Samuel: Villa fan here. What an absolutely bizarre and terrible change of fortunes for us! Firstly, what do you put Villa's malaise down to? And secondly, do you think that we have the players to get out of it? Thanks.

Hello, Samuel. Few things at work here in my opinion. Villa perhaps have the same problem Newcastle United had last season, in that a Champions League campaign exerts extra physical and mental stresses on their squad, which has led to a drop in form.

I think also Villa were so good and so consistent last season that a dip was inevitable and remember they are still only four points off the top four despite this run of eight games without a win in all competitions.

Unai Emery may also have a point when he says Villa are no longer a surprise package any more - teams are ready for them.

But I certainly think they have the manager in Emery to get them out of the current malaise.

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Aston Villa face the challenge of combining Champions League demands with their domestic programme.

Their first campaign in Europe's top club competition since 1983 has been a success so far, but it is understandable that, at this stage of the season, they are struggling to balance that with the rigours of the most competitive domestic league in football.

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez had a rare bad day against Chelsea and injured his hand when dealing with a mistake in a challenge with Nicolas Jackson.

That only adds to Unai Emery's woes, as he looks to turn around the club's fortunes.

Robin Olsen, who came on for Martinez, could now get a run in the team - and has big shoes to fill - if the two-time world goalkeeper of the year is out for any length of time.

Unai Emery may have thought things could not get any worse, before the withdrawal of goalkeeping talisman Emi Martinez with a hand injury...

Back to the Premier League, while Chelsea's form continues to impress, Sunday's opponents Aston Villa are in the middle of their worst league run under manager Unai Emery.

Defeat at Stamford Bridge was a fifth game without a win in the Premier League for the first time since August 2022, under previous boss Steven Gerrard.

Their poor form in the Premier League is matched only by Everton and Leicester, who have also gone five games without a win.

Emery was asked how concerned he was by Villa's form: "The important thing is the next match, we have to work towards Brentford on Wednesday."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

LA Galaxy made it through to the MLS Cup final on Saturday night with a narrow victory over Seattle Sounders.

But there was a significant post-script to the game.

Star man Riqui Puig, a former Barcelona midfielder, has ruptured his ACL.

Sadly for Puig, it means he will miss the final and probably a large chunk of the 2025 season as well.

What wasn't known at the time was he suffered the injury at the start of the second half on Saturday night. Puig played on for 30 minutes and created the late match winner for Dejan Joveljic.

That is quite incredible.

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Talking about injuries, quite an amazing story came out of LA Galaxy's MLS Cup semi-final win over Seattle Sounders on Saturday night...

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The only negative note during Chelsea's seventh win of their Premier League campaign was the hamstring injury suffered by defender Wesley Fofana.

Manager Enzo Maresca says the France international could miss between "10 or 12 games".

The 23-year-old defender was substituted in the 60th minute of Chelsea's 3-0 win after awkwardly stepping on the ball when challenging striker Ollie Watkins.

Maresca said: "These kind of things require at least three, four, five weeks. In this moment, you lose 10 games or 12 games.

"In the way he was playing, it is a big loss for us."

Fofana has started every Premier League match this season, aside from one missed game against Liverpool due to suspension.

Matt, Merseyside: Jamie Carragher is only saying what Kenny Dalglish said when Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez left the club and I agree with him. There is no one bigger than the club. Superstars come and go, if Mohamed Salah wanted to stay his demands would reflect that, same with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.

Christian, Liverpool: Re: Kevin @ 10:20 - Carra may be losing you, but he is spot on for me. Mo is a club legend and impossible to replace, but no player is bigger than the club and no player gets to dictate their own terms at Liverpool. If he really loves the club he should take what is on offer, not use the press to apply pressure for more zeroes on the pay cheque. If he goes, we will manage. We always do.

Paul from Northwich: Arsenal are hitting top gear and Chelsea really do look impressive under Enzo Maresca. It is clear that Manchester City need reinforcements in midfield or an additional goal threat. What do you think City will do in the January transfer window?

Morning, Paul. I think the priority in January will be a move for a 'number 6' to fill the gap left by Rodri’s injury. City are so vulnerable in that area now. Teams are running straight through them.

It would not surprise me at all if they tried to succeed where Liverpool failed in the summer and attempt to prise Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

He has the quality, as of course we saw when he came on for the injured Rodri at half-time in the Euro 2024 final against England in Berlin.

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Cole Palmer's impressive stats for Chelsea are matched by manager Enzo Maresca's.

The 44-year-old Italian has won 38 of his 59 league games in charge of Chelsea and former club Leicester City (D8 L13).

Since the beginning of last season, no manager has won more such matches than the Italian across England’s top two tiers (level with Leeds United's Daniel Farke – excluding play-offs).

• Only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (41 games) has reached 30 Premier League goals for Chelsea in fewer appearances than Cole Palmer (46 games).
• Since the beginning of last season, Cole Palmer has both scored and assisted in seven different Premier League games, with only Mohamed Salah (nine) doing so more often.

Arsenal fans may beg to differ with you there Ryan!

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Cole Palmer says he was not worried about his run of just one goal in six matches before scoring against Aston Villa.

"I think, if I go out and enjoy my football, the goals and assists will come," he told Sky Sports.

"It is all down to the manager - the desire that he puts into the sessions and what the players give to him."

Palmer scored 22 league goals and claimed 11 assists for Chelsea last season. He has eight goals and six assists from 13 games in the current Premier League campaign.

Cole Palmer rounded off Chelsea's win against Aston Villa on Sunday with his eighth goal of the season.

It was his first since scoring in a 2-1 victory over Newcastle on 27 October.

While the 22-year-old England forward is level with Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea's top scorer in the league this season, half of his goals came in one match - scoring all four in Chelsea's 4-2 win at home to Brighton.

Palmer also weighed in with his sixth assist of the campaign, teeing up Enzo Fernandez for the second goal.

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Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter in Sheffield

England manager Sarina Wiegman and Manchester City midfielder Jess Park are speaking to media this morning in Sheffield.

They drew 0-0 with Olympic champions the United States at Wembley on Saturday.

They struggled to create much going forwards but defended well and it was an improvement from their defeat by Germany a month before.

Park was given the nod in midfield over experienced player Fran Kirby and in-form Manchester United star Grace Clinton.

There remains competition for places in the number 10 role despite Ella Toone currently being injured so will Park keep her place?

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Ben: Morning, Phil. My question is regarding why so many pundits are still dismissing Chelsea as title challengers. Despite being neck and neck with Arsenal. It feels similar to last season when Villa were up there around this stage of the season, but there seemed to be more optimism around their form and potential. So, do you think Chelsea can go all the way? Or at least be the closest challengers - taking into consideration their superior squad depth and being in the conference?

Hi, Ben. I have been really impressed with Chelsea and their new coach Enzo Maresca. There is real structure, identity and quality in their team. I think, as does Maresca, that the Premier League title might just be a step too far but, on the evidence of what I’ve seen this season, I can see Chelsea finishing in the top four.

Pundits and fans may be getting excited about Chelsea's title chances, or at least their challenge for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification, but manager Enzo Maresca is not getting carried away.

He believes that his young group of players need to build their experience before being considered genuine challengers.

"These kind of players, some of them probably played only one final for a title - probably the Carabao Cup final last season was the most important match they played," he said.

"You have to live moments and, when we start to get those moments, we can get better and compete.

"Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City players, they have all lived finals and competed for titles. We will be there soon, but this is one of the reasons why we are still far and not ready to compete with those clubs."

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on Football Daily

It is good to see smiles back on faces at Chelsea because there has been a lot of rubbish for a long time. It is a group of really exciting young players and they just need to get a bit more confidence and maturity.

They are playing in a well-balanced system and they are not going away so I give them full credit.

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker does not think Chelsea can challenge for the title this season but says they are proving to be top-four contenders.

Chelsea are third in the league and level on 25 points with second-placed Arsenal, but both clubs are nine points behind leaders Liverpool.

"I don't see them forcing themselves into a title argument," said Reo-Coker on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "But they are definitely up there in that top-four conversation.

"They look like a team now - they look really good. They do still have moments of vulnerabilities, but their attacking power is scary. They have so many options."

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Cole Palmer shone in a comfortable Chelsea win over an Aston Villa side whose worrying winless run extended to eight matches.

Nicolas Jackson gave Chelsea a seventh-minute lead, squeezing a first-time finish past Emi Martinez after Marc Cucurella forced Jadon Philogene into a mistake on the edge of his own box before crossing.

Enzo Fernandez then volleyed in the second in the 36th minute.

The Argentina midfielder finished with his right foot after an excellent touch with his left, following a good ball from Palmer, with Moises Caicedo having won the ball in midfield.

Palmer then curled in a sensational left-foot finish from the edge of the box in the 83rd minute to seal victory.

The England international, like Jackson, now has eight Chelsea goals for the season.

Victory moved Chelsea up to 25 points from 13 games, third in the table below second-placed Arsenal on goal difference, while Villa dropped to 12th on 19 points.