The hectic December Premier League schedule begins for Chelsea on Wednesday, as they host Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have been flying this season, however they are in a position that they are not used to. The Blues are coming into this game suffering back-to-back defeats in the league, including a surprise 1-0 loss to an out of form West Ham side.
This month will be a busy one, so Frank Lampard needs to motivate his players and iron out the problems quickly if his side want to stay inside the top four.
Playing against this Aston Villa side will be difficult though. Dean Smith has got his players organised and Villa are quick on the transition, so Chelsea can expect a tough test.
Let’s take a look at some of the key battles that could decide this match at Stamford Bridge.





