As expected, our head coach changed his team after the rigors of the Conference League on Thursday evening in Germany and kept our home opponents in the dark about a possible change in formation.

Defenders Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella all start ahead of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, as they did in our last league game at Leicester. We’ll have to wait for kick-off to find out if they’ll line up as a back three.

A possible alternative could be that Moises Caicedo is deployed at right-back, as he has been this season, or he could form a three-man group in midfield with Romeo Lavia and current captain Enzo Fernandez.

The flanks will be manned by the returning Pedro Neto, who missed the trip to Leicester due to a minor injury sustained on international duty, and Sancho, the only player to start today at Heidenheim and Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer continues to support Nicolas Jackson in our attack.

Malo Gusto, who also missed the game against Leicester due to illness, is one of the Blues’ substitutes this afternoon.

Aston Villa coach Unai Emery makes two changes to the team that drew 0-0 away to Juventus in the Champions League in midweek: Ezri Konsa replaces Diego Carlos at centre-back and Jaden Philogene replaces Leon Bailey the wing.

Chelsea: Sanchez, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Neto, Lavia, Caicedo, Fernandez (c), Sancho, Palmer, Jackson

Substitute: Jorgensen, Gusto, Badiashile, Tosin, Veiga, Joao Felix, Madueke, Mudryk, Nkunku

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, Philogene, McGinn (c), Rogers, Watkins

Substitute: Olsen, Bogarde, Maatsen, Carlos, Mings, Barkley, Bailey, Buendia, Duran