Chelsea

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Chelsea's defeat at Aston Villa generated an astonishing statistic.

The 2-1 loss made it 13 points dropped by the Blues in games they had the lead in - since Boxing Day. That is more points than some teams drop from winning positions in a whole season, and Chelsea have done it in two months.

Asked about that incredible figure and the potential reasons behind it in his news conference on Monday, Enzo Maresca admitted he had been aware of the stat but said he did not have an answer as to why it was happening.

That is a worrying thing to hear about such a critical problem. Even from the outside, it is clear what some of the causes are.

First, there is an obvious personality issue. Building a team of youngsters with little top-level experience was bound to create a group which lacks the composure and leadership to respond to setbacks on the pitch and to work out how to overcome them.

There also appears to be a fitness problem. The energetic attacking which produced such good results through the autumn has faded into sluggish possession play. Maresca's team end every game clinging on, whether winning or losing, and that has to be at least in part a physical issue.

Compounding that is Maresca's own game management. On Saturday, he changed his team and set them up nicely. They took the lead and were well positioned. However, as the match wore on, Unai Emery in the opposing dugout adjusted his side until they had the upper hand. Maresca had no response.

In this instance, there is no denying there was a lack of options on the bench for him, but his failings in this area were notable even when he had a full squad to pick from.

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Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson says "there is a lot being made about the drop in form of Cole Palmer" but Chelsea fans should be looking closer at the rest of the team and manager Enzo Maresca.

"There has been a lack of goals, lack of assists and goal involvements from him, but you need more from the rest of the team," Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"I have to look at Enzo Maresca because at one stage Leicester were 17 points clear at the top of the Championship last season and they surrendered it. By the end of April they were third, so it does suggests there is a drop-off with his teams after Christmas.

"It may be a complete coincidence but the same thing has happened now at Chelsea."

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Chelsea have looked very flat in recent weeks and ended up being beaten by Aston Villa on Saturday after taking the lead.

Enzo Maresca's side are desperate to get back to winning ways so this is the perfect game for them - you could not ask for more of an open goal at the moment than playing Southampton at home.

Saints will give Chelsea the chance to find their rhythm again and I don't see them keeping them out.

I must say every week how dismal this season has been for Southampton fans, and probably the only thing they have to look forward to at the moment is the prospect of a day out in Norwich next season when they are back in the Championship.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Many football fans enjoy watching their rivals stagger as much as watching their own favourites stride on to victory. I have never really felt this but I am told it is "a thing". Now where is that winking emoji when you need it?

Take the pleasure many have had in watching Manchester United's ignominious slide over the years since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down. I stuck to my guns back then and felt like a lone voice shouting in the distance: "You are making a mistake sacking David Moyes - give him time!"

I still feel that is their worst error of many, whatever the prevailing feeling is. I am sure Moysie didn't feel any special warm glow inside as his Everton went 2-0 up against his old club at the weekend, he is much bigger than that... possibly.

Manchester City have their detractors too and you don't have to look far to find hordes of anti-Chelsea fans wallowing in their New Year implosion. Nine points from the past 30 is relegation form, not Champions League form.‌

My old team seem to get more stick than most, probably because they were the original 'new money' club. They were seen as brash and un-British under Roman Abramovich and then the new owners throw their wads around.‌

Spending well over a £1bn in no time at all, is something the true English football fan shies away from like a startled mustang. So, yes, I do understand why they are loving the Blues' current slide.

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Chelsea have lost two of their past three Premier League games against Southampton, as many defeats as in their previous 18 against them (W11 D5).

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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There are a lot of clips online of Cole Palmer getting frustrated with his team-mates amid Chelsea's run of just two wins in 10 matches across all competitions.

The 22-year-old forward registered a club-record 26 goals and 13 assists last season and is now himself declining in terms of goal involvements.

He hasn't scored in six matches and has not registered an assist in 13 matches, but his manager Enzo Maresca suggests he is simply a "human being" and frustrated by recent results, not his team-mates.

Many will be watching Palmer as Chelsea have a favourable run of matches against Southampton, Leicester and Copenhagen.

The conversation will increasingly be about whether Chelsea can match their talisman's ambitions, if they can win a trophy in the Conference League, and what might happen if they don't qualify for the Champions League.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game at home against Southampton (20:15 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca confirmed Trevor Chalobah will be out for "around one week to 10 days" with the injury he suffered in Saturday's defeat at Aston Villa, adding: "It is good because it is not an important injury but a shame because of the amount of injuries we have."

• The head coach said "nothing changes" in terms of Filip Jorgensen being first-choice goalkeeper after his error at Villa Park, stating: "If we need to change players every time they make a mistake, we need to change many players game by game. He's OK. He feels a little bit sad or upset because he recognised there has been a mistake."

• Despite the defeat, Maresca was happier with the performance than he has been after recent displays, adding: "The performance was there. We didn't deserve the final result, but we need to accept that. I don't think [the players] reserved energy against Villa. They are giving everything. The performance from the players was there."

• On Cole Palmer: "I am not concerned about Cole [and his form]. During the season he can have some moments where he struggles a little bit more. With Cole, we rely on Cole for everything. I said since we start, we need to rely on the team. We are not worried about Cole at all."

• Asked how results can improve, Maresca said: "In the last seven, eight, 10 games, the huge difference has been in both boxes. Except Brighton away in the Premier League, we always create chances. We need to be defensively more strong and more clinical when we get the chance."

• Maresca was asked if facing lowly Southampton was a perfect fixture and he replied: "I don't trust games like this, they can be tricky games. When you are here at Chelsea, there isn't a game where we aren't preparing to win. Our duty is to prepare every game to win. From now on we have 12 games to go and it is no doubt that all 12 are must win for us."

• He still believes Christopher Nkunku is an option at striker, stating: "He didn't play a lot in the first six months. In the last three games, he starts all the games. Hopefully from now on, he can help us in terms of numbers [output]."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Villa fans

Paul: What a contrast to recent draws and building on the Liverpool game, Villa were much better when playing on the front foot in the second half. I want to see this intensity for the rest of the season even with yet more injuries. Deserved result in the end.

Prit: An absolutely vital win, especially with our rivals for European places dropping points. I still have a lot of concern with our defence, especially with Tyrone Mings still not fully recovered from his knock a few weeks ago, but the Rashford-Asensio axis is really working and is only going to get better. If we only keep Rashford and Asensio for this season, I hope these next few games gives them the necessary confidence and and put them in the shop window. But, if they could stay next season... well you never know where that would take us!

Mark: We didn't play well but Rashford made the difference in the second half. Still a lot to play for. If we could only keep the centre-backs fit.

Mike: Marco Asensio is undeniably playing his way to a permanent transfer. What a signing he'd be. Unai Emery looks like he's got into Marcus Rashford's head already too and we're beginning to see the real player he's always been. Villa should be one of those teams opponents fear for the ability to impose their game plan and find a way to get a result. No visitor to Villa Park should ever be comfortable with a one-goal lead these days.

Chelsea fans

Chris: Another frustrating, pathetic display from Chelsea. So negative, more passes back to the back four than forward. Reece James is wandering around in midfield as a shadow of his former self and Cole Palmer seems disinterested at present. I can't even bother to talk about our goalkeeper situation, having missed another transfer window and not rectified the situation, plus the blatant need for a striker who can score! Destined for a mid-table finish at this rate!

Jerry: The definition of madness is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different outcome.

Chris: Another poor showing with no signs of improvement. No grit and no ability to win ugly. We lack a keeper, a dominant central defender and, above all else, an out-and-out striker. If we don't get a big lead in games, we always look likely, like here, to collapse. A promising start faded into yet another predictable finish.

Dave: We had all week to prepare while Villa had a tough game. Yet, they were better and had more energy in the second half. It's obvious Chelsea are not playing for Enzo Maresca - it's obvious. We are in trouble.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Club captain Reece James organised a social gathering last week for Chelsea's players amid a bad run of form.

The gathering saw the squad have an informal meal out after a period of just two wins in nine matches under Enzo Maresca.

Unfortunately, Chelsea have since lost to Aston Villa but the improved performance since Brighton will vindicate those trying to hammer home the message of 'sticking together'.

Those words were used by both James and the Italian manager after the defeat at Villa Park - as other senior players have made similar statements after recent matches.

There's a feeling that if they do, when players return from injury, mostly after the nearing March international break, the club can charge up the league and claim Champions League qualification.

But many at Chelsea will know that a turbulent last two-and-half years under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have left an often-destabilised dressing room without a clear club culture.

The loss of senior stars and world record breaking churn of players created divisions in the past as the squad was revamped.

However, this season there have been signs that young players like James can lead and there has been a brotherly spirit fostered among many players behind the scenes.

The main challenge is star forward Cole Palmer now looking a frustrated during matches and displaying poor body language - as he was again seen criticising Christopher Nkunku's movement on Saturday evening - while mistakes are also becoming more prevalent.

Chelsea have been more divided in recent seasons but still have plenty of work to achieve their goals and failure to do so may set the club back on the progress that has been made.

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester and Brentford.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

• Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

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It was far from a poor performance from Chelsea against Aston Villa, but it definitely left much to be desired.

They had ample chances to ensure they had a bigger cushion before the hosts found a way back through Marco Asensio's first goal and should really have got themselves back in front.

Cole Palmer – who remains far from at his best – took too long when one-on-one and did not take advantage of Emiliano Martinez slipping twice, while he also curled a great opportunity wide.

Pedro Neto's work was the main standout positive to come from the game, with him causing continual trouble for Ian Maatsen in the Aston Villa back line.

But his efforts up top mattered for little when it was undone by shakiness at the back, perhaps influenced by Trevoh Chalobah having to be brought off early in the game with a back issue.

They left too much space for Villa to exploit between the midfield and defence and there were other pockets in the box, too.

It took a while for Villa to get going, but after introducing Marcus Rashford they were always in the ascendency; Chelsea could not deal with the shift in momentum.

This was a winnable fixture for Chelsea and three points dropped in a frustrating fashion.

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It is a tough one because compared to the game against Brighton, the performance and reaction were good. At the moment, we are in a bad run. but we need to stick together and try to win games. I have a feeling we will go again if we win a game. Until that, we need to work hard and try to get the win as soon as possible.

"We created many chances. Last two games, we struggled with that and lacked a threat. Today, Pedro [Neto] played really well and we tried with him during the week. It works well with him. But we did not win and we have to be upset."

On where they lost the game: "If you are not clinical, this league is always open - if you make a mistake, like we did in the second goal unfortunately. When we have the chance, we have to take that."

"Once again today, we showed we can be good for long parts of the game. But that's not enough. The performance has to be complete. We need to score goals when we have the chance and defend well, but I thought we defended well today. It is a moment were we were also a bit unlucky."

On his goalkeeping situation: "I am always concerned, even when we were winning games, I was concerned. Now for sure. The problem with that with goalkeepers, it is a delicate position and when they make a mistake, everyone can see. Unfortunately today, our goalkeeper [Filip Jorgensen] made a mistake. This is a moment we need to support each other and try to stay strong."

On Trevoh Chalobah's injury: "He is back. Hopefully it's nothing serious, but now we will see."

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Chelsea have dropped 15 points from winning positions this season - 13 have come since Boxing Day.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance

What did you make of Chelsea's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Chelsea's form has been pretty rotten recently and their manager, Enzo Maresca, also needs a strong finish to the season.

It doesn't help that Cole Palmer has lost his mojo, on top of their issues at centre-forward and in goal. Maresca really needs to make the Champions League places but nothing is clicking for his side at the moment.

Aston Villa are probably in better shape in terms of their performances, but their results have also not been great with four draws and a defeat in their past five league games.

They were great going forward against Liverpool on Wednesday but just cannot keep clean sheets - although Tyrone Mings' return to the team from injury is big for them at the back.

I had to think a bit about this one but I am going for my old club Villa to beat my old club Chelsea, and Maresca might start to come under a bit of pressure if this poor run carries on much longer.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

There are seven Premier League games on Saturday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Everton v Manchester United (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Wolves

• Ipswich v Tottenham

• Southampton v Brighton

• Arsenal v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Aston Villa v Chelsea (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live (coverage will start on 5 Sports Extra)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

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The Conference League draw has been completed, with teams now knowing who they play in the last 16 and their possible route to the final.

• Jagiellonia v Cercle Brugge

• Molde v Legia Warsaw

• Celje v Lugano

• Pafos v Djugarden

• Panathinaikos v Fiorentina

• Borac v Rapid Vienna

• Real Betis v Vitoria

• Copenhagen v Chelsea

The first legs will take place on 6 March, with the return meetings the following week.

Should Chelsea progress, Molde or Legia Warsaw will be the opponents in the quarter-finals.

Read more about the Conference League schedule on our live page