:43 , Michael Jones

81 mins: Mount’s impressive performance takes a dint as he collects a yellow card for a poor challenge. Villa haven’t created anything since the second goal went it, they’re running on fumes and are running out of time.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

15:39 , Michael Jones

78 mins: The game is meandering along to a Chelsea victory at the moment as Aston Villa seem bereft of creativity. They’re penned in their own half and Mount takes the ball off Matty Cash before winning his side a throw in.

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

15:36 , Michael Jones

75 mins: Philippe Coutinho has also come on for Aston Villa who now have just 15 minutes to get something out of this game. John McGinn is the man replaced.

For their part Chelsea look pretty comfortable now. Young gives away a free kick and Azpilicueta knocks it across to Chelsea substitute Jorginho, he’s on for Kovacic.

Liverpool vs Man City line-ups

15:33 , Michael Jones

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Milner, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Elliott, Jota, Firmino, Salah

Man City XI: Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo, Haaland, Foden

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

15:31 , Michael Jones

71 mins: Conor Gallagher shifts his away around Danny Ings on the right side of the pitch before lifting a cross to Raheem Sterling who fires his effort wide of the near post!

Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea

15:30 , Michael Jones

68 mins: The scoreline doesn’t do Aston Villa justice who have been good today. They’ve just come up against a fine performance from Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mason Mount with an eye for goal.

Steven Gerrard makes a change with Emiliano Buendia coming on to replace Leon Bailey.

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea (Mount, 65’)⚽️

15:26 , Michael Jones

65 mins: Fantastic! At the other end of the pitch Chelsea win a free kick of their own with Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell standing over the deadball.

It’s Mount who takes it and he whips the ball over the wall before getting enough dip to take it past Emi Martinez and underneath the crossbar!

Chelsea double their lead.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

15:22 , Michael Jones

63 mins: Mason Mount gives the ball away to Jacob Ramsey who flies up the pitch. Kalidu Koulibaly has to cover and comes across to sandwich the Aston Villa midfielder between himself and Mount to stop the run. The effort sees him collect a yellow card.

Villa’s resultant free kick is floated into the box where Arrizabalaga punches it away. The goalkeeper manages to get back in position as John McGinn hits the dropping ball on the volley and forces another sharp save from the Chelsea man.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

15:19 , Michael Jones

60 mins: An hour played at Villa Park and Graham Potter makes another change for Chelsea. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is hooked and Conor Gallagher comes on. Raheem Sterling is now playing through the middle as the central striker.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

15:18 , Michael Jones

58 mins: Ashley Young flicks a pass down the left side as Watkins runs through the channel and seemingly keeps it in play. He curls a pass into the box but Kepa Arrizabalaga dives across Danny Ings and smothers it before the offside flag goes up.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

15:16 , Michael Jones

55 mins: Koulibaly makes another clearance for Chelsea and has looked solid since he’s come on.

Villa are still having a bit of joy though when driving at the Blues defence. Watkins darts in from the left side and hooks a shot well wide of the back post.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

15:14 , Michael Jones

52 mins: Martinez belts a long ball up to Watkins who gets it down to Ings. He gives it to Bailey who uses Ramsey’s overlapping run to get the ball into the box.

Ramsey then crosses it into the middle but Koulibaly gets his head on the ball and flicks it put of the area.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

15:09 , Michael Jones

48 mins: It’s a good start from Chelsea to the second half. They look more confident on the ball and are moving it quicker with more decisiveness.

Azpilicueta slides the ball down the right side and plays Sterling in behind. He lifts a cross into the box but Emi Martinez comes out and swiftly claims it.

Second half: Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

15:05 , Michael Jones

Kick off: Graham Potter has made a double change at half-time with Cesar Azpilicueta and Kalidu Koulibaly brought on to replace Marc Cucurella and Kai Havertz.

He’s done that to make Chelsea’s back line more secure. The visitors get the match back underway at Villa Park.

HT Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

15:00 , Michael Jones

Aged 23 years and 279 days, Mason Mount is the second-youngest player to score 25 Premier League goals for Chelsea, after Eden Hazard (23 years 271 days).

Liverpool vs Man City

14:57 , Michael Jones

Still to come today Liverpool face Manchester City in the late kick. Team news for that one is around half an hour away before the match kicks off at 4.30pm following the conclusion of the game at Villa Park.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in 27 home league matches since a 1-0 defeat by Fulham in March last year with 20 wins and seven draws in that run.

They have also gone 13 Premier League home games without defeat versus the reigning champions, last losing such a fixture to Manchester United in December 2007.

HT Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:53 , Michael Jones

Mason Mount’s volley is the difference between the teams so far. Will Chelsea add to their tally in the second half?

Half-time: Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:49 , Michael Jones

45+2 mins: Chelsea take a slender one goal lead into the break but it’s been Aston Villa who are pressing the issue. They’ve created three or four good chances on goal but have been denied by an on song Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Graham Potter needs his team to get a grip on this game in the second half. Despite the opening goal, Steven Gerrard will be pleased with what he’s seen so far.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:47 , Michael Jones

42 mins: Close! Jacob Ramsey press high up the pitch and forces a quick clearance out of Ben Chilwell who only manages to dink the ball to Matty Cash.

Cash whips one into the box where Danny Ings meets it with a glancing header that takes the ball over the crossbar.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:43 , Michael Jones

39 mins: Off the woodwork!

Mason Mount brings the ball down the right and shifts away from a challenge before knocking it inside to Kai Havertz. Havertz’s run is similar and he weaves around two defenders before squaring the ball into the penalty area.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lets it run to Raheem Sterling who takes a touch then curls a right-footed shot onto the crossbar!

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:38 , Michael Jones

36 mins: That’s a waste. Leon Bailey sends Douglas Luiz away from the set piece then hooks his effort from the right side of the pitch well over the crossbar.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:36 , Michael Jones

33 mins: Ouch! Ben Chilwell slides into a tackle on Jacob Ramsey. Ramsey shifts the ball away from the Chelsea defender and gets whacked on the ankle of his standing leg afterwards.

Chilwell goes in the book and Villa win a free kick.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:34 , Michael Jones

30 mins: And again! Kepa Arrizabalaga to the rescue!

This one is even better from the Chelsea goalkeeper. Leon Bailey weaves his way down the right side and whips a cross into the middle of the box. Danny Ings makes his run from deep and throws himself at the ball ensuring his powerful header hits the target.

He heads the ball inside the six-yard box but from point blank range Kepa lifts the ball over the top of the crossbar!

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:32 , Michael Jones

27 mins: Save! Chelsea look very shaky at the minute. They aren’t liking the intensity from Aston Villa.

Ben Chilwell is stuck on the touchline and surrounded by Villa players but manages to poke the ball to a back-tracking Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

He sends the ball back to his own box but there’s none of his teammates available and instead the ball comes to Danny Ings. He carries it inside and smokes a shot towards the near post but Kepa Arrizabalaga keeps it out!

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:27 , Michael Jones

24 mins: Aston Villa have created the better chances since going behind and look sharp when counter-attacking. Chelsea are looking for that killer final pass but so far have come up short.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:25 , Michael Jones

21 mins: Oh my days! Exceptional work from Kepa Arrizabalaga who denies John McGinn, Douglas Luiz and Danny Ings in one move.

Villa burst down the left with Ollie Watkins carrying the ball into the area. He pulls it back to McGinn who blasts an effort at goal and forces a punched save from Kepa.

The ball comes out to Luiz who drills his own shot at goal but the keeper drops low to the right and keeps that one out too!

Ings is the first man to it and has a narrow angle to shoot so tries to place the ball into the back of the net only for Kepa to flap a hand at the shot and swipe it away.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:21 , Michael Jones

18 mins: Chelsea are trying to take the sting out of Aston Villa’s attack by maintaining the ball.

Thiago Silva fires a long diagonal over to the right wing where Raheem Sterling jogs behind Ashley Young but the defender leaps above him and heads the ball out for a throw in.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:18 , Michael Jones

15 mins: A pacey pass up the inside right channel sees Marc Cucurella miscontrol the ball and allow Leon Bailey to sneak in behind him.

Bailey carries the ball to the edge of the bix but is tackled by Thiago Silva. Aston Villa recover the loose ball and work it down the left wing before sliding a short pass into the area for Danny Ings.

He lifts the ball to the box post where Bailey arrives and nods his effort over the crossbar!

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:15 , Michael Jones

12 mins: Jacob Ramsey nicks the ball off Kai Havertz and sits the German down with a slight tug of the shirt. Havertz is on his feet quickly but gets punished for a foul on Ramsey as he attempts to recover the ball.

The Chelsea fans are taunting Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard who is under pressure due to their slow start to the season.

Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea

14:13 , Michael Jones

9 mins: Buoyed with confidence from that opening goal Chelsea sweep up the pitch again. Kai Havertz sends it to Ben Chilwell who comes inside once more before picking out Raheem Sterling.

Sterling lays it off to Kovacic who has a shy at goal from 25-yards out and spanks his shot high and wide.

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Chelsea (Mount, 6’)⚽️

14:08 , Michael Jones

6 mins: Mistake from Mings, Chelsea lead!

Mateo Kovacic drives the ball through midfield before sliding a pass over to Ben Chilwell. He cuts inside and looks to dink a through ball in behind the lines for Mason Mount but Ezri Konsa blocks it and loops the ball high into the air.

Tyrone Mings has time and space to head it clear but makes a total hash of the clearance only managing to nod the ball over to Mount who meets it on the volley and guides it around Emi Martinez.

Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea

14:08 , Michael Jones

5 mins: Raheem Sterling seems to be playing in the right wingback role for Chelsea with Ruben Loftus-Cheek operating in central midfield alongside Mateo Kovacic.

Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea

14:05 , Michael Jones

3 mins: There’s a couple of early chances for Aston Villa as a free kick is curled into the box from the right and drops kindly for Danny Ings. He takes a shot on the turn but has the effort scooped clear by Thiago Silva in the six-yard box.

Villa recycle to the ball over on the left side and Leon Bailey drives into the penalty area before hitting a low effort to Kepa Arrizabalaga’s right but the Chelsea goalkeeper has it covered.

Kick off: Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea

14:02 , Michael Jones

Danny Ings gets the match underway and Villa work the ball over to Matty Cash. He looks to send the ball down the right wing but Ben Chilwell wins it in the air and Chelsea take over possession.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

13:58 , Michael Jones

Coverage of Liverpool vs Manchester City follows the conclusion of this match at Villa Park but first up the players head out for the start of Aston Villa vs Chelsea.

Who’s going to win this one? Kick off is up next...

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

13:54 , Michael Jones

During the warm-ups at Villa Park players are wearing shirts saying “Get well soon Emma” after Chelsea women’s boss Emma Hayes underwent surgery for an emergency hysterectomy last week and has to take time out of the game to fully recover.

Graham Potter hails Chelsea’s team-first mentality after winning run continues in Champions League

13:51 , Michael Jones

Chelsea manager Graham Potter said he had developed a good understanding with his players and that their team-first mentality was behind their winning run after they secured a 2-0 win at AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Goals from Jorginho and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw Chelsea complete the double over Milan and record a fourth straight victory.

After a 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in their opening match and a 1-1 draw with Salzburg in Potter’s first game in charge, Chelsea now top Group E.

“It’s just a process of trying to get to know them,” Potter said.

Graham Potter hails Chelsea’s team-first mentality after winning run continues

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

13:47 , Michael Jones

Philippe Coutinho has scored just one goal and provided no assists in his last 20 Premier League appearances and as such starts on the bench for Aston Villa today.

Meanwhile, Ezri Konsa will make his 100th Premier League appearance.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

13:43 , Michael Jones

Raheem Sterling is one short of 50 Premier League away goals. He hasn’t scored in any of his four league appearances at Villa Park.

Graham Potter’s tactical variety gives Chelsea’s stuttering season new lease of life

13:39 , Michael Jones

It was supposed to be much harder than this. Graham Potter even admitted as much when he spoke about how difficult the Champions League campaign would be after the 1-1 draw with Salzburg. It’s actually only a week since Chelsea were bottom of the group.

So much has changed. They’re now top, having beaten Milan in successive games, but it’s not just that. It forms part of a longer undefeated run for Potter since taking over, with the latest 2-0 victory his fourth successive win.

Given Potter is not the most effusive speaker, and isn’t necessarily the most quotable coach, you could almost say this is the definition of quietly going about a good job.

Chelsea’s improvement has been a consequence of any grand motivational influence, bombastic decisions or big moments. It’s just progressive work on the training ground. Potter did go into the difference in the group now, compared to that very first match.

Graham Potter’s tactical variety gives Chelsea’s stuttering season new lease of life

Potter versus Villa

13:35 , Michael Jones

Graham Potter’s two wins in 10 attempts as a manager against Aston Villa both came at Villa Park: 3-0 for Swansea in the 2018/19 FA Cup third round and 2-1 for Brighton in the 2020/21 Premier League.

He has taken 19 points out of a possible 24 in his eight league matches as a manager this season for Brighton and Chelsea.

Villa struggling in front of goal

13:31 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa’s only win in the last 15 league games against London opposition was 2-1 at Crystal Palace last November.

Only Wolves have scored fewer Premier League goals than the seven by Villa this season whose last nine league goals have all been scored by nine different players.

Jurgen Klopp’s comments on Manchester City paints a bleak picture for Liverpool

13:27 , Michael Jones

Between them, they have won the last four Premier League titles. Two of them have been decided by a solitary point and, with a couple of different results against Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp would be a three-time champion of England. Liverpool face Manchester City again on Sunday and their meetings have merited the tag of title deciders. “Could be this year,” Klopp said. “Just not with us.”

He had ruled his side out of the title race even before they lost at Arsenal. Now the kings would have to become kingmakers to exert a decisive impact at the top. But defeat would leave them 16 points behind City; even in 2020-21, when they played the majority of a campaign without specialist senior centre-backs, they were only 17 adrift after 38 matches.

The gap now is a consequence of Liverpool’s sudden slide, of a loss of consistency and a habit of conceding first, of a series of injuries and a host of players operating at a level far below their best, of a pressing game that has malfunctioned and high-risk tactics that, when they backfire, can look very wrong. There may be the hangover and physical fatigue of a 63-game campaign last year and the cumulative toll of going toe-to-toe with City season after season.

Jurgen Klopp’s comments on Manchester City paints a bleak picture for Liverpool

Man City’s attacking prowess

13:23 , Michael Jones

Manchester City are on a club record run of 22 away league games without defeat since losing 1-0 at Spurs on the opening weekend of last season.

They are unbeaten in 21 top-flight matches, with their only defeat in 37 coming at home to Tottenham in February.

City’s tally of 33 goals is the joint-most after nine Premier League games, level with their own record from 2011/12. The most after 10 fixtures is 36, also by City in 2011/12.

They are also the first team to score at least four goals in five consecutive top-flight fixtures since Tottenham in 1963.

Liverpool’s shaky foundations

13:19 , Michael Jones

Ten points is Liverpool’s lowest tally after eight games in a decade. In 2012/13, they had nine points and went on to finish seventh.

The Reds have conceded 16 goals in their last 12 league matches and let in the first goal 10 times during that run. In the previous 12 games they only conceded the opening goal twice and kept 10 clean sheets.

Liverpool can concede at least three goals in three successive top-flight fixtures for the first time since December 1953.

Jurgen Klopp not ‘dumb’ enough to think Rangers rout will help Liverpool beat Manchester City

13:15 , Michael Jones

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he is not dumb enough to believe their Champions League humiliation of Rangers has solved all their issues ahead of facing Manchester City.

A devastating second half – which included the competition’s fastest hat-trick by Mohamed Salah in six minutes and 12 seconds – saw the Reds win 7-1 at Ibrox.

But considering the quality of the opposition and the lack of resilience they showed. the result provided no real barometer going into one of the toughest games of the season.

“We are not, even when people think that maybe (we are), that dumb that we think that’s the only thing we needed to beat Man City,” said Klopp.

Jurgen Klopp not ‘dumb’ enough to think Rangers rout will help beat Man City

Will Chelsea beat Aston Villa?

13:11 , Michael Jones

Chelsea have won three league games in a row and are looking to earn consecutive clean sheets in the division for the first time since March.

But, the Blues could lose as many as three of their opening five away games of a Premier League season for the second time, having done so in 2015/16.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea team changes

13:07 , Michael Jones

Steven Gerrard makes two changes to the Aston Villa team that started against Nottingham Forrest last time out with Philippe Coutinho and Emiliano Buendia dropping to the bench. In comes Danny Ings and Leon Bailey.

Graham Potter switches out three players from the Chelsea side that won 2-0 at AC Milan during the week. Reece James is injured so Ruben Loftus-Cheek comes in at right-wingback. Marc Cucurella starts in defence ahead of Kalidu Koulibaly and Kai Havertz returns in the forward line, Jorginho drops out and Mason Mount moves into midfield.

Aston Villa vs Chelsea line-ups

13:01 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Bailey, Watkins, Ings

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Cucurella, Loftus-Cheek, Mount, Kovacic, Chilwell, Havetz, Aubameyang, Sterling

Steven Gerrard accepts criticism for Aston Villa’s disappointing start

12:56 , Michael Jones

Steven Gerrard admits he must accept the criticism over Aston Villa’s disappointing season. Villa host Chelsea on Sunday unbeaten in their last four Premier League games, although they have drawn three of them.

Gerrard’s side have won just twice during a hugely-underwhelming campaign so far and they were jeered by their own fans after Monday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.

It has left the former Rangers boss philosophical about the negative assessment of his team but he remains confident in his processes.

He told a press conference: “I didn’t take this position or my previous coaching positions at Rangers or Liverpool expecting everything to be fantastic every single day.

Steven Gerrard accepts criticism for Aston Villa’s disappointing start

Can Villa beat Chelsea?

12:51 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa are on a four-match unbeaten run but have won only four times in 20 league fixtures, losing 10 of those. Howver, they can earn successive Premier League home victories in the same season for the first time since January 2021.

Why Pep Guardiola will not give up on a Liverpool title challenge

12:47 , Michael Jones

“The table didn’t ever play the game,” was Pep Guardiola’s response when his attention was drawn to the 13-point gap between Manchester City and the side that he still considers to be their closest challengers. Jurgen Klopp may no longer believe that Liverpool are capable of contesting a Premier League title race this season but his greatest rival does. “The opinion I have about this team, nothing changed because of the situation in the table,” Guardiola insisted. “Not one second.”

Guardiola and Klopp are not only the two coaches that have defined English football’s last half-decade. Since Sean Dyche’s dismissal from Burnley, they have also been the top flight’s longest-serving managers as well. Around 10 months separated their appointments at either end of the East Lancs Road. For about four-and-a-half years now, this has been the Premier League’s premier rivalry. It is fair to assume that Guardiola and Klopp know each other - and each other’s football - better than that of any of their other top-flight rivals.

And while Guardiola can be complimentary to the point of insincerity when discussing the merits of any opponent, his admiration for Liverpool has only ever come across as heartfelt and genuine. “In a rival, I have never seen a team like Liverpool in my life,” he said of Klopp’s side at the end of last season, after pipping them to the post on the final day for the second time in four years. “They help us to be a better team season by season, I am 100 per cent convinced of that.”

Why Pep Guardiola will not give up on a Liverpool title challenge

Liverpool vs Man City

12:43 , Michael Jones

Manchester City have only won twice in 25 Premier League away matches against Liverpool however, they are vying to remain unbeaten in three consecutive top-flight visits to Anfield for the first time since December 1992.

Liverpool beat City 3-1 in this season’s Community Shield at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

Liverpool vs Man City earl team news and predicted line-ups

12:39 , Michael Jones

Liverpool have been hit by injuries in recent weeks with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and Luiz Duiz joining Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Arthur Melo on the sidelines. Klopp said Liverpool came through their 7-1 win over Rangers unscathed, which saw Andy Robertson return.

It may be too soon for the left back to start, but Mohamed Salah is set to return after his hat-trick from the bench at Ibrox. He is set to join the in-form Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota in attack, but Klopp may opt to revert to a three-man midfield so that could mean Darwin Nunez misses out.

Manchester City remain without the England trio of John Stones, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips. Erling Haaland will return to the starting line-up after being rested against Copenhagen in midweek, as well as Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva. Manuel Akanji may move to right back with Nathan Ake also returning to the defence.

Predicted line-ups

Liverpool: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Jota

Manchester City: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

12:35 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa’s solitary victory in the last 10 league meetings between these sides came at home on the final day of the 2022/21 season. They have drawn one and lost eight since then.

Chelsea have won six of their last eight away Premier League games against Aston Villa, as many as they had in their first 19 visits.

England and Chelsea defender Reece James set to miss World Cup with knee injury

12:31 , Michael Jones

England and Chelsea defender Reece James looks set to miss next month’s World Cup due to a knee injury that is expected to sideline him for eight weeks.

James, 22, was forced out of Chelsea’s midweek Champions League win over AC Milan and the extent of the problem has been confirmed after consulting with specialists.

Chelsea said in a brief statement on their official website: “Following the knee injury sustained in our away match against AC Milan, Reece has received treatment from the Chelsea medical department and visited a specialist this weekend.

England and Chelsea defender Reece James set to miss World Cup with knee injury

Aston Villa vs Chelsea early team news and predicted line-ups

12:28 , Michael Jones

Aston Villa will hope to welcome back Leon Bailey after he missed Monday’s draw at Nottingham Forest, while Matty Cash and Cameron Archer are also set to be available. Villa remain without Boubacar Kamara, Lucas Digne and Ludwig Augustinsson while  Diego Carlos is a long term absentee.

Chelsea will be without Reece James after the right back now a doubt for the World Cup after a leg injury suffered at San Siro. N’Golo Kante and Wesley Fofana are also out. Chelsea have had time to recover from their 2-0 win over AC Milan but Cesar Azpilicueta, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher and Kai Havertz will be among those hopeful of a recall.

Predicted line-ups

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young; Luiz, Ramsey, McGinn; Coutinho; Watkins, Ings

Chelsea: Kepa; Chalobah, Thiago, Koulibaly; Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Cucurella; Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling

Premier League Sunday

12:25 , Michael Jones

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Premier League action.

There are five matches taking place today with Aston Villa vs Chelsea being the main focus of the 2pm kick offs before Liverpool host Manchester City at 4.30pm. Also going head-to-head today are Leeds vs Arsenal, Man Utd vs Newcastle and Southampton vs West Ham with all those games taking place at 2pm.

First up though Chelsea are hoping to continue their impressive form under new boss Graham Potter. They head into the match fourth in the Premier League and can cut the gap on Tottenham (third) to four points with a victory. Aston Villa are steadily building their way into the season, they are unbeaten in four league games (three draws, one win) but only sit two points above the relegation zone. Steven Gerrard will be hoping for a positive result against the Blues to send Villa flying up the table.

The main draw for today though is the evening kick off as Liverpool host Manchester City. City have started the season as would be expected, sitting one point behind league leaders Arsenal with a 10-game unbeaten streak already under their belts. Erling Haaland is a goal machine and has already found the target 15 times in nine league games with the Norwegian a certainty to start at Anfield after sitting out the midweek game against FC Copenhagen. In contrast Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are down in 11th with just two wins from eight matches but they’ll take heart and confidence from a 7-1 mauling of Rangers in the Champions in which Mo Salah got back to goalscoring glory with a six minute and 12 second hat-trick.