Aston Villa vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

Follow all the fallout from Villa Park

Match Preview: Aston Villa vs Chelsea on 26/12/2021

Follow all the action as Aston Villa host Chelsea in the Premier League this Boxing Day.

Steven Gerrard will be forced to watch from afar after Aston Villa’s head coach tested positive for Covid-19. Villa will hope his absence doesn’t detract from their momentum, having won four of their six games since Gerrard took charge, with their only two defeats coming against Manchester City and Liverpool. That upturn in form has seen Villa return to the top half of the table and they will hope to take advantage of Chelsea’s recent inconsistency this afternoon.

After such a brilliant start to the season, Thomas Tuchel’s side have faltered in recent weeks due to a combination of attacking absences and wasteful finishing. Back-to-back draws against Everton and Wolves have left the Blues six points adrift of Manchester City in the title race, although a 2-0 victory over Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals helped to regain some of their momentum. Follow all the latest updates below:

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

• 28 mins: Villa open scoring as Targett cross skims off James’ head for own goal
• 34 mins: Jorginho equalises from penalty spot after Cash fouls Hudson-Odoi
• 56 mins: Substitute Lukaku puts Chelsea in front with headed goal
• 90+3 mins: Jorginho scores his second penalty of the day to wrap up Chelsea victory

[26 December 2021 18:52 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Chelsea

62 mins: Mateo Kovacic is the third Chelsea susbstitution as he comes on to replace N’Golo Kante. It doesn’t look as though Kante has an injury so this may be a pre-planned rotational change.

Lukaku is dragged down by Mings just outside the Aston Villa box and Mings is shown a yellow card for the challenge. Mings has been poor since the restart. He’s not handling Lukaku well at all.

[26 December 2021 18:48 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Chelsea

59 mins: Close! Cash gets up the pitch on the inside right for Villa. He lifts a cross into the box and almost finds Ings who goes for the header but just misses the ball as it goes over his head. Pulisic is behind him and he works the ball clear for Chelsea.

[26 December 2021 18:44 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Aston Villa 1 - 2 Chelsea (Lukaku, 56’) ⚽️

56 mins: Lukaku scores for Chelsea! Fine work from Chelsea to take the lead. Jorginho brings the ball down the inside left and passes it out to Callum Hudson-Odoi on the wing. He whips a cross into the box as Lukaku nips in front of Mings, rolls off his shoulder and heads the ball into the back corner of the goal!

[26 December 2021 18:42 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea

54 mins: Thiago Silva hobbled around after his misplaced pass and signalled to the bench. He’s not comfortable out there and Thomas Tuchel brings on Andreas Christensen to replace the experienced defender.

Kante and Pulisic combine in the right side of the box but neither player can create enough space to get a shot off and Villa scramble the ball clear.

[26 December 2021 18:40 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea

51 mins: James plays the ball inside to Thiago Silva who attempts to float the ball over to Alonso on the left wing. He underhits his pass though and gives the ball away to Sanson. He immediately plays it forward for Danny Ings but the pass is too far away from the Aston Villa striker and he gives up the chase.

[26 December 2021 18:35 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea

48 mins: Trevoh Chalobah’s substitution has seen Reece James drop into a right centre-back role with Christian Pulisic taking over at wingback.

Antonio Rudiger whips a cross into the box from the inside left and aims for Lukaku. Martinez comes off his line and punches the ball off Lukaku’s nose and cleans Tyrone Mings out in the process.

[26 December 2021 18:33 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea

Kick off: Romelu Lukaku has been brought on by Thomas Tuchel with Trevoh Chalobah the man who’s gone off.Aston Villa get the match back underway and win a throw in over on the right wing.

[26 December 2021 18:29 · Michael Jones]

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[26 December 2021 18:26 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea

Jorginho has scored nine penalties in the Premier League in 2021, the joint-most by a player in a single calendar year in the competition’s history, alongside Matt Le Tissier in 1994 and Steven Gerrard in 2014.

(AFP via Getty Images)

[26 December 2021 18:21 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Chelsea

Two goals in the first half, both from Chelsea players but at either ends of the pitch.

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)