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 16:18 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man City 4 - 2 Leicester (Lookman, 59’)⚽️

59 mins: Game on?! Another lovely counter-attack from Leicester results in a second goal for the visitors. Maddison wins the ball in his own half and shifts away from two tackles in midfield. He threads a pass up to Iheanacho who guides it into the left side of the box for Lookman. He gets in behind Dias, rolls the ball onto his left-foot and knocks it past Ederson to give Leicester some hope!

[26 December 2021 16:15 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man City 4 - 1 Leicester (Maddison, 55’)⚽️

55 mins: James Maddison! A simple ball comes over the top and Laporte comes flying out to meet it. He slips and the ball drops over his head and is picked up by Maddison. He flies towards the box and commits Dias to come across. Maddison slips it to Iheanacho and runs into the box. Cancelo attempts to tackle the striker but doesn’t get there in time and Iheanacho feeds it back to Maddison who slots it home!

[26 December 2021 16:14 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

52 mins: Chance! Patient build-up from Man City sees them pass the ball around the middle of the pitch before Gundogan drives into the box. He loses the ball but Bernardo recovers it and prods the ball to Mahrez. Mahrez shoots from the right side fo the box but his effort goes out for a corner!

[26 December 2021 16:11 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! West Ham 1 - 1 Southampton

49 mins: Michail Antonio has been brought on at half-time for West Ham and he’s got them an equaliser in just four minutes with a fine headed finish. It’s his first goal in 10 matches.

[26 December 2021 16:09 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

48 mins: Fernandinho arrives late on Maddison as the ball is played into the Leicester midfielder. Maddison sends the ball away and gets clipped to win a free kick for the visitors. Leicester are already showing more discipline on the ball in the second half.

[26 December 2021 16:06 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

Kick off: Timothy Castagne has come on at half-time for Leicester. He’s replaced Ayoze Perez. Youri Tielemans gets the game back underway. Castagne has slotted into the right-back position with Marc Albrighton pushed forward in the midfield.

[26 December 2021 16:04 · Michael Jones]

Still to come...

Coverage of Aston Villa vs Chelsea will follow the conclusion of this game at the Etihad Stadium. Team news is due in just under 30 minutes time.

[26 December 2021 16:03 · Michael Jones]

Elsewhere in the Premier League

There have been goals all around the Premier League in these 3pm kick offs. Here are all the half-time scores:

Norwich 0-2 Arsenal

Tottenham 2-0 Crystal Palace

West Ham 0-1 Southampton

Man City 4-0 Leicester

[26 December 2021 16:00 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

Riyad Mahrez is only the third player to score as many as three Premier League goals against Leicester after previously playing for them in the competition, after Chris Wood (four) and Emile Heskey (three).

(Getty Images)

[26 December 2021 15:57 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

Man City are the third side to score two penalties in the opening 25 minutes of a Premier League match, after West Ham vs Man Utd in 2011 and Liverpool vs Sheff Utd in 2007, with City the first of those three to do so with two different scorers.