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 19:50 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea come from behind to beat Aston Villa and stay in title hunt as returning Romelu Lukaku shines

It is still a three-horse race. That is the message that came through loud at clear at Villa Park as Chelsea battled to a 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

The scoreline suggests a degree of ease, but it was only in the dregs of this match that there was any real comfort for Chelsea, once Jorginho had slotted the second of his two penalties on Boxing Day. The first was an equaliser to Reece James’ own goal that gave Villa a surprise but deserved lead 28 minutes in.

Yet the lion’s share of the praise belongs to Romelu Lukaku, who returned to action for a second-half cameo that drastically altered the dimensions of this tussle. His header 11 minutes after the break gave Chelsea a lead they held until the end, and brought about a marked improvement in their work in the final third.

[26 December 2021 19:56 · Michael Jones]

Thomas Tuchel speaking to BBC Sport

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel spoke to BBC Sport after the game and once again put forward the case for re-introducing five substitutes to ease the workload on players. He said:

We showed a very good reaction after their goal. The own goal made things super complicated. The reaction was very good. We defended strong and did not allow big chances. It was a deserved win but hard work.

“We have concerns for injured players. We let Callum Hudson-Odoi play 90 minutes after Covid. Thiago Silva got injured. N’Golo Kante is injured. Mateo Kovacic is playing after injury and Covid without any preparation and training. We’re just filling holes where we can fill them. We play teams without international duties. Five changes were invented because of Covid. Now we’re in the middle of Covid and some teams are having games postponed and others aren’t. Three changes is a big disadvantage.

“We are the only league who play in winter which I love but we’re not protecting the players. All other leagues have five changes. Then we compete against them in the Champions League. It’s a bit frustrating. It will not stop. Brighton will play a super physical game then we have two games against Spurs, who are out of Europe and fully focused on the league and Carabao Cup.

“No, I was not aware of [Lukaku’s] record against Villa. I should have known this before. We decided at half-time to have a bit more threat and create more problems. I was happy he was involved. He was the game changer today. We took a lot of risks - 45 minutes was more than the medical department recommended. Who knows if it’s the right thing to do.”

[26 December 2021 19:45 · Michael Jones]

Romelu Lukaku inspires Chelsea turnaround in win over Aston Villa

Romelu Lukaku climbed off the bench to inspire Chelsea’s comeback victory as he continued to haunt Aston Villa

The striker scored his first Premier League goal since a September brace against the same opposition as the visitors came from behind to win 3-1.

Lukaku has now scored nine goals in his last 10 top-flight appearances against Villa and also caused havoc to win a stoppage-time penalty for Jorginho to score his second goal of the game.

[26 December 2021 19:41 · Michael Jones]

Lukaku’s reaction on Sky Sports

Romelu Lukaku only played 45 minutes but such was the impact of his performance he was awarded the man of the match award. He scored Chelsea’s second goal and then won the penalty for their third. Mings and Konsa had no answer for him and after the game he spoke to Sky Sports saying:

I needed a performance like this today. It’s been difficult getting the end of games. I kept working hard. I’m happy with my performance and have to push on.

“I try to be less static and on the move all the time. It was a brilliant cross. My preferred action is running into space, using my speed and my power.

“We are the hunters now. The last results were not the best and now we have to chase. We have to treat every game like a final. Today we won and now we have to push on.

“We had to win the game. Credit to Steven Gerrard and his staff. It was not easy for us. Our quality came through.”

[26 December 2021 19:37 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

Romelu Lukaku has scored nine goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Aston Villa; he hasn’t scored more against any other opponent in the big-five European leagues in his career.

(AFP via Getty Images)

[26 December 2021 19:34 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea

Aston Villa have lost seven Premier League games in which they scored first in 2021, the joint-most of any side in a single calendar year in the competition, along with Everton in 1999 and Wigan in 2006.

[26 December 2021 19:31 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa vs Chelsea result and five things we learned as Romelu Lukaku fires Blues to crucial win

Romelu Lukaku scored a crucial second-half header as Chelsea came from behind to beat Aston Villa away from home and stay in the Premier League title race.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half when Reece James directed Matt Targett’s cross into his own net but Chelsea responded quickly and levelled from the penalty spot through Jorginho after Callum Hudson-Odoi was fouled by Matty Cash.

Lukaku came off the bench at half-time and made an instant impact as he glanced Hudson-Odoi’s cross into the net on 56 minutes. Mason Mount then had a golden chance to add a third as he beat Emi Martinez to the ball but couldn’t steer his shot into the open goal.

Hudson-Odoi had a chance to wrap up all three points but Martinez made a crucial stop to keep his side in the match - before Lukaku was scythed down in the box by Ezri Konsa while through on goal late on. Jorginho stepped up to add his second from the spot and confirm the victory for Chelsea.

Here are five things we learned...

[26 December 2021 19:27 · Michael Jones]

Aston Villa 1 - 3 Chelsea

Two goals for Chelsea in the second half. The introduction of Romelu Lukaku really was the changing point of the game. Tyrone Mings really struggled against the forward who was a constant threat from crosses into the box. He also won the second penalty that allowed Jorginho to seal the victory.

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

[26 December 2021 19:24 · Michael Jones]

Full-time: Aston Villa 1 - 3 Chelsea

90+4 mins: That’s a big win for Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel. They’re back in the title race with those three points. Chelsea are now level on points with Liverpool and just six points behind the league leaders.

Two penalties from Jorginho and a headed finish from Romelu Lukuaku was enough to see the Blues ease past Aston Villa.

[26 December 2021 19:22 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Aston Villa 1 - 3 Chelsea (Jorginho, 90+3) ⚽️

90+3 mins: Jorginho guides the penalty to Martinez’s left. Martinez guesses correctly but can’t get a hand to the ball and and nestles right in the bottom corner!