(AP)
Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Aston Villa host Chelsea in an FA Cup fourth round replay as pressure mounts on Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino. A 4-2 loss to Wolves in the Premier League at the weekend put the manager back under the spotlight as the London club slipped into the bottom half of the table but a positive result this evening will ease the pressure.
Chelsea have already reached the Carabao Cup final and will be targeting a strong run in the FA Cup too though they face a tricky task to reach the next stage of the competition. Unai Emery’s Villa are flying in the league, they’re up to fourth and comprehensively defeated Sheffield United 5-0 last time out.
The previous fixture between the teams ended in a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge with Villa creating more chances on goal despite Chelsea seeing more possession. With the support of their home fans the midlands club will be hoping to get over the line and set up a fifth-round clash against Leeds or Plymouth Argyle.
Follow all the action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Aston Villa vs Chelsea LIVE
- Aston Villa host Chelsea in an FA Cup fourth round replay with kick off at 8pm
- Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings are all absent leaving Villa short at centre-back
- Chelsea have lost their two matches since the previous fixture in the competition against Villa
- Chelsea XI: Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Chilwell, Gallagher, Caicedo, Enzo, Madueke, Jackson, Palmer
- Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Alex Moreno, Bailey, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Tielemans, Watkins
Show latest update
Unai Emery has his say ahead of the match
Unai Emery said to ITVX: “Every match is different and every competition. Of course we are now in the FA Cup and we are very excited and very motivated to play here with our support at Villa Park.
“We have been successful for a long time at Villa Park and we want to keep doing the same. Trying to follow some tactics that we used in Sheffield but we are going to adapt now today against Chelsea.
“They were pressing very well, they lost the last two matches but they have a very good coach, they have very good players and tactically they are good.
“We are ready to play a very very tough match.”
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:52
Mauricio Pochettino on the FA Cup fourth-round replay
On the upcoming match, he said: “Two defeats. Against Wolverhampton I think if we draw the game it would be a different way and we are in Chelsea, we know very well that we need to win every single game.
“If not it’s a problem.
“Today is a different day, it is a different competition, again a very good team because Aston Villa are doing great, it is a fantastic season, we are in the final of the Carabao Cup because we did very good things.
“But now we need to accept that too many things happen around but the players are calm and we need to compete today against a very good team in a very good stadium.
“It’s going to be tough but as a team we are convinced that we have prepared in our best way.”
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:50
Pochettino responds to questions after leaving Thiago Silva on the bench
Pochettino was asked about the selection of Silva ahead of the game and he said: “I am professional, I always pick my players because of performance and balance and I understand the question but I think I want to be calm and I need to be professional.”
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:45
Thiago Silva’s wife calls for ‘change’ at Chelsea
Firstly, here is one of the stories that broke over the weekend:
The wife of Thiago Silva has said that “change” is needed before it is “too late” for Chelsea’s after their latest significant setback against Wolves.
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:40
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
We will soon be bringing some quotes from Pochettino
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:34
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:33
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
We are almost half an hour away from kick off at Villa Park and the players are out on the pitch warming up, while the fans arrive at the stadium:
(PA)
(Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:27
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
Aston Villa made one change from their Premier League match at the weekend, with Matty Cash coming into the side in place of Ezri Konsa.
Chelsea also made a few changes with Thiago Silva among the substitutes, as are Raheem Sterling and Christopher Nkunku.
While, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson start.
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:19
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
Here are some photos of the players arriving at Villa Park:
The player’s shirts are all laid out in the changing room
(Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
The Chelsea players take a quick walk out onto the pitch
(PA)
Mauricio Pochettino arrives at Villa Park
(Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:10
Aston Villa vs Chelsea
A quick reminder that the winner of this match will host Leeds in the fifth round.
Sonia Twigg7 February 2024 19:06