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 15:55 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling all on the score sheet for Manchester City.

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

[26 December 2021 15:51 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

45+2 mins: City take a four-goal lead into the break. They scored all their goals inside the first 25 minutes and blew Leicester away before taking their feet off the gas.

Total dominance from the league leaders.

[26 December 2021 15:49 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4 - 0 Leicester

45 mins:Two minutes of added time to play at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City are in complete control of this one.

[26 December 2021 15:48 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Norwich 0 - 2 Arsenal

44 mins: Kieran Tierney has doubled Arsenal’s lead at Carrow Road. The Gunners are dominating in this one. If you want to follow the action from that game you can right here:

[26 December 2021 15:46 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4- 0 Leicester

42 mins: Mahrez finds Serling in the box with cross from the right side. Sterling controls it but is forced backwards before sending it to Gundogan. De Bruyne runs ito the right side of the area and is fed the ball. He squares it into the middle of Leicester’s penalty are but can’t pick out a teammate and the visitors get it clear.

[26 December 2021 15:42 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4- 0 Leicester

39 mins: Gundogan plays Bernardo Silva down the left wing and he chases it towards the byline. Amartey comes across and blocks Bernardo’s path to the ball marshalling it out for a goal kick.

City win back possession almost immediately and attack down the left again winning themselves a corner. Gundogan knocks it short to De Bruyne and sprints into space to open up a better angle. De Bruyne passes the ball back to him and the German whips a cross deep to Mahrez. He brings it under control and shoots but Leicester block the effort.

[26 December 2021 15:38 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4- 0 Leicester

36 mins: Save! A Manchester City corner is played short to De Bruyne who passes it back to Oleksandr Zinchenko. He floats an aerial ball into the box where Gundogan volleys it across to Sterling. Sterling shoots but Schmeichel makes a quickfire save to palm the ball wide of the post! Great goalkeeping!

[26 December 2021 15:36 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Tottenham 2 - 0 Crystal Palace

34 mins: Two goals in three minutes for Tottenham who have doubled their lead against Crystal Palace at home. Lucas Moura with Spurs’ second goal.

[26 December 2021 15:34 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Tottenham 1 - 0 Crystal Palace

32 mins: Harry Kane is back in the goals! He scored is Tottenham’s last Premier League and has found the back of the net again today. Spurs take the lead against Crystal Palace.

[26 December 2021 15:32 · Michael Jones]

Man City 4- 0 Leicester

30 mins: Close! De Bruyne has drifted out to the right wing as Mahrez cuts inside, both players making their runs off the ball. It eventually comes over to De Bruyne who slips it into the box where Mahrez’s first touch is too heavy and Daniel Amartey is quickly across to boot it clear for the Foxes.